--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many ministers are afraid that if they do…" description: "\"Many ministers are afraid that if they do not fulfill their peoples expectations they will hurt their feelings and lose their support. They are trapped..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/john-bevere-6845_fear_many-ministers-are-afraid-that-if-they-d_2976290.jpg" --- # Many ministers are afraid that if they do not fulfill… ![“Many ministers are afraid that if they do not fulfill their peoples expectations they will hurt their feelings and lose their support. They are trapped by the fear of offending others. They are controlled by their own people, not God. As a result, little of eternal value is accomplished in their…” quote by John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/john-bevere-6845_fear_many-ministers-are-afraid-that-if-they-d_2976290.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/john-bevere-6845_fear_many-ministers-are-afraid-that-if-they-d_2976290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/john-bevere-6845_fear_many-ministers-are-afraid-that-if-they-d_2976290.jpg) > “Many ministers are afraid that if they do not fulfill their peoples expectations they will hurt their feelings and lose their support. They are trapped by the fear of offending others. They are controlled by their own people, not God. As a result, little of eternal value is accomplished in their churches or congregations.” [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders fearing offense prioritize approval over divine purpose, limiting lasting impact. **In simple terms:** Fear of hurting feelings hinders true service. Key Takeaway Lead with conviction, not fear. Themes leadership faith fear Mood reflective serious Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - church ministry - community leadership - public speaking - policy making Key Concepts theology ethical leadership Questions to Reflect On - How do you address criticism? - What values guide your decisions? A Different Perspective Balancing honesty with compassion is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fulfill Peoples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfill-peoples-4607208/) [Ministers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ministers/) [Ministers Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ministers-afraid-4607207/) [People God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-god/) [Peoples Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peoples-expectations-4105905/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Remember, you cant base your idea of success and happiness on other peoples opinions. Were not here to live up to each others expectations;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/remember-you-cant-base-your-idea-of-success-and-happiness-on-other/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [People spend their whole lives trying to live up to other peoples expectations and being told what to do. I say screw that. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-spend-their-whole-lives-trying-to-live-up-to-other-peoples/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you try and live up to other peoples expectations, you must also learn to live down their disappointments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-try-and-live-up-to-other-peoples-expectations-you-must-also/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [You are not in this world to live up to other peoples expectations, nor should you feel the world must live up to yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-not-in-this-world-to-live-up-to-other-peoples-expectations/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we clear out other peoples expectations we are supposed to want, we make room to take baby steps toward our true dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnreyes/when-we-clear-out-other-peoples-expectations-we-are-supposed-to-want/) [JOHNREYES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnreyes/) > [“Imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. This must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/imperfect-people-are-all-god-has-ever-had-to-work-with-this-must-be/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salmon-p-chase/no-nation-can-be-strong-except-in-the-strength-of-god-or-safe-except/) [Salmon P. Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salmon-p-chase/) > [Things change and so do people but God's love will never change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-tomasello/things-change-and-so-do-people-but-god-s-love-will-never-change/) [Mario Tomasello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-tomasello/) > [If other people choose to believe because I do, great. I want to show people God's love through what I do and who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-aiken/if-other-people-choose-to-believe-because-i-do-great-i-want-to-show/) [Clay Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-aiken/) > [I don't save people. God saves people. I can point them in the right direction. I can say, 'There's that door. I think if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/i-don-t-save-people-god-saves-people-i-can-point-them-in-the-right/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [Love the people GOD gave you because you will need them back one day!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenzie-lynn/love-the-people-god-gave-you-because-you-will-need-them-back-one-day/) [Kenzie Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenzie-lynn/) > [Forgive people so that God may Forgive you...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/forgive-people-so-that-god-may-forgive-you/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I could not say I believe. I know! I have had the experience of being gripped by something that is stronger than myself, something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-could-not-say-i-believe-i-know-i-have-had-the-experience-of-being/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's hard to know, isn't it, whether the things we face are just because the world is full of sin and sinful people, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/it-s-hard-to-know-isn-t-it-whether-the-things-we-face-are-just/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“again. Here is a sober lesson. Even after times of spectacular revival, reformation, or covenantal renewal, the people of God are never more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson-2/again-here-is-a-sober-lesson-even-after-times-of-spectacular-revival/) [D.A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson-2/) ## More by John Bevere > [The enemy of intimidation attacks our soul. It is not defeated through psychology or positive thinking. Our weapon against intimidation is the sword of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/the-enemy-of-intimidation-attacks-our-soul-it-is-not-defeated-through/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [Today the meaning of the word believe has been weakened. In the eyes of most it has become a mere acknowledgment of a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/today-the-meaning-of-the-word-believe-has-been-weakened-in-the-eyes/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [Simply put, the promises of God are not automatic; they must be acquired by faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/simply-put-the-promises-of-god-are-not-automatic-they-must-be/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [A lack of compassion for others arises from an unwillingness to forgive their weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/a-lack-of-compassion-for-others-arises-from-an-unwillingness-to/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [True humility is absolute obedience and dependence on God. It puts Him first, others second, and ourselves third in all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/true-humility-is-absolute-obedience-and-dependence-on-god-it-puts-him/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [“I will use this period of spiritual training in my life to focus on the greatness of my God instead of the impossibility of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/i-will-use-this-period-of-spiritual-training-in-my-life-to-focus-on/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [Jesus never gave advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/jesus-never-gave-advice/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [If we don’t risk being hurt, we cannot give unconditional love. Unconditional love gives others the right to hurt us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/if-we-don-t-risk-being-hurt-we-cannot-give-unconditional-love/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [When we filter everything through past hurts, rejections, and experiences, we find it impossible to believe God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/when-we-filter-everything-through-past-hurts-rejections-and/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [Love forgets wrongs so that there is hope for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/love-forgets-wrongs-so-that-there-is-hope-for-the-future/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [ “Do we honor them for the extras? No, a thousand times no. We \[honor them\] because God gave us the charge to honor all.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/do-we-honor-them-for-the-extras-no-a-thousand-times-no-we-honor-them/) [John bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [If you are still hurting from a past offense, it is because you choose to hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/if-you-are-still-hurting-from-a-past-offense-it-is-because-you-choose/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [The focus of offended Christians is inward and introspective. We guard our rights and personal relationships carefully. Our energy is consumed with making sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/the-focus-of-offended-christians-is-inward-and-introspective-we-guard/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [It is easy to be loyal to a leader or father who loves you, but what about one who is out to destroy you?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/it-is-easy-to-be-loyal-to-a-leader-or-father-who-loves-you-but-what/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [“The reality is, when someone knows the truth, knows the will of God, knows what God has spoken , and yet pushes back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/the-reality-is-when-someone-knows-the-truth-knows-the-will-of-god/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) [Explore all 97 John Bevere quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. But they mix in the middle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/fear-and-desire-for-pleasure-aggressiveness-comes-out-of-fear/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) [Browse all 35,569 Fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many ministers are afraid that if they do not fulfill their peoples expectations they will hurt their feelings and lose their support. They are trapped by the fear of offending others. They are controlled by their own people, not God. As a result, little of eternal value is accomplished in their churches or congregations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Bevere" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/many-ministers-are-afraid-that-if-they-do-not-fulfill-their-peoples/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/many-ministers-are-afraid-that-if-they-do-not-fulfill-their-peoples/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/john-bevere-6845_fear_many-ministers-are-afraid-that-if-they-d_2976290.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/john-bevere-6845_fear_many-ministers-are-afraid-that-if-they-d_2976290.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/john-bevere-6845_fear_many-ministers-are-afraid-that-if-they-d_2976290.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Many ministers are afraid that if they do not fulfill their peoples expectations they will hurt their…” — John Bevere", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Bevere", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Many ministers are afraid that if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/many-ministers-are-afraid-that-if-they-do-not-fulfill-their-peoples/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/many-ministers-are-afraid-that-if-they-do-not-fulfill-their-peoples/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```