Reverend

We’re a long way from the days when the Domini (as pastors used to be called by my Dutch-American forebears) was one of the most honored men in the community. He was treated with respect, sought out for advice, and listened to carefully.

Now we’re as likely to view preachers with some skepticism. After all, they’ve never had to live in the real world. They’ve never had to hit performance metrics or compete for customers. They don’t know what it’s like to go to work every morning with a bunch of unbelievers.

I think we’re often too hard on our pastors. I think Paul was onto something when he said this to the Corinthians about himself and Apollos, two bringers of the Gospel message that the Corinthians saw as competitors (1 Corinthians 4:1): “This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.”

No matter what judgments we might want to make about those called to pastorship, these two things are true. If truly called, then they are God’s servants, doing their best with their gifts and circumstances to obey him and serve his people.

Also, they are entrusted with God’s mysteries as revealed in scripture.They spent years learning from other gifted, Spirit-filled men. They themselves have spent countless hours reading, studying, and in prayer. God uses them to communicate his truths to us; he gifts them with the understanding that their flocks need.

It doesn’t really matter if they’re smart about money or fashion. Leadership and administrative skills are a plus, but not required. Their primary role is to help us see and understand God.

That’s why I like the old term, “Reverend.” It seems to me to convey the proper respect for these men, and now women, who have given so much time to understanding God, and helping us to as well.