Restoring Pastoral Integrity

PRESUPPOSITION:  Pastoral Integrity Must Be Restored.  Today, Christian Ministry is suspect largely in part to the lack of integrity in pastoral ministry.  Christianity is increasingly becoming the object of unnecessary ridicule, scorn, and critticism.  Some indignaation is to be expected because of the believer's relationship to Jesus Christ.  Jesus said of believers, "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, eveen as I am not of the world" (John 17:14).  Consequently, some ridicule, scorn, and criticism are to be expected.  However, there is a great deal of criticism leveled against the body of Christ because of the inconsistency seen in pastoral leadership.  Much of this is in large measure due to the number of uncalled, untrained, and unqualified men who serve as shepherds over God's flock.  Horror stories abound regarding pastors and other church leaders who drink, smoke, gamble, and use profanity.  Other pastors and church leaders are accused of having resorted to a flirtatious and sexually promiscuous lifestyle.  Still others are said to be manipulators, using their church authority to accomplish their personal goals and agendas.  As a result, disenchanted church members have all but abandoned mainline denominations and some have even embraced religious cults.  We need pastoral integrity restored.  We need every pastor to seriously consider what God says as to the basic qualification of the pastor ("The bishop must be above reproach", 1 Tim. 3:1-2)