Pastors: what is your perspective?

I came across contrasting texts the other day:

Paul wrote: I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. (Romans 15:14 ESV)

John wrote:

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.  So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. (3 John 1:9-10 ESV)

Do you see the contrast?

Paul views the church without control, with faith, with confidence in God and in them.  He is not denying the doctrine of sin. But he is amazed at the doctrine of regeneration and the indwelling of the Spirit.

There is no suspicion in Paul.  There is no fear of what they might do without his immediate oversight.  He does not seem to need to micromanage their lives.  He does not think they must have close and detailed pastoral care or they will not make it.

John is writing about another kind of pastor -- the control freak. He is busy ruling the church, telling the church who they may or may not have dinner with. He is busy being discerning and critiquing other pastors.  He is lording it over the flock.  He is telling them where to school their kids and whether to jump and how high.

And what is the difference?

Paul knows who God is,  Diotrephes thinks he is God. He thinks he should be the center of things.  Paul does not.  He is content to be a servant of the living God.

I read these words and realize I would never write what Paul wrote.  I would be concerned if I heard someone preach those words today.  But the man writing them is inspired, writing the very word of God. He is right.  I am wrong.

Pastors: do you trust God to work in your people?  What would your people say about your control of their lives?  about your heart for them?  are you suspicious of them?  are you "careful" with them?  Or do you want them to see Christ?  Do you believe Christ is at work and keeping them?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer looked at this from a different angle.  He put it this way:

A pastor should not complain about his congregation, certainly never to other people, but also not to God. A congregation has not been entrusted to him in order that he should become its accuser before God and men.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, p 29