In churches, people often emphasize the responsibility of pastors and staff workers toward the church and its members, such as providing care and protection for believers. However, there's rarely a discussion on what responsibilities the church and believers should hold toward their pastors and staff workers. This imbalance is not a normal phenomenon. While pastors do need to be on guard for their flock, believers should also strive to guard their pastors.
How Should We View Sinning and Fallen Pastors?
In recent years, incidents of pastors and preachers falling into sin have surfaced in diverse places, some involving well-known figures. These failures have sometimes led to tragic consequences, such as church splits or members leaving the faith.
How should Christians view sinning and fallen pastors? Many quickly become outraged, ready to condemn. A believer’s previous love and respect for a pastor can quickly turn into profound disdain when that pastor falls. However, Rev. Wang Yiyan from a northern city church has a different perspective.
Wang has served in this city church for many years and has witnessed cases of pastoral failures, including one involving a highly respected pastor that caused an uproar when it became known. Many people, upon hearing the news, relentlessly criticized him, wishing to see him removed entirely.
Pastor Wang chose a different approach. He wrote an article and shared it with some pastors and members of his own church, where he stated that each person is a sinner.
First, he acknowledges that fallen pastors must take responsibility for their actions. However, pastors are human, not God. They have weaknesses, just like any believer. When such things happen, the church’s first response should be one of forgiveness and love—not self-righteous judgment and punishment.
The Bible contains the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the former focuses on the law and the latter on love and relationships. Jesus Christ, who completed the salvation, fulfilled the law rather than abolished it. If a pastor or preacher sins, the church must handle it according to its established regulations, which may include revoking their pastoral qualifications. However, concerning the individual’s soul, the church and believers should approach them with forgiveness.
Dealing with Pastor's Sin While Showing Mercy to Their Soul
A pastor or preacher’s failures are often not solely their fault; church systems and surrounding environments can contribute as well. After they bear the consequences, the church, fellow workers, and believers should still lend them a helping hand. “Even if it were an enemy, we should still forgive—how much more for someone who is not an enemy!” wrote Wang.
Should we kill someone if he contracts an infectious disease? Certainly not. It is the illness that is bad, not the person. The pastor’s soul remains good, even if he commits a sin which is evil. They acted as if he didn’t overcome the evil spirit and would likely deeply regret it after recovery.
He is a good person if he recovers from spiritual sickness and a patient when he is sick. We should show compassion for the weak who are spiritually unwell. If they remain unrepentant, we should let God rather than humans judge them.
Every organization has its regulations, and as an organization, the church must discipline pastors or workers who commit sins. However, ultimate judgment belongs to God; humans cannot take on the role of God as the ultimate judge. To act beyond our assigned responsibilities is to act from human impulse, not God. “We must trust in God’s fairness and justice; He will surely judge everyone according to their actions.”
Distinguishing Church and Pastors From God and Faith
Believers go to church, not to worship a specific building or pastor but God. The church and pastors are merely intermediaries. However, people often mistake the intermediary for the source, since they cannot see God directly and instead rely on the church and pastors.
Pastor Wang likens the role of the church and pastors to that of a matchmaker. In traditional Chinese society, a good matchmaker could facilitate a happy marriage between two people who had never met or knew little about each other. Ultimately, however, marriage is a relationship between the couple, one in which the matchmaker has no involvement. Pastors and the church serve similarly, acting as intermediaries between God and believers. But because people often only see the church and pastors, they end up equating the church with faith.
How to Protect Pastors?
First, don’t treat pastors as "leaders."
Pastor Wang suggests that neither co-workers nor believers should elevate pastors to the status of leaders, as this can lead to error.
Leadership positions bring dangers; if you regard yourself or are regarded by others as a leader, temptations arise. Humbling oneself and refusing such a title prevents this. Believers should also avoid elevating their pastors. In many cases of pastoral failures, believers bear some responsibility. Out of love and respect, believers sometimes place pastors on a pedestal, akin to God. Initially, a pastor might remain humble, but constant adulation can lead them to see themselves as godlike.
“I’m not fond of the term ‘church leader’; the true leader of the church is God, not any person.” Privilege tends to breed corruption, and this holds in the church as well. When everyone is treated equally and no one holds special privileges, the risk of failure decreases, reducing the likelihood of a pastor falling into sin.
Second, establish effective church oversight mechanisms.
Pastor Wang also believes that it’s crucial to define what constitutes a “good church,” “good believer,” and “good pastor.” Establishing these standards would lead to a more stable and healthy church environment, minimizing disruptions.
Many overseas churches have developed effective oversight mechanisms over decades or even centuries, but most Chinese churches are relatively new and unregulated. Before 2000, the situation was manageable; however, since then, economic bloom in China has led to churches having more funds, which has introduced a range of new problems.
One significant issue is that many churches operate independently with minimal or no oversight. While TSPM churches have some degree of supervision, resulting in fewer issues, non-registered churches often remain disorganized and resist joining the TSPM to avoid restrictions. Few people, particularly regarding financial matters, are willing to submit to oversight. Without proper accountability mechanisms, church leaders often hold substantial power, sometimes leading to “one-person rule.”
Pastor Wang believes that establishing effective oversight mechanisms to limit pastoral authority provides the best protection for pastors. When power is restricted, pastors face fewer opportunities to sin.
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
在教会中，人们常常强调牧者、教牧同工对教会和信徒的责任，比如需要牧养好信徒、保护好信徒等。却很少讲教会和信徒对牧者和教牧同工应当负有怎样的责任。这并不是一种正常的现象。牧者当然需要保护信徒，但同时信徒也需要努力保护好自己的牧者。
应当怎么看待犯罪和跌倒的牧者？
最近几年在各地陆续出现了一些牧者、传道人跌倒的事情，其中一些人知名度较高。他们的跌倒甚至造成了教会分裂、信徒离开教会等悲剧。
基督徒应当怎么看待犯罪和跌倒的牧者？人们很容易“义愤填膺”群起而攻之。之前有多爱和尊敬这个牧者，在牧者出事以后，就能够多么恨恶这个牧者。北方一名城市教会的牧者王一言牧师对此说不。
王一言牧师在北方一所城市教会服事了许多年。在这所城市当中也出现过一些牧者犯罪跌倒的事情。其中一名牧者在当时非常有名，他出事的消息轰动至极。很多人知道消息以后对他穷追猛打，恨不得除之而后快。
王牧师没有这么做。他写了一篇文章，发给一些牧者和自己教会的信徒。在文章里王牧师说所有人都是罪人。
首先，对牧者来说，犯罪跌倒必须要付责任。但是同时牧者不是神，而是人，和信徒一样。他有他软弱的地方，如果事情已经发生了，教会应该以宽恕和爱作为首要态度；而不是口诛笔伐，打着公义的旗号去审判和惩罚别人。
圣经有旧约和新约，旧约主要是律法，新约主要是爱和关系。耶稣基督来到这个世界上，为我们打开了福音的时代。福音是爱，但是同时福音不废除律法。如果牧者、传道人犯罪了，教会必须按照相应的规章制度进行处理；这是对事情的处理，比如开除他教会牧者的资格。但是对于一个个体的生命来讲，教会也好，信徒也罢，都需要宽恕他们。
牧者的罪行要处理，牧者的灵魂要怜悯
牧师、传道人犯错很多时候并不是他一个人的错，也许是由于教会体系、周边环境的关系。他承担了该承担的惩罚，在这之后教会和同工、信徒还是要拉他一把。“即便是仇敌我们尚且都要宽恕，更何况他还根本不是仇敌呢！”
人得了传染病，是不是要把这个人杀死？当然不是。是这种病坏，而不是这个人坏。同样的，一个牧者犯了淫乱的罪，罪很坏，但这个人的灵魂还是好 的。他之所以做出来这样的事情，是因为没有胜过邪灵导致的，他恢复过来后肯定对此也非常后悔。
他恢复正常的时候是好人，得病的时候是病人。对于病人，我们要体恤他们的软弱。如果他死不悔改，就让上帝来惩罚他，不是人来惩罚。
各个机构都有自己的规章制度，教会作为组织机构，牧者、同工犯罪要按照相应的规章制度进行处理。但最终的判断在乎上帝，人不能取代上帝成为审判官。人做超过自己职责和权限的事就是出于血气而不是出于上帝。“我们要相信上帝的公平和公义，上帝必定会按照各人所行的来审判他。”
把教会、牧者和上帝、信仰区分开来
信徒到教会来，他信仰的并不是某个教会和某个牧师，而是上帝。教会和牧师只是中介。但是现在人们很多时候因为看不到上帝，只能看到教会和牧师，所以把中介、媒介当成了主人。
王牧师用媒婆类比教会和牧者的作用。媒婆在过去的中国社会非常重要，好媒婆能促成幸福的婚姻。将要结婚的两个人，互相连面都没见过；长相、家世、性格都不知道，所以必须要有媒婆。但最终婚姻还是夫妻之间的关系，很多事情媒婆不可能参与进去。牧师和教会的作用和媒婆类似，他们要在人和上帝之间来来往往两头窜。但是因为人们很多时候见不到上帝，只见到了教会和牧师，把教堂当成了信仰。
怎么保护牧者和传道人？
1，不要把牧者当成领袖
王牧师认为，无论是同工还是信徒，不把牧者当成领袖，他们就不会犯错。
做领袖的人最危险；如果你把自己当成领袖，别人也把你当成领袖，诱惑就来了。把自己谦卑下来，不把自己当领袖，就不会犯错。
信徒也不要捧自己的牧者。在很多牧者堕落的事情上，信徒其实也有责任。信徒常常出于对牧者的爱和尊敬，把牧者当成了上帝。刚开始牧者还能够保持谦卑，但是人的软弱就是架不住很多人一直捧自己，在不知不觉当中把自己当成上帝了。
“我不太喜欢‘教会领袖’这个称呼，教会真正的领袖是上帝，而不是某一个人。”特权必然滋生腐败，王牧师认为这句话在教会里面也一样适用。如果大家都以平常心来平等对待，牧者没有特权，就没有跌倒的机会；也就不会出现牧者堕落、犯罪这些事情。
2，建立有效的教会监督机制
此外，王牧师认为当下的一件非常重要的事情是我们应该讨论什么是好教会、好信徒、好牧者，“好”的标准是什么。把这个标准弄好了，教会相对就会稳定很多、健康很多；各种乱象也会减少很多。
国外很多教会经过了几十上百年的发展，各种监督机制都非常完善。但绝大多数中国教会建立的时间都不是很长，杂草丛生、良莠不齐。2000年以前还好一些，等到2000年以后中国经济好了，教会也有钱了，各种教会乱象就出来了。
很重要的一个原因是很多教会各自为政，几乎没有任何监督机制。体制内的教会多少还有一些监督机制，相对来说乱象要少一点；但体制外的教会非常混乱。体制外的教会不愿意加入三自体制内很重要的一个原因是教会和牧者会受很多限制。没有人愿意受到约束，尤其是在钱上。没有有效的监督机制，教会领袖的权力非常大，常常形成‘一言堂’。
王牧师认为对牧者最好的保护就是教会一定要建立有效的监督机制，不给牧者特权。把权力关进笼子里，牧者就没有犯罪的机会。
特稿|基督徒，你是在害你的牧者还是在保护你的牧者？
In churches, people often emphasize the responsibility of pastors and staff workers toward the church and its members, such as providing care and protection for believers. However, there's rarely a discussion on what responsibilities the church and believers should hold toward their pastors and staff workers. This imbalance is not a normal phenomenon. While pastors do need to be on guard for their flock, believers should also strive to guard their pastors.
How Should We View Sinning and Fallen Pastors?
In recent years, incidents of pastors and preachers falling into sin have surfaced in diverse places, some involving well-known figures. These failures have sometimes led to tragic consequences, such as church splits or members leaving the faith.
How should Christians view sinning and fallen pastors? Many quickly become outraged, ready to condemn. A believer’s previous love and respect for a pastor can quickly turn into profound disdain when that pastor falls. However, Rev. Wang Yiyan from a northern city church has a different perspective.
Wang has served in this city church for many years and has witnessed cases of pastoral failures, including one involving a highly respected pastor that caused an uproar when it became known. Many people, upon hearing the news, relentlessly criticized him, wishing to see him removed entirely.
Pastor Wang chose a different approach. He wrote an article and shared it with some pastors and members of his own church, where he stated that each person is a sinner.
First, he acknowledges that fallen pastors must take responsibility for their actions. However, pastors are human, not God. They have weaknesses, just like any believer. When such things happen, the church’s first response should be one of forgiveness and love—not self-righteous judgment and punishment.
The Bible contains the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the former focuses on the law and the latter on love and relationships. Jesus Christ, who completed the salvation, fulfilled the law rather than abolished it. If a pastor or preacher sins, the church must handle it according to its established regulations, which may include revoking their pastoral qualifications. However, concerning the individual’s soul, the church and believers should approach them with forgiveness.
Dealing with Pastor's Sin While Showing Mercy to Their Soul
A pastor or preacher’s failures are often not solely their fault; church systems and surrounding environments can contribute as well. After they bear the consequences, the church, fellow workers, and believers should still lend them a helping hand. “Even if it were an enemy, we should still forgive—how much more for someone who is not an enemy!” wrote Wang.
Should we kill someone if he contracts an infectious disease? Certainly not. It is the illness that is bad, not the person. The pastor’s soul remains good, even if he commits a sin which is evil. They acted as if he didn’t overcome the evil spirit and would likely deeply regret it after recovery.
He is a good person if he recovers from spiritual sickness and a patient when he is sick. We should show compassion for the weak who are spiritually unwell. If they remain unrepentant, we should let God rather than humans judge them.
Every organization has its regulations, and as an organization, the church must discipline pastors or workers who commit sins. However, ultimate judgment belongs to God; humans cannot take on the role of God as the ultimate judge. To act beyond our assigned responsibilities is to act from human impulse, not God. “We must trust in God’s fairness and justice; He will surely judge everyone according to their actions.”
Distinguishing Church and Pastors From God and Faith
Believers go to church, not to worship a specific building or pastor but God. The church and pastors are merely intermediaries. However, people often mistake the intermediary for the source, since they cannot see God directly and instead rely on the church and pastors.
Pastor Wang likens the role of the church and pastors to that of a matchmaker. In traditional Chinese society, a good matchmaker could facilitate a happy marriage between two people who had never met or knew little about each other. Ultimately, however, marriage is a relationship between the couple, one in which the matchmaker has no involvement. Pastors and the church serve similarly, acting as intermediaries between God and believers. But because people often only see the church and pastors, they end up equating the church with faith.
How to Protect Pastors?
First, don’t treat pastors as "leaders."
Pastor Wang suggests that neither co-workers nor believers should elevate pastors to the status of leaders, as this can lead to error.
Leadership positions bring dangers; if you regard yourself or are regarded by others as a leader, temptations arise. Humbling oneself and refusing such a title prevents this. Believers should also avoid elevating their pastors. In many cases of pastoral failures, believers bear some responsibility. Out of love and respect, believers sometimes place pastors on a pedestal, akin to God. Initially, a pastor might remain humble, but constant adulation can lead them to see themselves as godlike.
“I’m not fond of the term ‘church leader’; the true leader of the church is God, not any person.” Privilege tends to breed corruption, and this holds in the church as well. When everyone is treated equally and no one holds special privileges, the risk of failure decreases, reducing the likelihood of a pastor falling into sin.
Second, establish effective church oversight mechanisms.
Pastor Wang also believes that it’s crucial to define what constitutes a “good church,” “good believer,” and “good pastor.” Establishing these standards would lead to a more stable and healthy church environment, minimizing disruptions.
Many overseas churches have developed effective oversight mechanisms over decades or even centuries, but most Chinese churches are relatively new and unregulated. Before 2000, the situation was manageable; however, since then, economic bloom in China has led to churches having more funds, which has introduced a range of new problems.
One significant issue is that many churches operate independently with minimal or no oversight. While TSPM churches have some degree of supervision, resulting in fewer issues, non-registered churches often remain disorganized and resist joining the TSPM to avoid restrictions. Few people, particularly regarding financial matters, are willing to submit to oversight. Without proper accountability mechanisms, church leaders often hold substantial power, sometimes leading to “one-person rule.”
Pastor Wang believes that establishing effective oversight mechanisms to limit pastoral authority provides the best protection for pastors. When power is restricted, pastors face fewer opportunities to sin.
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
Christians, Are You Harming or Protecting Your Pastors?
