Let me preface this piece with the statement that if we as ministers of the Gospel don’t hold ourselves accountable, that we threaten our own credibility and are no different than the Pharisees, Scribes and leaders who were pissed off at Jesus for challenging their traditions.
Let me also say this doesn’t apply to ALL preachers, ministers and pastors.
Please read the following post from Facebook that was published by a preacher who happens to hold the office of Pastor.
“PREACHERS...I came up in the old way as an associate minister. We honored and respected our pastor/leader. We didn’t speak unless spoken to, we didn’t come into the office unless invited, we didn’t sit in the pulpit unless asked, we didn’t do anything on program unless we had permission, we didn’t preach anywhere out or in unless we had clearance, we didn’t teach outside unless it was permitted, we held bags, coats, hats, keys, we chauffeured, valeted, ran errands, and we were grateful to do it. We weren’t rogue preachers, but we tried to be respectful and respectable. I believe my preaching career has been further blessed because of it (18 years later and almost 9 years Pastoral). Preachers, if you came up like that drop your witness in the comments…”
This quote was made in the primary context of the historical culture of many Black churches.
It almost sounds like how ‘massa’ treated his ‘house n*****s. Some Pastors perverted ‘Pastor’ into ‘Master’.
Unfortunately, many old school preachers treated their ‘subordinates’ like children. It definitely wasn’t respecting their ‘associate ministers’ as fellow anointed MEN of God, husbands, fathers and fellow laborers with an equal calling and anointing , but different ‘office’.
I, as a young minister, years ago was taught protocol and respect. I had, and have much respect for the Senior Pastor who mentored me then, and for my current Senior Pastor…but I’m thankful to say neither of them EXPECTED me to hold their bag, coat, hat, or keys…they didn’t and don’t expect me to chauffeur them around, to be their valet, run their errands or to SERVE them to that level. In short, they didn’t treat me like a child.
I as a minister, I don’t have that expectation of anyone either.
That is not the servant leadership that Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, demands. Remember what He said…
Matthew 20:25-27 (NKJV)
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—
Remember Jesus’s example of the humility He expects of leadership…
John 13:12-17 (NKJV)
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you [a]know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Yes, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had their riches and servants…
Yes, Joseph of Genesis brothers knelt before him in submission…
Yes, David had his amour bearers and mighty men of valor…
Yes, Elijah had Elisha to serve him…
And yes, I think we should give honor to those who labor in the Gospel. The bible demands that…
1 Timothy 5:17 (NKJV)
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
And, yes I think that Pastors should earn their living from the Gospel and be comfortable…
1 Corinthians 9:13-14 (NKJV)
13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
However, God never intended for leaders to LORD over those whom He has given responsibility, but that we be their servants.
There are some preachers who want to be Abraham, Isaac and Jacob..
There are some preachers who want to be Joseph of Genesis…
There are some preachers who want to be David…
There are some preachers who want to be Elijah….
Some even want to be the temple-table-turning over Jesus…
But, many don’t want to be the ‘feet-washing Jesus’.
And, none of us want to be John the Baptist. I admit that I don’t.
Too many preachers expect to be put on a pedestal and served. They expect other adult men to be their flunkies. This is an example of a culture that’s been established that contradicts the word of God and His expectations. We must not pervert church culture to become little kingdoms where the focus is on the Pastor/Preachers rather than the God we serve.
I really feel that one of the reasons God allowed worship to be placed on PAUSE during the pandemic is so we can examine how we worship and the culture of our churches.
Just as some of our national traditions need to be reexamined, so do some traditions and cultures in our churches.
We can’t ignore God’s protocol to establish our own.
Ministers who aren’t Senior Pastors, remember that everyone isn’t meant to be an Under Shepherd. You may feel frustration sometimes because you don’t get the same level of respect. But, God expects you to be just as effective.
This article may also bless you..5 REASONS I DON’T WANT TO BE CALLED ‘REVEREND’…
BE BLESSTIFIED!
BE BLESSTIFIED! 
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