Every summer, many people across the country continue working while schools close for the holidays. Parents often juggle childcare, annual leave and work commitments, with many employees receiving around four weeks of paid holiday each year, sometimes a little more depending on their employer.

Yet in some churches, pastors take extended summer breaks—sometimes six weeks or more—because their children are off school or because the church’s activities slow down over the summer.

This raises an honest question.

Should pastors receive special treatment that many of the people they serve cannot?

The Biblical Picture of Leadership

The New Testament presents church leadership as a calling of service rather than privilege.

Jesus said:

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26)

A pastor is called to shepherd God’s people, teach the Scriptures, pray, encourage, care for the vulnerable and equip believers for ministry.

None of these responsibilities suggest that a pastor should never take holidays. Rest is healthy, and even Jesus withdrew at times to pray and rest with His disciples.

However, neither do the Scriptures suggest that church leaders should expect privileges simply because they hold office.

Fairness Matters

Most members of a congregation work full-time jobs.

They may work in hospitals, factories, schools, offices, shops, garages or emergency services.

Many receive a standard holiday allowance from their employer and often cannot choose when they take it.

Some sacrifice family time, work weekends or public holidays, and still faithfully serve their local church.

If a pastor consistently enjoys significantly greater time away than those they shepherd, it is understandable that some members may ask whether this reflects the servant-hearted example found in Scripture.

Is a Pastor’s Work Different?

Some would argue that pastoral ministry brings unique pressures.

Pastors often deal with grief, conflict, counselling, funerals, weddings, preaching preparation and the emotional weight of caring for a congregation.

Those responsibilities are real and should not be dismissed.

For that reason, it is entirely reasonable for churches to ensure that pastors have adequate opportunities to rest and recover.

The question is not whether pastors should have holidays.

The question is whether they should receive substantially greater benefits than those who faithfully support and fund the ministry, after all people who work for example in prison services in tougher environments away from the church do not.

Servanthood Before Privilege

Christian leadership should never create a culture where leaders appear to be treated differently simply because of their position.

The apostle Peter instructed elders:

“Be shepherds of God’s flock… not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:2–3)

Example is one of the greatest qualifications of leadership.

A congregation is far more likely to respect a pastor who demonstrates humility, sacrifice and consideration than one who appears to expect privileges unavailable to everyone else.

A Church Should Be Able to Continue

Another practical consideration is the life of the church itself.

A healthy church should not become dependent on one individual.

If the ministry cannot function while one pastor is away, that may indicate that too much responsibility rests with a single person.

The New Testament consistently presents ministry as something shared among gifted believers rather than centred on one personality.

Churches can often use holiday periods to encourage other elders, teachers and gifted members to preach and serve, allowing both rest for leaders and growth for the wider body.

A Matter of Wisdom, Not Entitlement

There is no biblical command stating that pastors should receive six weeks of annual leave.

Likewise, there is no biblical command limiting them to four weeks.

These are matters of employment arrangements and local church governance.

Whatever arrangement is made should be guided by wisdom, transparency and fairness.

It should recognise both the genuine demands of pastoral ministry and the reality that those supporting the church often work under similar pressures with less flexibility.

Conclusion

Pastors deserve rest, just as every worker does.

Congregations also deserve faithful shepherds who lead by example rather than by privilege and entitlement.

Whether a pastor receives four weeks, six weeks or another amount of annual leave is ultimately a decision for the local church. The more important question is whether the arrangement reflects wise stewardship, transparency and the servant-hearted pattern of leadership taught in the New Testament.

Christian leadership is at its strongest when it is marked not by special treatment, but by humility, integrity and a willingness to serve others before oneself.

The word “lackey” does not appear anywhere in the Bible. However, the behaviour that the word describes is addressed throughout Scripture. A lackey is someone who follows another person without question, repeats their opinions, protects their reputation at all costs, and often seeks favour through unquestioning loyalty rather than truth.

The Bible repeatedly teaches that Christians are called to follow Jesus Christ, not to become the unquestioning servants of human leaders.

Christ Must Always Be First

Every Christian leader is accountable to God. Pastors, elders, teachers and church members all stand on equal ground before Christ as sinners saved by grace.

Problems begin when loyalty shifts away from Christ and towards a particular leader. Instead of asking, “Is this biblical?”, people begin asking, “What does the pastor think?” or “What does the leadership want us to believe?”

This is a dangerous place for any church.

The Sin of “Eyeservice”

Paul warned servants not to work merely to impress people.

“Obey… not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” (Ephesians 6:5-6)

A similar warning appears in Colossians 3:22:

22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

The principle applies far beyond the workplace.

A church lackey often performs for the approval of church leadership rather than for the approval of Christ. Their concern becomes pleasing people instead of pleasing God.

They may:

• Constantly agree with leadership regardless of whether Scripture supports it.
• Defend poor decisions simply because they came from those in authority.
• Repeat teaching they have not personally tested against God’s Word.
• Seek recognition and favour by showing unquestioning loyalty.

This is exactly the sort of “people-pleasing” that Paul warns against.

Repeating Rather Than Thinking

Healthy Christian teaching encourages believers to search the Scriptures.

The Bereans were praised because they examined Paul’s teaching daily to see whether it was true (Acts 17:11).

A lackey, however, often does the opposite.

Instead of carefully examining Scripture, they simply repeat what they have been told.

Questions become discouraged.

Independent Bible study becomes viewed with suspicion.

Agreement becomes valued above discernment.

Eventually, the leader’s opinion begins to carry more weight than God’s Word.

The Trap of Flattery

The book of Proverbs repeatedly warns against flattery.

“A man who flatters his neighbour spreads a net for his feet.” (Proverbs 29:5)

Flattery often works both ways.

Followers flatter leaders in order to gain influence, acceptance or status.

Leaders enjoy being surrounded by people who never disagree with them.

The result is an unhealthy culture where honest biblical correction slowly disappears.

Truth becomes less important than maintaining favour.

The Lazy Servant

In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus rebukes the servant who buried what had been entrusted to him.

The master called him:

“You wicked and slothful servant.” (Matthew 25:26)

Although this parable is not specifically about church leadership, it illustrates an important principle.

God expects His people to think, act faithfully and responsibly with what He has entrusted to them.

A Christian cannot excuse spiritual laziness by saying, “I was only following instructions.”

Each believer is personally responsible before God.

Warning Signs of Church Lackeyism

A church may be developing an unhealthy culture when:

• Scripture is rarely examined independently.
• Members quote leaders more than they quote Christ.
• Honest questions are viewed as rebellion.
• Loyalty is measured by agreement rather than biblical faithfulness.
• Certain individuals are treated as though they possess unique spiritual authority that cannot be questioned.
• Members feel pressure to defend leadership even when genuine concerns arise.
• People repeat teaching they have never personally tested against Scripture.

These attitudes do not build mature Christians.

They build dependence on people.

Biblical Leadership Looks Different

Jesus taught a completely different model of leadership.

Christian leaders are shepherds, not rulers.

They are servants, not celebrities.

They are called to point people towards Christ rather than towards themselves.

Peter instructed elders:

“Not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:3)

Healthy pastors welcome people studying Scripture.

Healthy churches encourage discernment.

Healthy leaders recognise that they, too, remain accountable to God’s Word.

Our Ultimate Loyalty

Every believer must remember that Christ alone is Head of the Church.

Pastors deserve respect.

Elders deserve honour.

Teachers deserve careful listening.

But none of them should ever replace personal obedience to Christ and faithful study of Scripture.

God has not called Christians to become lackeys for religious leaders and false prophets.

He has called them to become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ—people who love the truth, test everything by Scripture, reject flattery, refuse blind loyalty, and serve the Lord sincerely from the heart rather than seeking the approval of people.

True Christian maturity is not measured by how closely we imitate a church leader.

It is measured by how closely we follow Christ.

What the Lackey Could Have Had in Christ

A church lackey often settles for the approval of a human leader when Christ offers something far greater. Instead of living in the freedom that comes from knowing Jesus personally, they become dependent on another person’s opinions, direction and acceptance.

Yet in Christ they could have enjoyed the confidence to search the Scriptures for themselves, the freedom to speak the truth in love, the courage to question error respectfully, and the peace of knowing that their identity rests in being a child of God—not in earning favour with church leadership, you can still have this.

Christ never calls His followers into blind dependence upon people; He calls them into a living relationship with Himself, where truth, freedom and spiritual maturity are found.

One of the most quoted verses in Christian circles is Isaiah 53:5:

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5, NIV)

Many people read the phrase “by his wounds we are healed” and immediately conclude that Jesus died to guarantee physical healing for every believer in this life.

But is that what Isaiah was actually talking about?

When we read Isaiah 53 carefully and in its context, the emphasis is overwhelmingly on our greatest problem—sin—and God’s provision of forgiveness through the suffering of His Servant.

The Context Is Sin, Not Sickness

Isaiah does not begin by discussing disease or physical illness.

Instead, he repeatedly speaks about sin.

He writes:

• “He was pierced for our transgressions.”
• “He was crushed for our iniquities.”
• “The punishment that brought us peace was upon him.”

Every phrase centres upon humanity’s rebellion against God.

The wounds Christ suffered were the consequence of our sin, not His own.

The healing Isaiah describes follows directly from this discussion of forgiveness and reconciliation.

What Kind of Healing?

The Hebrew word translated “healed” can refer to physical healing, but it is also used throughout the Old Testament to describe spiritual restoration, forgiveness and the repairing of a broken relationship with God.

Throughout the prophets, Israel is repeatedly described as spiritually sick because of sin.

God promises to “heal” His people by restoring them to Himself.

Isaiah is using that same language.

The deepest sickness facing mankind is not disease.

It is sin.

The greatest healing we need is reconciliation with God.

Peter Explains Isaiah’s Meaning

The New Testament itself helps explain Isaiah’s prophecy.

Writing about Christ’s death, Peter quotes Isaiah 53:

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24, NIV)

Notice what Peter emphasises.

He does not speak about physical illness.

He speaks about:

• Christ bearing our sins.
• Believers dying to sin.
• Living for righteousness.
• Healing through forgiveness.

Peter applies Isaiah’s words to salvation and spiritual restoration.

His focus is on what Christ accomplished through the cross for sinners.

The Greatest Miracle of the Cross

Jesus certainly healed many people during His earthly ministry.

The Gospels record countless miracles of compassion.

God still has the power to heal today, and Christians rightly pray for those who are ill.

However, physical healing is never presented in Scripture as something every believer is guaranteed in this present life.

Even faithful servants of God experienced illness.

Paul spoke of his own “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7–9).

He advised Timothy to take a little wine for his frequent stomach ailments (1 Timothy 5:23).

He left Trophimus sick in Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20).

If the cross guaranteed perfect physical health now, these passages would be difficult to explain.

The Cross Addresses Our Greatest Need

The central purpose of Christ’s suffering was to deal with the problem of sin.

Through His sacrifice we receive:

• Forgiveness.
• Justification.
• Peace with God.
• Adoption into God’s family.
• Eternal life.

These are the blessings Isaiah points toward.

The healing purchased at Calvary restores broken sinners to a holy God.

When the Cross Is Used to Elevate Leaders Instead of Christ

One of the dangers that can arise in some churches is when the message of the cross slowly shifts away from Christ and becomes centred on the authority of church leaders. Instead of pointing believers to the finished work of Jesus and encouraging them to grow in their own knowledge of Scripture, some leaders begin presenting themselves as possessing a unique or superior understanding of God’s truth. The implication becomes, “God has given us revelation that others do not have, therefore you should trust our interpretation without question.”

This creates a subtle but unhealthy dependence. Rather than encouraging Christians to search the Scriptures like the Bereans (Acts 17:11), people are taught that questioning leadership is questioning God. Members may begin believing that the leaders possess special insight unavailable to ordinary believers, and therefore whatever is taught from the platform must simply be accepted. In practice, the authority of Scripture can become overshadowed by the authority of those interpreting it.

The New Testament presents a different model. While pastors and teachers are called to faithfully teach God’s Word, they are never described as infallible or beyond examination. Even the Apostle Paul welcomed his teaching being tested against Scripture. Christian leaders are servants of Christ, not mediators between Christ and His people. Their responsibility is to explain God’s Word faithfully, not to claim exclusive access to divine revelation that places their opinions above biblical examination.

The true power of the cross is not that it creates a class of leaders who possess secret spiritual knowledge. Its power is that through Christ’s sacrifice every believer has direct access to God through faith. Because our sins have been forgiven, we can approach God confidently, study His Word diligently, and grow in spiritual maturity through the work of the Holy Spirit. The cross points believers to Christ Himself—not to unquestioning dependence upon human authority.

Physical Healing Still Awaits Its Fulfilment

Christ’s resurrection guarantees that one day believers will receive glorified bodies free from sickness, pain and death.

That promise belongs to the future Kingdom when Christ returns.

Until then, Christians continue to experience weakness, suffering and illness, while living in the hope of complete redemption.

As Paul writes:

“We ourselves… groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:23, NIV)

Our bodies have not yet been fully redeemed, but our souls have been reconciled to God through Christ.

Conclusion

Isaiah 53 is one of the clearest prophecies of Christ’s atoning work.

The chapter repeatedly points to humanity’s sin, Christ’s substitutionary suffering and the peace that comes through His sacrifice.

When Isaiah declares, “by his wounds we are healed,” the primary emphasis is that sinful people are made spiritually whole through the forgiveness won at the cross.

This truth should never diminish God’s ability to heal physically today. God is sovereign and may heal according to His will. But the greatest promise of Isaiah 53 is not freedom from every illness in this present age—it is freedom from the guilt, condemnation and eternal consequences of sin through Jesus Christ.

The deepest wound Christ came to heal was not the body.

It was the human heart separated from God.

The Christian life is full of choices.

Every day we decide whose voice we will listen to.

Will we live according to God’s Word?

Or will we become controlled by the opinions, expectations and actions of other people?

The Bible gives a clear answer.

Proverbs 29:25 says:

“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”

A snare is a trap. It catches someone who isn’t expecting it.

One of Satan’s greatest weapons is using the fear of people to distract believers from following Christ wholeheartedly.

Not Every Motive Is Pure

Jesus taught His followers to be:

“wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

That means Christians should be loving—but they should also exercise discernment.

Most people who send a friend request on Facebook simply want friendship.

But Christians should remember that not every motive is necessarily the same.

Sometimes a person may want access to another person’s Facebook profile for reasons other than genuine friendship.

They may wish to:

• learn about their personal life
• discover their struggles
• see who they spend time with
• observe what they believe
• gather information they would never otherwise know

In some situations, information can later be used to influence conversations, shape opinions, or create misunderstanding.

This is not unique to churches—it can happen in workplaces, politics, families, businesses, or any social setting.

The Bible repeatedly encourages believers to exercise wisdom regarding motives without becoming suspicious of everyone.

Discernment is not the same as fear.

Wisdom Doesn’t Mean Distrust

The answer is not to fear everyone.

Nor is it to believe everyone has bad intentions.

Instead, Scripture teaches us to be wise.

A Christian should ask:

• Does this friendship honour Christ?
• Does it encourage me in my walk with God?
• Is this relationship built upon honesty and love?

True Christian friendship seeks to strengthen one another—not to gather information for influence or control.

The Fear of Man Is a Trap

If someone discovers that others have been talking about them behind closed doors, collecting information, or speaking about them while they are absent, the natural reaction can be fear.

Questions quickly arise.

“What are they saying?”

“What do they think about me?”

“Will people believe them?”

“Should I defend myself?”

That is exactly where Proverbs speaks.

The fear of man lays a snare.

If our confidence depends upon people’s opinions, we become trapped.

We begin living for their approval rather than God’s approval.

But Whoever Trusts in the Lord Is Safe

God offers a completely different foundation.

Instead of trusting people, He calls us to trust Him.

When our confidence rests in Christ:

• gossip loses its power
• criticism loses its control
• rejection loses its sting
• manipulation loses its influence

Our security comes from knowing God rather than from being accepted by everyone else.

Like a Tree Planted by Water

Jeremiah 17:7-8 paints one of the most beautiful pictures in Scripture.

“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

God compares that believer to a tree planted beside flowing water.

Even when heat comes…

it stays green.

Even during drought…

it keeps drawing life from its roots.

Even when conditions become difficult…

it continues producing fruit.

That is what trust in God produces. Here is an illustration to help you understand.

What Is the Fruit?

The fruit God looks for is not popularity.

It is not influence.

It is not winning every argument.

It is a life transformed by Christ.

Fruit includes:

• Justice
• Kindness
• Faithfulness
• Witnessing for Christ
• Planting Gospel seeds
• Encouraging others
• Serving the local church
• Blessing people
• Loving enemies
• Remaining faithful through trials

Most importantly…

His life brings glory to God.

That is the purpose of every believer.

Not to make a name for themselves.

But to honour the Lord.

Keep Following Christ

Throughout history faithful believers have been misunderstood.

Some have been criticised.

Some have been falsely accused.

Some have experienced rejection.

Yet they continued following Christ because their confidence was in God rather than people.

They refused to allow fear to stop them bearing fruit.

The Lesson

Be loving.

Be gracious.

Be wise.

Exercise discernment in your relationships, both online and offline.

Remember that not every invitation or friendship may have the same motive—but don’t allow that reality to make you fearful or cynical.

Instead, place your confidence where Scripture tells us to place it:

In the Lord.

When your roots are in Christ, you will continue to bear fruit regardless of what people say or do.

As Proverbs 29:25 reminds us:

“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”

And as Jeremiah 17 teaches, the one who trusts in the Lord becomes like a tree planted by the water—steadfast, fruitful, and always bringing glory to God.

One of the best-known verses in the New Testament is Acts 5:29:

“We must obey God rather than men.”

These words, spoken by Peter and the apostles, have inspired Christians throughout history to remain faithful to Christ even when it came at great personal cost.

They refused to stop preaching about the risen Jesus because they had been directly commanded by Christ Himself to proclaim the gospel.

However, this verse is sometimes taken out of its biblical context and used to justify something very different. Instead of being applied to situations where the government commands Christians to sin, it is sometimes interpreted as meaning:

“God has told me to do this, therefore I can ignore the governing authorities whenever I believe they are wrong.”

This interpretation creates serious biblical and practical problems.

The Context of Acts 5

Peter and the apostles had been commanded by the Jewish authorities to stop preaching in the name of Jesus.

The authorities were not asking them to commit a sin. They were commanding them to stop obeying a direct command that Jesus Himself had already given:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel.”

The conflict was therefore simple.

Should they obey men who told them to stop preaching Christ?

Or should they obey Christ who had already commanded them to preach?

Peter answered:

“We must obey God rather than men.”

This was not a declaration that Christians may ignore any law they dislike. It was about obedience to a direct command of Christ.

Paul Gives Another Principle

Years later, the Apostle Paul wrote something equally inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Paul was not contradicting Peter.

He was explaining the normal Christian attitude towards government.

Governments are part of God’s ordering of society. Christians are expected to respect laws, pay taxes, honour rulers, and live peaceful lives whenever possible.

Only when government directly commands believers to sin or forbids obedience to Christ does the principle of Acts 5:29 apply.

The two passages work together rather than against each other.

The Danger of Personal Revelation

One of the greatest dangers today is when someone claims:

“God told me…”

This immediately places everyone else in a difficult position.

How can anyone test such a claim?

If every Christian leader can simply say that God spoke to them, then almost any action can be justified.

A leader could ignore laws.

Ignore accountability.

Ignore financial regulations.

Ignore safeguarding.

Ignore charity law.

Ignore legal responsibilities.

All by claiming,

“God told me.”

Scripture warns believers to test everything.

No Christian leader is above examination.

No one receives a free pass simply because they claim divine guidance.

God Does Not Contradict Himself

The Bible is inspired by one Holy Spirit.

Therefore Scripture cannot contradict Scripture.

If God inspired Peter to say,

“We must obey God rather than men,”

and inspired Paul to write,

“Be subject to the governing authorities,”

then these teachings must be understood together.

Acts 5 cannot be used to erase Romans 13.

Neither can Romans 13 be used to forbid Christians from obeying Christ.

The biblical position is balanced.

Christians obey governing authorities as a general rule.

They only refuse when obedience to government would require direct disobedience to God.

The Risk of Spiritual Abuse

When leaders use Acts 5:29 to justify breaking laws that do not require sin, they risk encouraging something dangerous.

Followers may begin to believe that questioning a leader is questioning God.

Legal accountability may be dismissed as worldly opposition.

Wise advice may be rejected.

Church members may become afraid to raise genuine concerns.

This creates an unhealthy culture where authority is protected instead of tested.

The New Testament repeatedly calls church leaders to humility, integrity, and accountability—not exemption from it.

Christians Should Be Good Citizens

The early church became known for honesty, generosity, and respect.

Christians were encouraged to:

• Pay taxes.
• Honour rulers.
• Pray for those in authority.
• Live peacefully.
• Have a good reputation with outsiders.
• Submit to lawful authority wherever conscience allowed.

Their refusal to obey only came when obedience would have required denying Christ or committing sin.

That is a very high threshold.

It was never intended as a general licence to ignore civil law.

A Need for Wisdom

Every Christian should desire to obey God first.

That is not in question.

The real question is how we know that God is leading us.

Our feelings can be mistaken.

Our opinions can be mistaken.

Even respected leaders can be mistaken.

That is why God has given His written Word.

The safest place for every believer is not to rely on personal impressions alone but to test every decision against the whole counsel of Scripture.

Conclusion

Acts 5:29 is a powerful declaration of faithfulness to Christ. It teaches believers to obey God when human authorities command them to sin or forbid them from obeying Christ.

It was never intended to become a blanket justification for ignoring governing authorities whenever a Christian leader believes they have received a personal revelation from God.

The same Holy Spirit who inspired Peter also inspired Paul.

Therefore the Christian position is both courageous and humble:

We obey governing authorities because God has established them.

When obedience to those authorities would require us to disobey Christ, we obey God, accept the consequences with grace, and continue to honour those in authority without hatred or rebellion.

Faithfulness to Christ is never an excuse for lawlessness. True biblical obedience holds together both Acts 5:29 and Romans 13, recognising that loyalty to God includes respect for the authorities He has permitted to exist, except in those rare cases where they require direct disobedience to Him.