Would You Ever Challenge Your Pastor?

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Dante

Assume you are listening to your pastor preach, and then suddenly he makes a statement that you believe is contrary to the actual meaning of scripture (though he uses scripture to justify his position and you have scripture to justify the position you have, which is completely opposite of his/hers). You may be just as well informed of a position in which your pastor is taking a completely opposite stand on, but you feel he is in error.

1. Do you politely schedule a meeting with the pastor and discuss the disagreement over the teaching and try to come to a mutual understanding without trying to convert one another to each others' position?

2. Do you ignore it, and let it go, and pray that God would correct him/her assuming you yourself are not the one truly in error?

3. Do you leave the church without any explanation, because you can't believe that someone would be so ignorant as to make non-biblical remarks from the pulpit?

4. Or option #4 (fill in the blank how you would hand it if the aforementioned options are not feasible to you)

Wow, this is really a great question, and a great topic! Many wouldn't even approach the subject, but you've laid out some very viable options.

As a former pastor, I would want someone to come to me if they disagreed. There are few things I hate worse, even now that I'm in the secular corporate world, than having to try and read someone's mind and figure out why they are upset.

I would appreciate a private meeting where this person laid out their reasons and we could discuss logically. At the end of the meeting, I may still maintain my position, but would completely understand if the other person decided he or she needed to move on. OR, I may see their point, realize I was in error and correct my own position.

Either way, relationship was built, and by demonstrating this type of behavior, I would make it easy for people to come to me in the future, not create the perception that I was unapproachable.

Believe it or not, this happens in the corporate world, as well. The team of people that I manage know two things about me - I will praise them publicly and correct them privately; and that I am approachable about anything. I may not always see it their way, but I show them the respect of hearing and considering their opinion.

The good thing is, many times they are right, and we alter our course - and in the process, build a great strong team.

So, to answer your question - whether I was the pastor or the member, I would still answer the same - let's talk about it!