Ministerial Ethics A Guide For Spirit-Filled Leaders

252 Ministerial Ethics Part 3 The Ego Problem Chapter 13 Psychologists have instructed us that one of the firstThe Minister discoveries we make in our learning as infants is the ego or “self.” Often victims of poor ego development and have no true concept of self-discipline or self-restraint Influence: but are concerned only with satisfying their personalDealing with egos, those tiny centers of the small universe that Power and revolves around them. They go through life completely Authority out of control, submitting to every discernible drive of the ego, or sinful, fleshly nature. This tragic condi- tion is described in Power Encounter: “A third area of the works of the flesh is the social—evils committed in the realm of human relations. These include hatred, the attitude, and strife, the outcome of the attitude. Here also is emulation (zeelos, “zeal or ardor in a bad sense”). By it one feels jealous of others who hold posi- tions of leadership. Paul continues to list wrath, rage, and outbursts of anger as social sins as well as strife, selfish ambition, or self-seeking of a leadership office by unfair means.” 9 It takes a special work of grace to bring “self ” into conformity to the will of God. The Scriptures teach that this work of grace comes in stages: first, one must rule one’s self, then one’s home, and finally God’s house. In 1  Timothy 3:2–5, Paul outlines for the young min- ister the steps to qualifying to rule in the church. In verses  2 and 3, the minister exhibits self-control as an ethical man: “above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, . . . not violent but gen- tle.” The next lesson in self-control takes place at home: “He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect” (v. 4). Then 9 Charles Harris, “Power for Victorious Christian Living,” in Power Encounter: A Pentecostal Perspective, ed. Opal L. Reddin (Springfield, Mo.: Central Bible College Press Publishers, 1989), 145–72.

The Temptation to Abuse Power 253the rhetorical question “How can he take care of God’s Part 3church?” (v.  5) is without effect. More good advice onmanaging the personal ego problem in an ethical man- Chapter 13ner comes to us from 1 Peter 5:3: “Not lording it over The Ministerthose entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” and Influence: To deal with the personal ego problem effectively Dealing withrequires a miracle. That miracle took place at Calvary Power andcenturies ago. It is there at the Cross that we find new Authoritylife, new hope, new control of “self ” as never before.The key is found in Galatians 2:20: “I have been cruci-fied with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ livesin me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in theSon of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”With Christ living in me and through me, His beautifulnature will supersede my egotism and foolish pride. The Temptation to Abuse Power Who among us has not been tempted at times toclaim some of the perquisites of spiritual power, to aban-don restraint momentarily for personal benefit. This is atemptation we must look at directly, much in the man-ner described by Richard Foster addressing power andthe ministry:As we go into the desert of the heart, we enter with confi-dence, knowing that God is with us and will protect us. . . . There in the desert, alone, we look squarely into the faceof the seductive powers of greed and prestige. Satan temptsus with wild fantasies of status and influence. We feel theinner pull of these fantasies, because deep down we reallydo want to be the most important, the most respected, themost honored. We fancy ourselves before the cameras,in the judge’s seat, at the top of the heap. “After all,” wemuse, “aren’t these things nothing more than the desirefor excellence?” 1010 Foster, Money, Sex and Power, 222.

254 Ministerial Ethics Part 3 A peculiar twist often manifests itself in the character of the minister who does not have genuine leadership Chapter 13 in his home. He will often succumb, perhaps subcon-The Minister sciously, to the temptation to abuse the power he wields in the church in one way or another. On one occasion and in a former pastorate, I had invited a well-known evan- Influence: gelist for a series of consecutive special services in theDealing with church. I found it disturbing that he seemed to be over- Power and bearing and almost abusive in his relationship with my Authority family and with the musicians who accompanied his singing in the services. I discovered the problem within a few days. This man, who was well proportioned physically and decidedly masculine, confessed that when he was at home, he was often afraid to drop off to sleep following a disagreement with his wife, who was an aggressive businesswoman. His story brings to mind the apparently reliable rumors that floated around the town where I once pastored that a particu- lar judge of the circuit court, who traditionally meted out extremely harsh sentences, went home each eve- ning to live as peaceably as possible with a very domi- nant wife. In this connection one is reminded of King Ahab of the Old Testament, who at times was driven to diabolical extremes by his powerful queen, Jezebel (1  Kings 21:25). Such cases may be the exception, but they do exist. Another possible explanation for the abuse of power in and out of the pulpit may be that it is simply a reflec- tion of suppression and abuse suffered by the minister during childhood. This could have occurred through abusive parents or a dominating sibling. In other instances, having been completely spoiled as a child could be a factor. Often the temptation to abuse power is strongest when one moves into a leadership vacuum left by one’s predecessor. The incoming pastor may overreact to this tacit invitation to take control. On occasion ministers