Beware of the Compare–“As compared to what?”

The layman droned on about his views on the shortcomings of his pastor. The leader in question was a man of close acquaintance, a person I had spent multiple hours with over the last 15 years.

Like most leaders the pastor in question had much strength. Along with those strengths he did have some weaknesses as well. Over that same period the church had grown, thrived, planted churches, sent out leaders to other kingdom causes and he led the church in bettering its own local community. Now, it is true that he is no longer the “hot young pistol” he once was in church circles. The younger set generally knew him not.

Bob Buford always taught me to ask the question: “As compared to what?” and so I did.

The response from the layman was telling. He mentioned a leader/pastor several states away. He had listened to some messages via podcast, read his book and even attended a conference where this man had spoken. He described how things worked there to the best of his knowledge.

I knew that leader/pastor quite well too, and indeed the layman was correct. He is a fine leader and they have a good ministry in their city. That leader is a generation younger, hipper and has more prominence in today’s leadership circles.

But I also know that leader well enough to know his downsides, indeed that leader has brought to me some issues in confidence for my counsel on multiple occasions. He is also an humble learner and like most pastors of growing churches, is always running into issues involved in having the tiger by the tail.

Without betraying a confidence I had to say to the layman “I know that man well and he is a good man. We have spoken many times about issues within their church. We all write books and tell the positive things we have learned through the battles, but we rarely tell the hard things while we are in the midst of them. If you would live with that church and pastor for a season, I am sure you would find things are not always as they appear from a distance. I choose to celebrate both men for their leadership.”

I am not sure he was satisfied with my answer, but no matter, my heart was clear.

I am blessed to work with a great group of pastoral leaders from around the world. I love each of them in their own way. I celebrate their strengths and know of their challenges. I am not oblivious.

But when you hear a critic, ask “As compared to what?” Often the critic is describing their view of an ideal that does not exist.