The dictionary defines "reciprocate" as "giving and receiving." Concerning loyalty in the church, I have found that far too many preachers demand and expect whole-hearted loyalty from their people but are strangely unwilling to be as equally loyal to them in return. This is a problem and it needs to be addressed.

While preaching on one of the hottest topics in his church, a pastor noticed one of his key men walk out in the middle of the message. With much less than a gracious spirit, the preacher angrily confronted him about his supposed disrespectful actions which he knew to be a sure sign of a disloyal member. After a lengthy lecture on pastoral authority and warning him to never again show public disapproval of the preacher's position, the man was finally allowed to speak. He told his pastor that he was sick with the flu and that he had left the service so that he could vomit in private. He was not mad, disloyal, or rebellious, just physically ill; but now, wounded in his spirit. Why? Because the man he had been extremely loyal to had failed to be loyal in kind.

Sometimes we as preachers mistake discernment for omniscience and forget in our pride that we are human and do not always know the whole story. Your precious people (without which you would have no ministry) deserve the same respect and loyalty you expect of them. 'Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12.

Evangelist Dave Handley

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