Lifestyle Checks for Pastors Shouldn't Be Neglected

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I've heard of how people in authority need a lifestyle check. I've heard of policemen, legislators, governors and mayors should be subjected to lifestyle check. Unfortunately, it's highly possible that many churches have ignored the reality of giving pastors a lifestyle check. Why is it important to know how a pastor lives? It's because the Bible puts qualifications of what makes a good pastor.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 
This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; [3] Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; [4] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; [5] (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) [6] Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. [7] Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Titus 1:6-8 
If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. [7] For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; [8] But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

We can see that the Bible indeed makes it clear that pastors do need a lifestyle check for this reason - they are to be the examples of the flock. Yet, you have pastors who unfortunately fail the lifestyle check for the following reasons:
  1. Living a scandalous life such as habitual adultery and other forms of sexual immorality. How can a pastor be a husband of one wife if he's always having a messy love life with other women especially those under his authority? True wives must submit to their pastors but they must first submit to their husbands! Pastors are meant to be marriage counselors yet how can they counsel marriages if they can't even stay faithful or love to read and/or watch filthy publications?
  2. Not being aware of what's happening especially with current events. How can you talk about the credibility of Bible prophecy if you don't know what's going on to prove the Bible right?
  3. Having an attitude problem. How can you be a good pastor if you are always having a bad behavior such as getting mad over the most trivial issues? Why get mad over an insult and start a fight over something that could have just been ignored? 
  4. A lack of hospitality. While the Church is a museum of righteous saints and an army but do we forget that it too is a hospital for repentant sinners? Pastors should preach against sin but only out of love and desire to lead people to Christ.
  5. Getting drunk. While there's such a thing as moderation towards drinking liquor yet today a lot of liquor are considered hard because they intoxicate. Wine back then during the time of Jesus contained very little alcohol. Fermentation was meant to preserve shelf life. Unfortunately, today's brewery artificially increases the alcohol content to dangerous levels. A pastor who has a drunkard lifestyle can't lead his pulpit because he doesn't have a sound mind!
  6. Having financial scandals in relation to money. A pastor shouldn't be thinking of his pocket. However, we have pastors who want to make a quick buck by teaching the pulpit that if they give then God will make them wealthy. Also, for a pastor to have plenty of unexplained wealth should be a good indicator that the pastor may be profiteering from the flock. Hmmm... if your pastor keeps eating at expensive restaurants, going to expensive places or having a lavish lifestyle then it's more than time to demand for scrutiny towards his bank accounts!
  7. Being an abusive spouse and/or father. Although the Bible says that the father is the head of the household yet we must realize husbands must love their wives and fathers must not embitter their children. How can a pastor treat his flock properly if he can't even treat his family properly? 
  8. Having an arrogant behavior. Pastors who are arrogant are very toxic to the pulpit. Peter already wrote in 1 Peter 5:3 that no pastor must be lords over the Lord's heritage but as examples to the flock. Pastors must execute their authority in humility and concern for order - not to satisfy their own ego! Unfortunately, some pastors behave badly because they refuse to swallow their pride even when it's already the root cause of all the quarrels they get into. 

If a church refuses to do a lifestyle check then shame on them. It's hypocritical to talk often about how Roman Catholic priests have their scandals if pastors too are guilty of such scandals. There's really the need to relieve pastors who have failed the lifestyle check of their authority. After all, pastors are to be examples of the flock and not to like the Pharisees who say and do not.

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