When the Shepherd Stumbles — What Then?
The Pastor’s Characteristics Are Present Tense, Not Past Tense
We all agree that pastors should be men of godly integrity. The Apostle Paul wrote clearly about the characteristics and attributes of a bishop — but what happens when that man no longer bears those traits?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: the Bible (KJV) gives us what a pastor must be, but it doesn’t spell out what to do when he ceases to be that. That silence leaves a holy responsibility in the hands of the church — to act with both truth and grace.
1. The Word Gives Characteristics, Not Career Qualifications
“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous.”
— 1 Timothy 3:1–3 KJV
Notice it carefully: “must be.” Not “must have been.”
Paul writes in present tense — describing a man whose current life displays godly character. These are not old testimonies; they are living attributes.
The same truth appears in Titus 1:6–9. The bishop must be blameless, must be holy, must be just. It’s not a résumé — it’s a reflection of who he is today.
If a pastor once met these attributes but now lives contrary to them, he has stepped outside the biblical description of what a bishop is supposed to be. Scripture does not give him a pass because of past faithfulness. The standard is ongoing.
2. What Scripture Does—and Doesn’t—Say
The Bible tells us what a pastor must be, but it’s far less explicit about what happens when those attributes are lost.
“Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”
— 1 Timothy 5:19–20 KJV
That means accountability is not optional. When a pastor sins, it is not cruelty to confront — it is obedience. But the Word doesn’t hand us a procedural manual. It leaves the application to the wisdom and courage of the church.
3. When the Shepherd Ceases to Bear the Attributes
If a pastor no longer lives in these present-tense characteristics — if his home is out of order, his spirit no longer sober, his integrity compromised — he must face that truth.
The right response is not to hide, spin, or defend. The biblical pattern suggests this:
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Step away from the office to tend to the issue.
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Repent sincerely, not just publicly.
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Be restored spiritually before attempting restoration to ministry.
This is not punishment; it’s protection — for the man, the ministry, and the message.
4. The Church’s Role in Restoration
Churches often struggle here. Some react in silence, others in shame. But the scriptural way is both truthful and gracious:
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Confront fairly and with witnesses.
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Suspend leadership duties until repentance and healing are evident.
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If repentance is genuine, begin a guided process of restoration.
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If not, the pastor is no longer a bishop — because he no longer is what Scripture says a bishop must be.
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
— Galatians 6:1 KJV
Restoration should be gentle but firm. Grace does not erase standards — it empowers obedience.
5. Present Tense Means Present Accountability
Here’s the part that ruffles feathers:
If the characteristics of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are present-tense requirements, then a man is qualified to serve only as long as those attributes are currently true in his life.
He cannot lean on past holiness to cover present sin. He cannot hide behind the former fruit while the current tree withers. The “must be” of Scripture is God’s reminder that character is not cumulative — it is continual.
6. Truth and Grace Together
When a shepherd stumbles, the church’s duty is not vengeance or blind defense — it is truth and grace, in that order.
Truth says, “These are God’s standards, and they have not changed.”
Grace says, “There is forgiveness, and there can be restoration.”
When both are held together, the church reflects Christ — righteous, merciful, and real.
Final Thought
The attributes of a pastor are not a trophy case of who he used to be; they are the daily evidence of who he is right now.
If that truth shakes us, it should. The Church of Jesus Christ deserves shepherds who live the Word they preach — not in perfection, but in integrity.
So when the shepherd stumbles, let the church act with courage, the pastor with humility, and the Lord with mercy.
Because in the Kingdom, restoration is possible — but it must always begin with repentance and truth.
Call to Action
If you’re a pastor, read 1 Timothy 3 aloud this week. Ask yourself: “Are these things true of me today?”
If you’re a church member, pray for your leaders. Hold them to the Word — lovingly, but firmly.
Let’s bring back the holy weight of the phrase: “must be.”