How should the fear of God affect pastors? In this video, Jason Dohm explains that pastors have many opportunities to fear or be anxious about a variety of church issues. The job of a pastor is to faithfully bring the Word of God to their congregation – however, their congregation does not always interpret his words and actions in a positive light. Despite their worries that their congregation might react in a negative way, pastors should fear God and not their congregation. The success of their church is in the hands of Christ. If they labor faithfully and speak as He has called them to, they can have peace, knowing that they are pleasing God. 1 Peter 5:2-5 (NKJV) – “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

Pastors have many temptations to fear. Fear how things are going to appear or be interpreted. It's really your job as a shepherd to speak into people's lives as best you can, as best as you understand it, to bring the word of God to bear to be a blessing to people. That's not always interpreted. Your words and your actions are not always interpreted that way.

And so I know there's always a fear in my heart that my words and my actions will be misinterpreted and thought to be something. You know what? Shepherds need to fear God, and they need to work to be understood, but they shouldn't be afraid of being misunderstood. They should fear God and know that the success of any church is in the hands of Christ. He's the head of the church.

And if we fear him and we labor faithfully to do the things that he's commanded, to speak the words that he's told us to speak, the other things will work out. He knows how to manage his church. He knows how to grow his church.