A
news article reports that the National Association of Evangelicals has issued a
code of ethical behavior for pastors. When I read this my first thought was
“Duh…! Isn’t the Bible pretty clear how
a Christian should act, much more so a pastor.”
After all, Paul wrote to the young Timothy, “A bishop (pastor) then must
be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good
behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous…” (1 Timothy 3:2-3)
News stories from time to time
report on clergy who have defrauded their congregations financially, engaged in
illicit sexual relationships, or have broken the trust of others in a multitude
of ways. But I question if signing a code of conduct will really mean much to a
person who is not willing to abide by the scriptural code of conduct.
Evidently some pastors are like some
other Christians who feel their special circumstances exempt them from one or
more of the Bibles injunctions. I have
counseled with some who have used this argument with me. Under their circumstances, they did nothing
wrong.
Anyway, I applaud any effort to get
pastors to behave. In the article it was
reported that the NAE is now working on a code of conduct for churches.
Wow! I’ll be interested in knowing what
areas they address. I could give them a bushel full.
Grace and peace.
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