“For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.” (Romans 14:18)

“For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.” (Romans 14:18)

Clergy with little education, poor spiritual lives, and who suffer from inferior-complexes will often try very hard to out-worldly “look” like a priest instead of actually being one. Sadly, such priests are concerned more with serving themselves and their own interests instead of Christ, lacking the basic elements of humility to truly shepherd and pastor God’s people. They usually end up mercilessly lording their positon over their parishioners in an attempt to convince themselves they have priestly authority, while priestly authority is based fully upon reflecting God’s divine love, compassion, and mercy. In essence, they wish to walk into a parish with little concern for their parishioners’ feelings and re-create it in their own image instead of the Lord’s, ignoring long-time stability and/or what was practiced prior to their arrival. And because they are not comfortable with themselves, they will dress and act like something they are not, as if “looking like a priest” makes up for their lack of being a priest.

Fr. John