If a pastor sins, is he still qualified to be a pastor?
Question:
If a pastor sins and then repents, is he still qualified to be a pastor? I don’t know the Bible from cover to cover, but I’ve heard some Christians say that a pastor can no longer preach if he has sinned. I’m wondering if a pastor who has truly repented of his sin can still serve in that role. Peter denied Jesus three times, and the Lord forgave him after he repented. Why is it that he can’t have the role of a pastor even after repenting?
Answer:
In the Bible, the various duties in the church often go by multiple names. For example, preachers are also referred to as evangelists and ministers (see Preachers). Elders, Bishop or Overseer, and Pastor refer to another duty in the church (see Elders). Not everyone who preaches is a pastor, although a few elders also preach (I Timothy 5:17).
There are numerous qualifications for a man before he can be appointed an elder (I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Preachers have fewer qualifications (see The Qualifications of Preachers and Preachers). Preachers are not appointed. They are men who choose to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
If a preacher or elder had to be sinless, then there would be no preachers or elders since everyone sins (Romans 3:23) and to claim to be without sin is a lie (I John 1:8-10). As you noted, Peter sinned on a few occasions, yet he served as an apostle, a preacher, and an elder (I Peter 5:1). He did not remain in his sins, so he was not disqualified from serving the Lord. Timothy was instructed, "Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning" (I Timothy 5:19-20). Notice that there is an implication that some elders might sin and not remain in their sins.
This being said, it must be noted that some sins can cause a preacher or an elder so much shame that it would become difficult for him to continue his work. It is not required, but some decide to leave the work for a period of time to rebuild their lives and their reputations.
