Following the Pastor

[BrightRiver]

In the church I attend people seem to follow the pastor as if his word is law. I seem to be the odd one out to think of him as another person who can be wrong and make mistakes.

I just want to ask. am I wrong for not putting him on a pedestal, what level of respect should we have for the pastor of a church

 

[ResidentAlien]

In the church I attend people seem to follow the pastor as if his word is law. I seem to be the odd one out to think of him as another person who can be wrong and make mistakes.

I just want to ask. am I wrong for not putting him on a pedestal, what level of respect should we have for the pastor of a church

No one is perfect, but someone in a position of leadership deserves respect if they're deserving of it. I don't think you're wrong for not putting him on a pedestal; but I'd think about whether the issue is with all the others or you. Maybe you have a problem respecting anyone in a leadership role.

 

[studentoftheword]

In the church I attend people seem to follow the pastor as if his word is law. I seem to be the odd one out to think of him as another person who can be wrong and make mistakes.

I just want to ask. am I wrong for not putting him on a pedestal, what level of respect should we have for the pastor of a church

My view on This
Unfortunately many rely on their Pastor to preach the truth of Scripture ----and in most cases the People are only getting maybe half truths ---which is a lie ------as most Pastors are not Born Again and have no clue what the truth of the scripture is ------so what they preach from the Word is their own human interpretation which can be dangerous to one's soul -----

No person should be put on a pedestal ----that is idolatry -----

It is very --very --very important for people to know the scriptures so they know when another gospel is being preached and know when to run from that Church and Pastor -------

A Holy Spirit indwelled Pastor will never veer from what the Scripture says ---

For instance ----the Word says very clearly that good works will not save you ------but many Pastors today preach that as long as you do good to others and go to church and help serve in the church --like sing in the quire ---help with fund raising sales for the Church ------serve in the soup kitchens ----etc God's love will save you and get you into heaven --- --

Run Forest Run from this preaching -----it is from the Anti-Christ ---not God ----preaching False Doctrine ---this will do nothing but send you straight to HELL ------they call themselves Christians but their hearts are far from God ------

People need to get Born Again and know their Bibles so they can know what is being preached is from God ---and with the help of the Holy Spirit will get the true meaning behind the Words of the Scriptures not rely on any Pastor for the truth to be preach --

And besides -----the Pastor may look like they are Holy wrapped up int heir Religious Garb ---but you have no idea what they do in the Booth in the Back in the dark ------many have skeletons in their closets --- and the Catholic and Protestant Churches are good examples ----hiding all their sinful ways at the highest levels in the Church ------as do many other religions I am sure -----

 

[Dino246]

In the church I attend people seem to follow the pastor as if his word is law. I seem to be the odd one out to think of him as another person who can be wrong and make mistakes.

I just want to ask. am I wrong for not putting him on a pedestal, what level of respect should we have for the pastor of a church

You are not wrong.

Setting aside the whole issue of titles, the leaders/elders of a church do have authority over what happens within the church, but it is limited by Scripture. Where a pastor attempts to exert control beyond those limits, that pastor has no authority, and it is appropriate to ignore or even push back.

I would suggest you prepare a list of questions for the leadership team (hopefully there are elders alongside the pastor!) regarding their view of their authority. If they get their knickers in a twist just because you ask, head for the door, and knock the dust off as you go.

Regarding respect, it is earned, and you are not obligated to offer respect beyond that normally given to any person.

I’ve been there more than once, so my input is not merely theoretical.

 

[Artios1]

In the church I attend people seem to follow the pastor as if his word is law. I seem to be the odd one out to think of him as another person who can be wrong and make mistakes.

I just want to ask. am I wrong for not putting him on a pedestal, what level of respect should we have for the pastor of a church

You respect the person to the degree .... of the accuracy and integrity of the Word of God the person holds and delivers .... it's basically a respect for Gods Word....If that is absent ...I would question what you are doing there

 

[Magenta]

Welcome!

 

[GRACE_ambassador]

In the church I attend people seem to follow the pastor as if his word is law. I seem to be the odd one out to think of him as another person who can be wrong and make mistakes.

I just want to ask. am I wrong for not putting him on a pedestal, what level of respect should we have for the pastor of a church

Precious friend, A Very Warm Welcome To Chat.

Please Be Very RICHLY Encouraged And Edified In
The LORD JESUS CHRIST, And His Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided (+ I and II). ← PG Rated "Approved" *
↑ if a church does not understand/teach this command, run? ↑

Grace, Peace, And JOY!… + RICH Blessings ♫ 😇 ↑

* PG: Perfect God / Parental Guidance

 

[jb]

If they get their knickers in a twist...

LOL...Haven't heard that quip for a long time...

 

[seekingthemindofChrist]

In the church I attend people seem to follow the pastor as if his word is law. I seem to be the odd one out to think of him as another person who can be wrong and make mistakes.

I just want to ask. am I wrong for not putting him on a pedestal, what level of respect should we have for the pastor of a church

If you put someone on a pedestal, then they cannot help but to look down on you. All men are capable of making mistakes, and that is why we are instructed to prove all things, and to hold fast to that which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Mark 10:42-45

"But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

 

[reneweddaybyday]

am I wrong for not putting him on a pedestal

no ... when Peter went to the house of Cornelius and Cornelius bowed before Peter, Peter told Cornelius:

Act 10:

24 And the morrow after they [Peter and his companions] entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.


we are instructed to bow down before the Lord:

Psalm 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

what level of respect should we have for the pastor of a church

According to 1 Thessalonians 5, we are to esteem them very highly and according to 1 Timothy 5, elders are worthy of double honor:

1 Thessalonians 5:

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.


1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.


Pastors and elders should be esteemed for their work’s sake ... not because of a title or because of their personality. They are to be esteemed because of their labor on behalf of God’s people.

Showing respect for a pastor or an elder in the Lord is not the same as putting them on a pedestal.
.

 

[romans113336]

In the church I attend people seem to follow the pastor as if his word is law. I seem to be the odd one out to think of him as another person who can be wrong and make mistakes.

I just want to ask. am I wrong for not putting him on a pedestal, what level of respect should we have for the pastor of a church

The Bible says such men are worthy of honor, but pastors are also humans, and can mislead people--if he speaks what is true, continue showing honor, if he speaks what is false, or you have an uneasiness about what he's directing you to do, do not follow. The peace of God should rule in your heart.

 

[Lifted_by_the_word]

My view on This
Unfortunately many rely on their Pastor to preach the truth of Scripture ----and in most cases the People are only getting maybe half truths ---which is a lie ------as most Pastors are not Born Again and have no clue what the truth of the scripture is ------so what they preach from the Word is their own human interpretation which can be dangerous to one's soul -----

No person should be put on a pedestal ----that is idolatry -----

It is very --very --very important for people to know the scriptures so they know when another gospel is being preached and know when to run from that Church and Pastor -------

A Holy Spirit indwelled Pastor will never veer from what the Scripture says ---

For instance ----the Word says very clearly that good works will not save you ------but many Pastors today preach that as long as you do good to others and go to church and help serve in the church --like sing in the quire ---help with fund raising sales for the Church ------serve in the soup kitchens ----etc God's love will save you and get you into heaven --- --

Run Forest Run from this preaching -----it is from the Anti-Christ ---not God ----preaching False Doctrine ---this will do nothing but send you straight to HELL ------they call themselves Christians but their hearts are far from God ------

People need to get Born Again and know their Bibles so they can know what is being preached is from God ---and with the help of the Holy Spirit will get the true meaning behind the Words of the Scriptures not rely on any Pastor for the truth to be preach --

And besides -----the Pastor may look like they are Holy wrapped up int heir Religious Garb ---but you have no idea what they do in the Booth in the Back in the dark ------many have skeletons in their closets --- and the Catholic and Protestant Churches are good examples ----hiding all their sinful ways at the highest levels in the Church ------as do many other religions I am sure -----

One of their main tricks is to not make you turn away from God.But to make you lukewarm.I've never been a church goer apart from being forced to go as a young child.Even I knew that the Church my mom was making us go to was not the real gospel.
At that time my younger sister had a friend and her mother was a real Christian.She never went to church and I remember asking her why she never did, and she said God called her out.
She was a real one,and had a personal relationship with God.The first remnant of God I ever saw.

Lukewarm Christians are the ones who are gonna kill the 144,000 who will have the fulness of God in them.That will be like the killing of Jesus all over again.

 

[BrightRiver]

Thank you all for your replies.
I can understand that respecting his spiritual authority is one thing.
but this is less about his teaching and more about other things which go on

without saying anything too specific. absolutely anything currently going on in the church people see the pastors word as law
my wife is the safeguarding officer and when she tries to point out a health and safety issue all the other people in the church can say is "The Pastor says it fine", without actually thinking it through themselves.

if he says it they follow it without question

 

[Seeker47]

I have learned a very important lesson about this issue; "...you will know them by their fruit."

 

[ResidentAlien]

Thank you all for your replies.
I can understand that respecting his spiritual authority is one thing.
but this is less about his teaching and more about other things which go on

without saying anything too specific. absolutely anything currently going on in the church people see the pastors word as law
my wife is the safeguarding officer and when she tries to point out a health and safety issue all the other people in the church can say is "The Pastor says it fine", without actually thinking it through themselves.

if he says it they follow it without question

This right here is one of the main reasons I quit going to church.

 

[BrightRiver]

This right here is one of the main reasons I quit going to church.

honestly myself and my wife have talked about walking out so many times. but we are so involved in ministry that we dont feel we can just leave. and there are so few people to take up those ministrys.

even with how much we contribute we are dismissed and disrespected.
it is not about recognition or ego. just a basic level of decency.

 

[ResidentAlien]

honestly myself and my wife have talked about walking out so many times. but we are so involved in ministry that we dont feel we can just leave. and there are so few people to take up those ministrys.

even with how much we contribute we are dismissed and disrespected.
it is not about recognition or ego. just a basic level of decency.

Well, you can always leave; the only question is, should you. I don't know all the details of your situation so I won't pretend to know what you should do. All I can suggest is to step back and consider all your options; pray for guidance.

 

[Seeker47]

If you go to church looking for perfection, you need to be perfect yourself.

 

[hornetguy]

Thank you all for your replies.
I can understand that respecting his spiritual authority is one thing.
but this is less about his teaching and more about other things which go on

without saying anything too specific. absolutely anything currently going on in the church people see the pastors word as law
my wife is the safeguarding officer and when she tries to point out a health and safety issue all the other people in the church can say is "The Pastor says it fine", without actually thinking it through themselves.

if he says it they follow it without question

I did a thread about this issue..... churches being run and controlled by "the pastor"..... it's a mostly un-scriptural model for a body of believers.. The body should be overseen by more than one elder.... there are several synonymous names for this role..... bishop, overseer, elder, pastor....
The role played that many people call "pastor" is really simply a "preacher" or "evangelist"..... our congregation usually refers to that person as the "pulpit minister"....
That person has no more authority than any other member of the congregation, and should be completely under the guidance of your group of "elders".
Having one person in control, and the final authority in a church is not only un-scriptural, it's a recipe for disastrous results.

 

[BrightRiver]

If you go to church looking for perfection, you need to be perfect yourself.

I would never expect perfection. but there comes a point where it is just too much