Would You Ever Challenge Your Pastor?

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Dante

In some cases a pastor needs to be confronted, because too often they go unchecked and feel as though they have a license to say whatever they want to by virtue of being an oracle of God.

It's all situational. In most cases, pastors who who something contrary do it out of ignorance and don't need to be cornered and made to feel defensive, because it was an honest mistake on their part and I'm sure they will have the integrity to learn from it.

Then there are the rogues who feel like they are infallible and unteachable. Those types need to be confronted, cornered, challenged, and made accountable.

I would ask first that if your pastor is like this why are you there in the first place?

....and I know that many ARE in the same way that the frog is burnt in the beaker of water which is slowly heated.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Number one seems to be best option and you disagree with the pastor it's best to discuss with it him and not with the members of the congregation.

Sometimes one might disagree with their pastor and on some subjects as pastors are not infallible.One must know what they believe and why they believe it,and one may not see eye to eye with one's pastor on everything and hold a differing view without causing disunity to the body of Christ and division to a congregation of believers.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Dante

Then there are the rogues who feel like they are infallible and unteachable. Those types need to be confronted, cornered, challenged, and made accountable.

Dante, the verbage you use is very aggressive. To me it is the verbage I see used by people who want to be confrontational not for the sake of correcting something but for the sake of just being confrontational. Some people just like conflict and challenging others when they believe they have a case to make against them. As I pointed out in a previous post it is these people and these situations which can result in the one doing the challenging being as wrong as the one being challenged, just about something differerent.

I can understand the frustration at a preacher who is one of those know it alls who thinks they are infallible and who are unteachable. I just think there is a danger of being as bad of them in how you deal with them if one is not careful. As mama always said "two wrongs don't make a right!".

[Rudy]

For me the one-man-show opens the door for extreme beliefs and behavior. It has been said, "Absolute power corrupts." The early church was overseen by a plurality of elders.
By this one would think those stepping out-of-bounds could be put in check.

It has become that a person who holds a title of {pastor} is an earthly surrogate. A high priesthood over the lower priesthood. The church systems today very much resembles Judaism/Catholicism in view of ruling over laity.

I feel that one should not have to be in a position of confronting an individual who is called a pastor. Elders of that assembly should take notice and respond accordingly.

The use of titles seems to be escalating and the wearing of priestly garb is showing up.

There is a spirit behind these queer teachings.

For me, let the Elders respond.

[AreYouReady?]

But...will the board members or elders rock the boat?

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Do you actually tell him what you disagree with? Or do you just give the silent treatment and make him figure it out? LOL

We've had a few intense discussions. Lol

[Rudy]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

But...will the board members or elders rock the boat?

Test the waters.

[shag]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

But...will the board members or elders rock the boat?

Oftimes No, and that's part of why they were handpicked by the pastor to begin with. I was on the board a couple years, meetings one time a year to discuss a few things like concerning church finance/business like house rentals and shopping center stores owned by the church. Only purpose for having it was to be able to say it existed, IMO. Buncha yes sir men that had hardly anything to say at all, especially if it was anything conflicting with the mindset of the pastor.( I realize of course, it's nit that way everywhere.) I decided I wanted no part of that, and just baled. The yearly gift of a pocket knife or something, was not worth the guilt I had for being part it . Some of those guys set thru years of entire (only annual) meetings without saying a word at all, unless called on for an opinion, and then some of them wouldn't say anything yay or nay. Is that the revs fault? He put'm there, not the church, they should've been elected by the church annuallly at the least anyway, IMO.

[Norman]

There have been times that I disagreed with the pastor and never said anything; other times I have politely asked the pastor about later. When you feel a need to ask the pastor about something, there is a right way to do it. Sometimes what you are so sure about may be wrong.

[Scott Hutchinson]

This does bring up something that exists in alot of churches where the saints are afraid to question what they are taught,those in leadership or oversight positions should not mind explaining what they teach to those who inquire about it,because if one has a handle on what they teach and preach they should not mind explaining it according to the scripture.