The Pastor's Attitude Toward the Lord Jesus Christ
In June of 1972, I became the pastor of a congregation of 40 members, and they began to call me pastor. As someone who had never held a position in the church, it took a while to get used to it. I learned that the title must be worn with humility, always keeping in mind what the Lord said in Matthew 23:8-12 regarding leadership. Yet, of all the phrases that trouble me, “Montoya’s church” is high on the list. This is a common expression used throughout church history. We speak of Spurgeon’s Tabernacle, Moody’s church, Swindoll’s church, MacArthur’s church, and so on. The trouble is, when we forget biblical humility in pastoral leadership, some of us begin to believe it. We think it is our church and begin to behave accordingly. We speak “ex cathedra,” we lead autocratically, we behave narcissistically, and we fail miserably.
We need a constant reminder that we are pastors of Christ’s church and that we are serving Him. Ministry is all about Christ. But, sad to say, some of us have the wrong attitude about Christ in our ministry. Peter corrects this in his fourth exhortation on having the right attitudes (1 Peter 5:1-4).
Peter concludes with a gentle reminder of Christ’s faithfulness to faithful shepherds. Peter says, “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4). Even here, if we look closely, we can find a divine check on our attitudes, especially toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Submission to the Chief Shepherd
We don’t just find Rebellion towards Christ and His Word in the pews; we also find it in the pulpit. Examples of Christian leaders living in sin appear every week in the news. Peter’s unique use of the title “Chief Shepherd” should remind us that we are all under Christ’s authority.
Exhorting the flock to submit to God’s authority does not exempt us from submitting to the same admonition. We are shepherds assigned to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2), but we are not the Chief Shepherd. We are under His charge; we answer to Him. His Scriptures apply to us. What we preach to others we preach first to ourselves, submitting with a willing heart.
Trust in the Chief Shepherd
Pastors can succumb to the weight of ministry. Burnout, exhaustion, and depression are hazards. We even hear of pastors taking their own lives. But there is a sweet reminder in the title “Chief Shepherd” that may serve as an antidote. As the Chief Shepherd, the flock belongs to Christ, not us. We are stewards and undershepherds. One evening, early in my ministry, I came home exhausted, depressed, and totally “out of gas.” In an almost unholy manner I said, “Lord, I’m tired and I’m going to sleep. It’s your church. You take care of it.” Then I crashed.
Later, I realized I wasn’t far from the truth. Christ is the Chief Shepherd. I work for Him, and I can trust Him. Pastors, we don’t need to despair. Instead, we can adopt biblical humility in pastoral leadership. He will finish what we cannot complete. He will fix what we unknowingly break. He will bring all of His own home (John 10:28-29; Hebrews 13:20-21).
Hope in the Chief Shepherd
Ministry is a profession in which we don’t always see the result of our efforts in this life. Unlike the carpenter or educator, we don’t behold the finished product. People groups are still lost without the gospel, the church is imperfect, saints still sin, and there is always one more sermon to preach. Ministry is always uphill. And so we may ask ourselves, “Is it worth it?” If we think not, we become critical, cynical, negative, frustrated, and joyless.
Peter challenges our attitude by reminding us that the one who employs us, our Chief Shepherd, keeps good accounts and He will repay each one of His undershepherds. He is faithful to bestow upon us “the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4), a reward only reserved for undershepherds. We’ll receive this award when “He appears,” when we stand in His presence and He says, “Well done, good and faithful slave” (Matthew 25:21). The master pays the day laborer at the end of the day. Payment comes when the work is finished. Let’s adopt the attitude of those project laborers who await the final celebration (1 Corinthians 15:58).
A Word from Eric Liddell
It was one hundred years ago, in 1924, that Eric Liddell made history by refusing to run on the Sabbath according to his convictions, and then proceeded to take bronze in the 200 and gold in the 400. In the Olympic Games, the majority of the athletes go home empty handed, having nothing to show for their efforts. A few, like Liddell, go home with a reward.
Eric has a word for those who go home empty handed. He has a word for pastors who await the reward from the Chief Shepherd. Eric Liddell said, “It has been a wonderful experience to compete in the Olympic Games and to bring home a gold medal. But since I have been a young lad, I have had my eyes on a different prize. You see, each one of us is in a greater race than any I have run in Paris, and this race ends when God gives out the medals” (Common Good, Issue 16, p. 50).
Dear fellow pastor, we are not home yet. Let’s run hard to please the Lord and let’s enjoy the race.
Biblical Humility in Pastoral Leadership
Peter concludes the epistle by reminding us that the proper attitudes toward the Lord Jesus, the Chief Shepherd of all shepherds, have a wonderful outcome. If you, pastor, will humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, He will exalt you at the proper time (1 Peter 5:6). If you, leader, will cast all your anxiety on Him, He will care for you (1 Peter 5:7). If you, fellow elder, will endure hardship for a little while, the God of all grace will one day call you to His eternal glory (1 Peter 5:10). In addition to the unfading crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4), the Chief Shepherd, our righteous judge, will award you the crown of righteousness because you have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8). Have the right attitude towards Christ, the Chief Shepherd, and He will take care of the rest.
©2023 Alex Montoya. Used with permission.
About The Author

Alex Montoya
Alex D. Montoya is the senior pastor at First Fundamental Bible Church in Whittier, Calif. He is the author of the book, Preaching with a Passion.