06/18/22 DON'T BE PUFFED UP

06/18/22 DON'T BE PUFFED UP

If your pastor trusts Christ, follows the Holy Spirit preaches the word, do not look for chinks in his teaching. Don't be looking for an argument.

If your pastor says something that you believe is contrary to the word of God, meet with him and discuss it. It could be a misunderstanding on your part or it could be that he made a misstatement. If he is committed to an un-Biblical view, then it will need to be followed up through Biblical protocols.

If your pastor is teaching, preaching something that is contrary to the essential truth in the word of God, you must be willing to lovingly resist and reject false teaching. If the pastor and the church will not turn from error, you must be ready to come out from among them.

Under normal circumstances, a layman does not have the knowledge, understanding, experience of a pastor and therefore must not insist on his or her own personal opinion.

Under Biblical standards, the pastor has the qualifications, training, experience and appointment from God to be respected. Personal opinions can unnecessarily disrupt and divide a church. The final authority is God's word and God's Spirit. Pastors and parishioners are required to honor Biblical directives and standards.

All things being equal, it is better to ask for, and accept pastoral leadership rather than holding to a personal interpretation or point of view. If there is going to be division, it better by based on something that is of great import.