The Man of God

God called David a man after His own heart.

Whenever we have a serious doubt about him being wrong. My Pastor advises this.

When I hear a reference to a man of God, I think of a preacher or pastor.

IMHO, I think it is the 'call' of God on his life.

I have often heard, "touch not God's anointed".

I have always assumed that meant a preacher whom God had 'called' and anointed to preach His Word.

 

Originally posted by Don:
I've often heard "touch not God's anointed" to mean don't question the man of God; don't even doubt the man of God.
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Was the Apostle Paul a man of God?
But yet, of the Bereans, after Paul spoke to them it is said:
These were noble than those of Thessolinica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11
Did Paul say, "I'm the apostle Paul, what I say is the very word of God; you don't need to check what I say with the scriptures?" No, in fact he felt they were noble in doing so.
I think we've gone overboard on the, "Judge not", passage in Mt. 7:1,2. It seems to have replaced John 3:16 as the passage of choice for this generation that pleads for tolerance, which actually means, comprimise.
You are well within your rights to question what someone says. Even the Lord Jesus said:
Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39

 

Originally posted by Don:
And Watchman, it's not me that has a problem questioning the man of God...
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Sorry Don, but I concluded YOU from, "When should WE question..."
I just don't know from what you have posted here what the problem is.
But as to IF we can, or should, question what an, "Elder" (pastor, deacon, etc.) says or does, the answer is yes.

 

If Christ is on the throne we don't need any man on a pedestal.

I've seen too many pastors placed upon one--with the ultimate end bringing shame to the name of Christ. Sometimes by the pastor's fall into sin, other times by the abuse of his authority over the flock of God (note whose flock it is).

Question your leaders when they are out of line--if you don't, I believe Christ will someday question you for not doing so.

"The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (12 Tim. 2:24,25)

 

Yet another reason why God established the plurality of elders to lead the local church. This single pastor model builds him up to a king-like status.

 

Amen!

 

Only when he is a bad leader. In which case, the answer is not a plurality of leadership but rather a godly leader maintaining the biblical model. Get rid of king like pastors. Don't coddle them.

 

Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

If they aren't telling you to sin, obey them. Is it really more complicated than this?

 

If you can't vote them out, then leave the church. A church with no one in it will not long survive. I would go one on one and talk with them. Then I would talk with the deacons. After that, I would simply leave.

This problem is a problem that is Catholic in nature. This "head that no one can question" is not Baptist. I encourage my people to study the Bible. My leadership is not so insecure that I am worried by that.

 

Is this man truly an elder, qualified according to the Word of God (1st Timothy 3)? If so, in your church he has the rule over you.

Is he telling you to sin? Is wearing a skirt except for yard work a sin? If not, then I think the Bible clearly teaches you should simply submit and obey him. Consider that God knows what he's doing in placing Him over you and requiring your submission to him.

 

Part of the whole issue is the need to understand that authority comes from Scripture rightly taught. If Scripture is not properly taught, then there is no real authority. If a man stands up and uses God's word to demand that women wear dresses, he is not teaching Scripture properly. Thus, he has no authority. He might stand up and say this is his preference, or his conclusion, and he might encourage you to do such. But Scripture never, anywhere, demands that women wear only dresses.

So the answer is, Study your Bible and then leave and find a church where Scripture is properly taught.

 

Pastors should be held accountable for sin through church discipline, just like everyone else. David was comitting murder and adultery. Your pastor isn't demanding to sleep with your wife, just that she put a skirt on.

I agree that a pastor's concern must be for the welfare of his flock, and in this he differs from a king. He has authority, but for your benefit.

Even so that doesn't give you the right to rebel every time you don't agree with his biblical reasoning or don't understand how his commands benefit you. You are called to submit to him.

Of course there are limits. But his authority and your submission need to be real. If you are ordered to commit obvious sin, you need to obey the Lord. But just because a command is difficult, or annoying, or humiliating is not enough to warrant disobedience. The general teaching of the new testament is that we are to submit to our authorities because God has ordained them. To rebel against our authorities is to rebel against God.

Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

1Timothy 3:1
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

One of the requirements of an elder is his proven ability to rule well. Elders are to rule in the church.