Page 459 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

PASTOR

Scriptures daily whether those things are so” (Ac. believe he had the authority to invite special speakers
17:10-11; 1 Th. 5:21), and not to blindly to follow a without their permission. Not long after that, the pastor
man. (5) Pray for them (He. 13:18,19; Ep. 6:18-19; Col. was dismissed. This is a prime example of rebellion
4:2-3; 2 Th. 3:1-2). (6) Provide for their physical needs against pastoral authority. It is not the congregation or
(1 Ti. 5:17-18). “A church that is penurious with a the deacons who are responsible before God to oversee
pastor violates the Scripture. Rarely does such a church the teaching; that is the pastor’s responsibility, and it is
manifest spiritual power or progress. The principles therefore his prerogative to make the decisions in this
revealed in 2 Co. 9:6-10 are worthy of regard. If the teaching or preaching is heretical, that is a
consideration” (Paul Jackson, The Doctrine and different matter, of course. In such a case, the
Administration of the Church). congregation should not follow the pastor’s lead. (2) A
The Pastor’s Authority. Some general lessons: pastor has the responsibility and authority to protect the
Following are some Bible truths about pastoral church from false teaching (Ac. 20:28-31; 1 Co. 14:29;
authority: (1) There are certain men in churches called 1 Ti. 4:1-6; Tit. 1:9-13). Pastors have the God-given
rulers and overseers (Ac. 20:28; 1 Th. 5:12; Ph. 1:1; 1 Ti. responsibility and authority to determine what is taught
3:1; Tit. 1:7). Every Christian does not have the same and by whom, as well as to forbid the Christians from
authority in the church; pastors are to lead the getting involved with false things, such as Bible studies
churches, not vice versa. (2) Church leaders are called by conducted by the wrong kind of teachers, meetings in
three different terms, but the terms refer to the same which unbiblical doctrines or practices are promoted,
office; thus the hierarchical form of church government etc. This includes oversight of the music ministry of the
which places bishops over elders is not biblical. (3) Each church, because music is a form of teaching (Ep. 5:19).
church is to have its own leaders and government (Tit. (3) A pastor has the responsibility and authority to
1:5; Ac. 14:23). Since this is clearly the N.T. pattern, oversee the entire work of the church (Ac. 20:28; 1 Th.
any outside form of control over the churches is 5:12; 1 Pe. 5:1-2). The pastor’s position of overseeing
unbiblical and dangerous. (4) Every pastor is to be God- the church is similar to that of a supervisor or manager.
called, ordained, and qualified (Ac. 14:23; 1 Ti. 3; Tit. 1). He is not to do all of the work of the ministry—every
N.T. churches are not to be led by unordained men or by Christian must be busy in the work of Christ—but the
men who cannot do the whole work of a pastor. Every pastor is to supervise all of the work. There is
pastor is to be both a teacher and a ruler (Ac. 20:28; 1 widespread rebellion against and resistance to pastoral
Ti. 3:2; Tit. 1:9-11; 1 Pe. 5:1-2). (5) Deacons are never authority today. Such is the product of the fallen human
referred to in the capacity of ruling or overseeing churches. nature. The “old man” hates authority; he will not have
The deacon is a servant, not a ruler. Church rule by a anyone rule over him. But pastoral authority is God-
deacon board is unscriptural and has caused great harm ordained, and the one who resists a God-called pastor in
in many assemblies. his work of leading the church according to the Word of
The extent of the pastor’s authority. If responsibility God will answer to Jesus Christ for his stubbornness.
implies a corresponding authority, which it does, we can Hear the Bible: “Obey them that have the rule over you,
get a clear idea of the areas and extent of a pastor’s and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as
authority by considering his God-given responsibilities they that must give account, that they may do it with
in the church. There are three major areas of pastoral joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for
responsibility, with corresponding authority: (1) A you” (He. 13:17).
pastor has the responsibility and authority to teach and Spiritual characteristics of the pastor’s authority. The
shepherd the church (Ac. 20:28; Ep. 4:11-12; 1 Th. authority exercised by a pastor, missionary, or other
5:12; 1 Pe. 5:1-4). Pastors, therefore, have the authority church leader is to be distinctly different from that
to oversee all aspects of such ministry. They must have exercised by leaders in the secular world. (1) It is a
the final decision concerning what is taught and by ministering authority—the authority of a shepherd (Ac.
whom, and must judge all things that are taught to 20:28; 2 Co. 13:10; 1 Pe. 5:2). The authority of a pastor
make certain it is correct (1 Co. 14:29). In 1998, I was is for the purpose of building up and protecting God’s
invited to preach in all of the services one Sunday in a people and work. (2) It is a submissive, humble
church in Missouri. As the day progressed, I noticed that authority—the authority of a steward (1 Co. 3:9; 4:1;
only the pastor and his family seemed happy about my 12:7; Tit. 1:7; 1 Pe. 4:10; 5:3-5). The pastor is to rule
preaching. The rest of the congregation seemed to be under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ, not by his
disgruntled about something. After the evening service, own mind or will. The church is God’s property; the
the men asked the pastor to join them for a meeting in a people are God’s people; the work is God’s work. The
separate room in the church, and they informed him pastor is merely a steward or caretaker. Contrast this
that they did not like my preaching and they did not with the ministry of proud, willful Diotrephes (3 Jn.

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