4. The combative
Paul warned Timothy about dangerous pastors, “The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all… ” (II Timothy 2:24).
Your committee will listen to the pastor’s sermons and talk with him privately enough to have an idea about this. Then, the references you run—particularly with his former staff members—will confirm to you one way or the other if he loves a good fight.
A combative personality in the pulpit can be entertaining the first time or two. But a steady diet of war-making from a dangerous pastor gets old quick and brands your church as a warmongering congregation (since pastors tend to make the people like themselves).
Is this pastor kind? Is he Christlike? Paul went on to Timothy, “But be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition” (II Timothy 2:24-25).
The pastor who is always spoiling for a fight has no business in the ministry. He needs to bring himself to the cross and die there, daily if necessary (I Corinthians 15:31).
