Should we hold spiritual leaders to a higher standard than ourselves?

Commitment is key to moral behavior

The Rev. Bill Woodard, pastor, West Side Presbyterian Church, 1024 Kasold Drive:

Should we hold our spiritual leaders to higher standards?

No. But then again, shouldn’t we all hold ourselves to high standards?

The tendency will be and has been that spiritual leaders, or any leaders for that matter, need to be super human.

They need to be perfect, and no one can be. As the apostle Paul said, we are in a state of sin, and we commit sins. We are human beings. How often have we used the phrase, “I’m only human”? We cannot be super heroes.

We have always tried to be God (Adam and Eve and the tree of knowledge), but we have failed.

So, try as we might, can we be held to higher standards?

Does that mean we should accept lower standards?

I think there is a better question to ask: Are our spiritual leaders (or any leaders) committed to moral and ethical standards of behavior or action?

In a Christian sense, there are Christians that are Committed (capital “C”), and there are Christians that are committed (lower-case “c”).

The lower case means going to church on Sunday but then not being moral or ethical at work or on Saturday night, etc. The capital “C” means always trying to be moral and ethical regardless of the situation, and always asking, “What is the right thing to do?”

And when we fail, which we will, we recognize it, repent and then try harder in our Commitment.

And then again we will fail, repent, be forgiven and go back to trying harder.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the whole world could be Committed?

Should we expect our spiritual leaders to be Committed? Yes.

Send e-mail to revwood2000@hotmail.com.

God holds all people to standard of perfection

Bob Leiste, pastor, Lawrence Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2700 Lawrence Ave.:

Yes and no.

Yes, in that God does hold leaders to a higher standard.

For example, in 1st Timothy 3, there is a listing of qualifications for an “overseer” in the church.

This list includes teachings about marriage, family, money and so on.

Gross failure of these qualifications does not necessarily remove one from the church, but it may remove one from leadership within the church. Leaders are expected to work to fulfill the standards of God at a higher level.

Yet church members must understand that their leaders are not perfect. St. Paul said of himself, “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19).

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But even here, leaders can lead like Paul did. For Paul did not stop being an apostle but led people to the cross and the forgiveness of God found in Jesus Christ.

Leaders are able to model a trust in God’s forgiveness and restoration and lead people in that way to God’s grace in Jesus Christ.

Is the standard set higher than anyone else in the faith? No.

God holds all people to a standard of perfection. If members hold themselves to a lower standard since they are not “leaders,” they are, in effect, abusing the forgiving nature of God.

Seeking to follow God’s standard for his people is seeking to be whom God has called believers to be: a holy, royal people set apart for his glory and purposes.

All Christians are to seek to be the people God has called us to be, and this is most especially true among the leadership of his church.

Send e-mail to raleiste@yahoo.com.