In many churches today, there is an expectation that pastors be given honor and respect. Scripture affirms this respect, but it does not call for blind obedience. Some leaders suggest that questioning their teaching is a form of rebellion or a refusal to submit to authority. Yet the Bible makes a different claim. Holding leaders accountable to the Word is not undermining their authority, but honoring the authority of Christ to whom they themselves must answer. The real issue is not whether we respect pastors, but whether we allow anyone’s words to stand above Scripture.
The Commendable Discernment of the Bereans
Acts 17:11 praises the Bereans because they listened eagerly to Paul and then turned to the Scriptures daily to confirm what they had heard. Paul was an apostle who had encountered the risen Christ, yet even he was not beyond examination. The Bereans were not skeptics undermining his authority. They were faithful believers guarding against error. Their discernment was a form of respect, showing that they valued the truth of God’s Word above all else. That same principle applies today: questioning what a pastor teaches is not rebellion, but obedience to God’s call to weigh everything by Scripture.
Testing Teachers and Spirits
John warned the church, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). This assumes that false teachers would exist, even within the church. Paul echoed the same truth when he wrote, “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). These commands are given to every believer, not just church leaders. If pastors were meant to be unquestioned authorities, these passages would be meaningless. Instead, Scripture shows that discernment is part of faithful obedience. To test teaching is not to reject authority, but to protect it by making sure it remains under Christ.
Pastors as Servants, Not Masters
Pastors and elders are entrusted with the care of the church. They are to lead, teach, and shepherd, but their authority is not absolute. It only exists when it aligns with the Word of God. Titus 1:9 says a leader must hold firmly to the trustworthy word and be able to refute error. James 3:1 warns that teachers will be judged more strictly, reminding us that they are accountable to God for their words. Even Hebrews 13:17, a passage often cited to demand unquestioning obedience, frames leadership in terms of accountability. Leaders “will have to give an account” to God. True authority in the church is never independent. It is always grounded in Scripture and subject to Christ.
Even Apostles Faced Correction
Galatians 2 records a striking moment when Paul confronted Peter publicly for compromising the gospel. Peter, one of Christ’s closest disciples, withdrew from Gentile believers out of fear of criticism. Paul opposed him “because he stood condemned.” This was not a rejection of Peter’s authority but a defense of the truth he was called to uphold. If even Peter could be corrected for straying from the gospel, then no modern leader can claim to be beyond question. Correction is not rebellion. It is an act of faithfulness that preserves both authority and truth.
Christ’s Warning Against Elevating Leaders
Jesus warned His disciples not to seek titles or exalted positions, saying, “You are not to be called Rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers” (Matthew 23:8–10). Authority belongs to Christ alone. Pastors are not mediators between God and man. That role belongs to Christ. Instead, leaders are to shepherd with humility, “not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2–3).
The danger is not in respecting leaders, but in elevating them above their proper place. When pastors are treated as unquestionable, they cease to reflect the servant leadership of Christ.
Conclusion
The Bible never calls believers to submit blindly to a pastor’s words. Instead, it calls the church to test all things and to hold fast to what is true. This is not a rejection of authority but a recognition of where true authority lies, in Christ and His Word. Pastors are to be respected, encouraged, and followed when they lead rightly. But they are also accountable, and when their teaching strays, questioning it is an act of obedience to God.
A healthy church is not one where questions are silenced, but where questions are welcomed as part of keeping leaders and people alike rooted in Scripture. To test teaching is not to dishonor a pastor, but to honor the Lord who gave His Word as the final standard for all.
Discussion Questions
- Why does Acts 17:11 praise the Bereans for testing Paul’s teaching, and how does this show that discernment strengthens rather than rejects authority?
- How does 1 John 4:1 call every believer to responsibility in testing the spirits, and what would happen if this responsibility were ignored in the church?
- In Galatians 2, Paul rebuked Peter for compromising the gospel. How does this account demonstrate that correction is not rebellion but a way of preserving true authority?
- What dangers arise when a congregation confuses loyalty to a leader with loyalty to Christ and His Word?
- How can a church create a culture where questioning teaching is welcomed as faithfulness to God’s Word, while still showing respect for pastoral leadership?
Want to Know More?
- Alexander Strauch, Biblical Eldership
A comprehensive study of how leadership is meant to function in the church, stressing plurality of elders, servant-hearted oversight, and accountability under the authority of Scripture. - John Stott, The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus
Stott emphasizes the responsibilities and limits of church leadership. His commentary highlights how pastors are called to serve faithfully under Christ’s authority, not to stand above correction. - D.A. Carson, The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism
Carson addresses the danger of drifting from biblical truth in a world that resists absolutes. His insights remind us that holding leaders accountable protects the church from error and preserves genuine authority. - Mark Dever, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church
Dever outlines what makes a church thrive spiritually, including leadership that is respected yet accountable. He stresses that congregational discernment is a vital safeguard for pastoral ministry. - R.C. Sproul, Knowing Scripture
Sproul equips believers to study and interpret Scripture for themselves. His work shows how lay Christians can discern teaching without rejecting pastoral authority, ensuring that Christ remains the center of the church’s life.
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