Browbeating Christianity

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. - Ephesians 4:11-16

God, in His infinite wisdom, has given the Church those in leadership positions within the local church for both our protection and our sanctification. From childhood to adulthood, if one has attended church at all, one should be able to recall their Sunday school teacher. Within the Sunday school atmosphere there is, or should be, a more intimate setting found within the smaller group than that which is found during the preaching hour of the worship service. Maybe one can recall their Vacation Bible School teacher that taught them during the summer vacations from school. What about the evangelist that comes in for Revivals to move and stir the hearts of the members to be again on fire for God? Then there is the pastor, the man that people love but watch like a hawk, listen to but talk about behind his back, support yet don’t really want to give total control over to him.

Scripture tells us, as a congregation to, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” [Hebrews 7:13] and “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.” [Hebrews 13:17]. Should we not allow the pastor to be the pastor? Not in blind obedience, mind you, but if we have prayed and believe we have the pastor that indeed God wants the church to have and we have joined the church, therefore submitting ourselves under his pastoral authority; should we not give him the freedom to teach and preach that which the Spirit may give him without the man of God needing permission from us and our investigations with a fine tooth comb?

As the pastor should expect the freedom to teach and preach as the Spirit leads, without being browbeat by the congregation, committees, WMU, or deacons, we should expect him to use the pulpit as an instrument of instruction and not an instrument of browbeating the people of the church. Christ declared, “Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” [Matthew 20:25-28].

The pastor is not the church’s slave, but our protector in that Scripture declares, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” [2 Timothy 4:2] for “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” [2 Timothy 3:16-17].

Clearly the pastor is to be longsuffering with the congregation and to teach them by the use of Scripture, not by browbeating dictatorship. This most often leads to scared outwardly obedience and the bondage of legalism, while all the while creating rebellion within the heart of the inner man with the lack of doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction found in Scriptural teaching and preaching. Browbeating preaching causes some to leave and some to follow, but neither go away with a personal conviction of what is being taught; those which agree only leave with a mindset of the pastor’s conviction and when questioned, find themselves lacking both Spiritual insight and Scriptural support.

Browbeating preaching leaves God and scripture out and the pastor’s ideas and dictatorship a must, as with browbeating Christianity leaves the browbeater(s) in charge of the pastor’s mouth and leaves Christ and the Holy Spirit sitting on the sidelines.

We as the church should love and cherish our pastor and teachers and realize that they spend their time and energy in prayer and study to bring us the Word of God that “we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”.

As pastors, I pray that you give us not just opinions, but “the truth in love” and “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine” with the love Christ.

Browbeating Christianity is really no Christianity at all, and I haven’t even mentioned the browbeating we give one another out in the congregation. Oh how we need a revival!