It may not be surprising to learn that non-Christians have a lower view of the clergy than self-identified Christians.
What may be surprising is how low an opinion of clergy both groups hold.
According to a late 2017 study released by Gallup, only 25 percent of non-Christians rated the honesty and ethics of clergy as very high or high. That was far behind other professions such as nurses (83 percent), grade school teachers (71 percent), pharmacists (63 percent) and medical doctors (62 percent) to mention only some.
Non-Christians ranked clergy behind newspaper reporters (31 percent) but the same as local politicians (25 percent).
Obviously the perception of clergy is not high among non-Christians. That may not be surprising since nonbelievers may not have much personal contact with Christian ministers. Their image of God’s vocational servants may be formed more by news reports than firsthand experience.
If that is the case the reports of clergy sexual abuse, religious “hucksters on the airwaves” and the negative depiction of clergy in media may have all contributed to this negative image. Few films and fewer news stories chronicle the self-sacrificing service of most ministers for the good of their parishioners and communities.
Survey results
One would expect self-identified Christians, those who should have firsthand experience with ministers, to indicate a high appreciation for the honesty and ethics of clergy. Unfortunately that is not the case.
Fewer than half of the self-identified Christians in the Gallup survey (48 percent) rated the honesty and ethics of ministers as very high or high. Again these are the people who interact with ministers and still the ratings are low.
More self-identified Christians said nurses (82 percent), military officers (74 percent), grade school teachers (65 percent), medical doctors (65 percent), pharmacists (62 percent) and police officers (59 percent) have very high or high ethical standards.
When the two groups were combined, 42 percent of Americans view honesty and ethical standards of clergy as very high or high. That is the lowest rating in the 33 years Gallup has polled on this issue.
The highest score ever given clergy for honesty and ethics was in 1985 when 67 percent of respondents rated them very high or high. Since that time the trend has been mostly downward. After 9/11 clergy received a bump up — 64 percent. That rating fell the next year to 52 percent after the sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church made headlines.
A positive rating for ministers’ honesty and ethics fell below 50 percent in 2013 and has continued downward to the present 42 percent.
At the same time the percentage of those saying the honesty and ethics of the clergy is low or very low has almost tripled. In 1985 only 4 percent of Americans expressed that view. Now that percentage has grown to 11 percent.
Ministers may never be able to change the opinions of those whose paths they seldom cross but something can be done and should be done about the views of self-identified Christians. That this group expresses so little confidence in the honesty and ethics of their ministers is a tragedy that deserves focused attention.
In 1 Peter 5:3 the Apostle Peter writes to pastors, urging them to “be examples to the flock.” He urges pastors not to do this from selfish motivation. He warns them against acting greedily for money or to lord authority and power over others. Peter tells them they should “be eager to service,” understanding that rewards come ultimately from Christ in glory.
In many places the Bible outlines the kind of example ministers are to be. For instance, 1 Corinthians 4:2 declares, “It is required of those who have been given a trust to prove faithful.” That “trust” could be a position of leadership and influence. It could be responsibility for money. It might be privileged information. Whatever it is, the minister is not to use the information selfishly but is to be faithful to the one who gave the trust whether it is a group or an individual.
Jesus addressed the issue of trust in Luke 16:10 when He said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with very much and whoever is dishonest with very little will be dishonest with much.” Honesty and ethics do not apply only to momentous situations. They are demonstrated most clearly in everyday experiences.
Writing to young minister Timothy, the Apostle Paul urged him to set an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Tim. 4:12). There must not even be a hint of sexual immorality Paul adds in Ephesians 5:3a.
Near the end of his life King David reflected on his relationship with God. He concluded, “I know, my God, that You test the heart and are pleased with integrity” (1 Chron. 29:17). Later that thought is expanded by the prophet Micah when he writes, “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you: To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Characteristics pleasing to God
Anyone who has walked very long with God knows there is no room to be “puffed up” (1 Cor. 13:4) about one’s ability, position or anything else. Honesty, integrity, humility, loving mercy and seeking justice — these are characteristics pleasing to God for vocational ministers and laypersons alike.
Integrity, honesty and ethical behaviors are required for all who follow God. That applies to leadership, to personal relations, to finances, to sexual conduct and more.
Perhaps the Apostle Paul summed it up when he wrote to the church in Corinth, “Men ought to regard us as servants of Christ” (1 Cor. 4:1). When that is the case the honesty and ethics of the servants of Christ will go without saying.
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