07/31/19 HONOR TO WHOM HONOR

07/31/19 HONOR TO WHOM HONOR

If you respect social leaders in medicine, business, academia, sports, entertainment above your pastor, that's a problem.

LOVING, RESPECTING, SUBMITTING TO ONE ANOTHER

God's word is the final authority. This post is not calling for a Roman Catholic, authoritarian type priesthood, though a resistance to Biblical leadership, among Christians, has emerged in recent decades.

However, most people readily recognize the dignity, standing, authority, knowledge and expertise of various leaders in society (such as the list in my post), but those same people see themselves as equally qualified with their pastors. It seems everyone is an expert in Bible, Theology, Christian graces, regardless of their background.

Sadly, the incompetence of the pastor may be real. Those parishioners need to find godly, Biblical, Christ following, Spirit led, ministry gifted men to be their pastor.

This little exercise is designed to help a person evaluate his/her own attitude toward Biblical leadership.

Ask yourself these questions (using the above list as a baseline).

* Would I sooner accept the guidance of a well seasoned expert in another field than I would accept spiritual leadership from my pastor?

* Would I sooner argue with my pastor about spiritual leadership than with the leadership of a well seasoned expert in another field?

* Do I think that my knowledge and expertise in spiritual issues is greater than that of my pastor, and do I think that my knowledge and expertise in other areas is greater than that of seasoned experts in those areas?

* Would I be as quick to disagree, question (inwardly) my pastor's leadership or the leadership of other leaders in their fields of expertise?

* Would I be as quick to disagree, question (publicly) my pastor's leadership or the leadership of other leaders in their fields of expertise?

* Would I allow my pastor the dignity that I would allow a highly respected leader in another field.
 
Obviously there is no allowance for any pastor to run roughshod over anyone and no pastor should be allowed to teach sinful behavior or damnable doctrine. But neither are pastors to be attacked and held up to ridicule.

A good guide is,
In essentials unity, in non essentials liberty and in all things love.
This is not a license for anyone to err Biblically, but it is a good idea for mutual respect.

The pastor is also expected to afford dignity and respect to the parishioner. It is a two way street. Both the pastor and parishioner are part of the priesthood of believers.

Remember, there is an expected decorum that should be maintained between pastor and parishioner.