Response:

I am not sure how to answer your question, because I do not know all your circumstances. However, I will give you some suggestions (not in any particular order).

1. Spend much time in prayer, and in the Word of God, seeking His direction. If God wants you to move on, it will NOT simply be based upon feelings of discouragement, but upon the authority of the Word of God.

2. If you can not continue to work with your pastor, then you need to move on. The church will not prosper if the leadership is in opposition to each other. Amos asked, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Paul put it this way, "For whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" A carnal church can't be the place for you, nor is it the right kind of church for others.

3. You need to schedule an appointment with your pastor, and have a heart to heart talk with him. Gal. 6:1 teaches that "if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one". If the pastor is in the wrong, you need to go see him. Matt. 5:23-24 states, "Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother". If the pastor has something against you, then you need to go see him. So, whether he is in the wrong or you are, you need to go see him. Don't be afraid to ask him what he believes your weaknesses to be. Don't assume that he is wrong, because we all have weak areas. I would assume that you would want to know where your problems lie, so that you can correct them in order to be a better servant of the Lord.

4. Is your attitude right? You mention in your letter that you "do a great work for God", and that you give "200%". You are upset because he does not acknowledge you publicly, because he doesn't give you additional staff workers, and because he criticizes your work. Do you have a pride problem here? Do you really do a great work? The Bible says "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth" (Prov 27:2) Do you really give 200%? Christ stated in Luke 17:10, "So likewise, when ye have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." Paul warns in Rom 12:3, "For I say...to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly (literally, "to think like a saved person"). Look at Philippians 4. In verse 7, God promises the peace of God which passes all understanding, but the preceding verses list the criteria for obtaining that peace. The include rejoicing (verse 4), not worrying (verse 6), praying (verse 6), supplicating (verse 6), and thanking (verse 6). The list also includes "moderation" (verse 5). Moderation means to be willing to put up with less than you are due. Are you living up to the Biblical standard here? Let's say for the sake of argument that your pastor does not treat you as well as he should. Are you choosing to rejoice, be thankful, turn it over to God, and be willing to put up with receiving less than you might deserve in terms of praise and assistance? Col 3:12-13 tells us that, if we are saved, we should be merciful, kind, humble, and longsuffering, "forbearing one another and forgiving one another". Again, let's suppose that your pastor is not treating you right. Can you be merciful to him (mercy means not giving someone what they deserve)? Can you be kind to him anyway? Can you be humble about who you are, and what you are doing? Can you be patient with him and with the situation? Can you learn to put up with him, and forgive him if necessary? I Cor 13 tells us that "Charity suffereth long, and is kind". Can you have Biblical love toward your pastor? As a Christian, the answer to all these must be "Yes".

The Lord may be using this to move you to another area of the harvest field. However, the problem may be yours, and not his. Check your spirit and your attitude. Judge yourself. Then, make an appointment to go see the pastor.

By Dr Mark Montgomery Ambassador Baptist Church 1926 Babcock Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15209 (412)477-3210