Doing Right while Doing Good

An Exploration of Ministerial Ethics

Kenneth Bickel, Kevin Vanderground

• Publisher: BMH Books
• Year: 2012
• eBook ISBN: 9780884692881
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Church

Right and wrong conduct by Christian pastors has an enormous impact on churches and society. Ken Bickel and Kevin Vanderground say, "when ministry leaders grieviously fail, the ripple effects often extend well beyond what any one person can comprehend."

Practical case studies are sprinkled throughout, providing conversation starters for church boards, groups of pastors, or individuals who care about integrity in the ministry. Useful to pastors and students alike, the guidelines proposed here will help application of scripture's principles to practical dilemmas pastors face.

Writing from a context of information about legal trends and information, the authors here proposed a ministerial code of conduct that covers many situations never envisioned by those young in the ministry.

CHAPTER ONE

FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES

As the joists, rafters and studs of a home must stand upon an adequate foundation, so the specifics of a covenant of ethics must stand upon some important foundational convictions and commitments.

Recognition of Impact

Back in the early 1990s a very well-known sports figure in our society announced he was not a role model and young people should not look to him as one. The prudence of this athlete’s statement, given his popularity, is not the issue here. Pastors are the issue. They can’t attempt the same announcement. Disclaiming the responsibility of being role models cannot be done (1 Pet. 5:3). Only a few ministers today have the Apostle Paul’s courage to exhort the Corinthians to “follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1), but they should assume that responsibility.

As pastors preach their listeners take note of how they apply the biblical principles they proclaim—for example, do they preach with care and concern or with condemnation and derision? As pastors teach their flocks that the Bible calls Christians to “show proper respect to everyone” (1 Pet. 2:17), do they show that respect toward a wide variety of people in all contexts?

While virtually all ministers would acknowledge this obligation (of being a role model), many forget this responsibility in the midst of daily life. When misdeeds—moral sins, unethically handled funds, or ungodly treatment of others—become public, these actions injure those who look to them for spiritual leadership. They shame and offend their followers. Worse, the minister grants tacit license to sin similarly.

Ministers may dislike living in glass houses, but that’s like admitting that firemen don’t like heavy smoke and blistering heat. So what? It goes with the job. Moreover, when ministers willingly accept this reality and embrace the responsibility, it can provide helpful accountability. All of us might do some things knowing God is watching, but refrain from doing the same things if acquaintances are watching. Just about anything that keeps us from sin is good.

Integrity

In this context, integrity speaks of living consistently with one’s stated belief system. It surfaces when individuals practice daily what they profess to believe, when they stand true to their beliefs even if it means sacrifice. They act as they believe they ought even if no one is looking.

In addition to providing a good model for others, integrity also provides a sense of satisfaction. We continue as imperfect followers of Christ until our time on earth is done, and that imperfection prompts us toward humility. It also prompts us to depend on God. It prompts us to show compassion to others who fail. Further, we believe that God normally allows us to make decisions about whether we are going to obey Him or not. He has granted us the freedom to be volitional people. Thus, when we choose to obey Him, especially when it would be easier or more fun to disregard His commands, we can legitimately feel satisfied that we made a good choice. However, a track record of good decisions should not prompt us to become like the Pharisee of Luke 18:9-14. (There still remain too many wretched attitudes within us; they represent sinfulness even if we don’t act upon them). But, those repeated good decisions can provide a sense of peace and confidence as we stand before the Lord.

While that sense of peace and confidence may seem oxymoronic—self-serving and God-honoring—it can stand as a reward for consistent faithfulness. Thus, a minister’s integrity will not only provide a wholesome model for others, it will also provide a sense of personal well-being in life. We believe, if remembered on a regular basis, this should lead to a stronger dedication to ethical and moral behavior.

Faith

We agree with the conviction that faith calls for more than mere cognitive agreement with truth. Biblical faith expects that believers will act on that cognitive agreement even if doubts cloud the heart. For example, if we acknowledge that God calls Christians to obey the government’s laws (those that do not interfere with obedience to God), then faith calls us to obey the government’s building codes, even if it’s both expensive and seemingly unnecessary. Faith prohibits writing a charitable giving receipt for money donated as a personal gift. Faith requires us to tell the truth when doing so might make us look bad.

Many times, unethical behaviors do not represent confusion over what’s right or wrong. They represent a lack of faith to do what’s right and true because the cost of doing so seems too high.

But the Lord calls us to be people of faith, especially those who would present themselves as ministry leaders. Faith begins with an acknowledgement of proclaimed truth; but it becomes a living faith when decisions are made in concord with that truth, even if it’s not particularly shrewd in common life.

Submission

Many Christian leaders don’t think much about the responsibility to live in submission to others, apart from their need to submit to those in authority over them (the Lord, the government, others farther up the ladder of authority). But Ephesians 5:21 calls us to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” In fact, this call for mutual submission is linked grammatically with being filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18).

Why is this significant for ministerial ethics? As mentioned in the Introduction, while some aspects of the mosaic that represents ministerial ethics within a given church attach clearly to biblical principles, other aspects represent ideas that have arisen within the culture of that church. Is it wrong for a minister to earn more than the average member of the church? Some church cultures would say “yes;” others would say “no.” Does the pastor have to wear a suit and tie when he preaches, even if the men in the pews do not? Again, some would say “yes;” others would not.⁶

We maintain that wise pastors will seek to understand the cultural rules that have arisen among the people they serve, and willingly submit to those rules (We do not maintain that pastors should submit to the individual notions of each person they serve, but to the ideas of the group as a whole). Some issues of style and practice are not important enough to contend for if they result in the undermining of the pastor’s ministry. Submission is not a sign of weakness; it often demonstrates strength; it often demonstrates wisdom.

Dependence on God

Jesus urged His disciples to remain vitally connected with Him because, “apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Much of the transformation in people’s lives that pastors are hoping to see happen requires the supernatural working of the Lord. Pastors can’t pull off an individual’s salvation and sanctification with their own strength.

Furthermore, the intricate problems that arise in highly complex societies like ours require a level of wisdom that is far beyond our own abilities. Pastors deeply need God’s wisdom and guidance.

Recognizing this would seem to help pastors live every day with an unwavering sense of dependence on the Lord. Unfortunately, some realities mitigate against such dependence. As pastors acquire ministry education and training, a measure of self-confidence grows. As they gain experience in the art and craft of shepherding a local church, that self-confidence continues to grow. Previously successful words, actions, and reactions can be employed customarily when similar (or apparently similar) situations arise. Self-reliance insidiously replaces a pastor’s awareness of needing God’s help.

But, the reality remains. The pastor’s business is a supernatural enterprise, and it is good to cling to the need for God’s help.

These thoughts intersect with ethical considerations. Many breaches of ethics represent pastors’ efforts to handle difficult situations with decisions that arise out of their own sense of astuteness and expediency.

For example, the church budget may be very tight. Funds are insufficient to care for some of the current bills. The pastor fears that the reputation of the church will be damaged by the late payment of bills. A substantial amount of money lies fallow in one of the church’s restricted funds— money donated by individuals who have instructed that it be used solely for supporting pastoral students in Africa. Drawing upon those funds to pay the bills will prevent ridicule from being directed toward the Lord’s church. Also, it’s relatively easy to convince the church treasurer to go ahead and pay those bills out of those restricted funds. It seems like such a minor sin; easily justifiable.

Unfortunately, breaches of ethics can readily become like a cancer, starting small but growing into a life-threatening problem if not dealt with through ofte...

Table of contents

• Acknowledgments
• Foreword by Knute Larson
• Preface
• Introduction
• Chapter One – Foundational Issues
• Chapter Two – Worthy of the Calling
• Chapter Three – Above Reproach in the Body
• Chapter Four – Showing Respect for Fellow-Servants
• Chapter Five – A Manner Worthy of the Gospel
• Chapter Six – Showing Respect for the Calling (Part 1)
• Chapter Seven – Showing Res
• Chapter Eight – Showing Respect for the Calling (Part 3)
• Appendix – Statement of Ministerial Ethics
• Endnotes