On Sunday mornings we have been working our way through the book of Malachi. On thing that has been screaming out at me week-after-week is the fact that God begins His rebuke (and saves His sternest rebuke) for the spiritual leadership of the nation of Israel (cf. 1:6; 2:1, 4, 7, 8; 3:3). The strongest section is found in chapter 2. Read these words and let them sink in:

⁷For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. ⁸But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, ⁹and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction. (Malachi 2:7-9)

Wow, what an indictment. God didn’t shy away from taking them out behind the proverbial woodshed. He bent them over His knee and thoroughly got to the seat of the problem.

What are some of the lessons we learn from this?

First, the direction of spiritual leaders is the direction of the people. The entire nation stumbled because of the wrong teaching of the priests. The tone of the book of Malachi is belligerence. The people were debating God’s steadfast love because the priests began doing it.

Teaching God’s people God’s Word carries with it a high level of accountability. Teachers of God’s Word can’t mess up and then say, “Oops, my bad.” That may be okay every once in a while, but to consistently mislead people through sloppy teaching is unconscionable. Remember the words of James?

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers [and sisters], for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (James 3:1)

Repentance is the only way out. Once the wrong has been pointed out the only course of action is to seek forgiveness and change direction. This is what God was shooting for in Malachi, but unfortunately it didn’t take place. We see the theological mess when Jesus shows up 450 years later.

This is why it’s crazy for us to think being a pastor or spiritual leader is cool. Too often this is the reason behind choosing this path. We think becoming a pastor is a piece of cake with lots of benefits. It would be “off the chain” to lead a group of people, teach them, and play with the youth once in a while. That is so far from the truth it’s pitiful.

The life of a pastor is a wonderful life. I love what God has called me to do, but my calling doesn’t come from what I think is hip and cool; my calling comes from the LORD of hosts who tapped me on the shoulder in 1981. It was a calling that I couldn’t shake. I am compelled to pastor and I would be miserable if I had to go through a season of not under-shepherding a group of Jesus’ disciples.

I write this not looking for pity or accolades; I write this letting you know that when the church gets off course God will begin the process of correction with me. He will take me over His knee to get us back on track.