As I travel to churches in the United States and around the world I come across far too many stories of people in the congregation who have moved against their pastor for one reason or another. Last week I heard yet another story of this happening. Sometimes, an uprising against a minister is justified. Perhaps the pastor is straying from sound doctrine. Perhaps he is not living a good clean and moral life. Perhaps he is becoming too dictatorial and loves to have the preeminence. Perhaps he is not executing the role of a shepherd and has become too much of an administrator. There are valid reasons for concern over the behavior of a pastor. However, my counsel to congregational members is this. Before you try to terminate your pastor and his ministry be careful.

First, be careful that you do not have a root of bitterness in your own heart for it will spring up and defile many. Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. It is possible to tell a man in one meeting he is "loved" and hug his neck, and then in the very next action move behind his back to hurt him through others. It happens and it is wrong. This can only be done because a deep seated root of bitterness in the heart suddenly springs up.

Second, be careful of judging. The Bible does not prohibit righteous judging as per John 7:24, "judge righteous judgment". What Jesus did warn against is a censorious spirit that does not first deal with any level of hypocrisy in self. "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5).

Third, remember that love will cover sin. Love will not cover up sin but love will cover it. It takes a lot of non loving action and attitude to move to terminate a pastor through verbal slander and written libel, secret meetings and the use of a parliamentary manual that is contrary to the Bible and not even recognized by the church’s constitutional bylaws. It takes a lot of non loving action and attitude to try to discredit a minister’s reputation and damage his ministry all the while thinking that self in justified in the process. Whatever this is it is not love. No matter what rational is given 1 Corinthians 13 condemns it all.

Fourth, remember there is a payday someday for each of us. Paul said of one man who tried to hurt his ministry, "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works" (2 Timothy 4:14). And the Lord will.

Fifth, it is far better when brethren dwell together in unity. "How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1).

Finally, even when there has been a breach of fellowship there can be restoration illustrated by Joseph with his brethren. Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil [injurious behavior] against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. I personally have never known a pastor who would not extend a forgiving hand and loving heart towards those who have sought to hurt him based upon gospel repentance. It is the will of the Lord. Oh Christian, before you to try to terminate your pastor and his ministry be careful.