God-Appointed? God-Obeying?

It's important that we distinguish between a God-appointed pastor and God-obeying pastor, because not all of God’s appointed leaders wind up obeying God.  

For example, God appointed King Saul to lead His people, but he soon apostatized himself (see 1 Samuel chapters 9 and 15). God appointed Jeroboam to lead ten of the twelve tribes of Israel, but he also soon apostatized himself (1 Kings chapters 11 and 12). Jesus chose Judas (John 6:70), and we know how that turned out.

How do we know a God-appointed leader is also a God-obeying leader? That’s an easy question to answer. God tells us through Isaiah, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:20) In other words, if the leader teaches AND obeys what the Scriptures and the Church has taught since its inception, we can be confident he or she is man or woman of God.

That’s why it is so important for the Christian in the pew to learn the Scriptures, otherwise they cannot really know if their pastor is accurately teaching God’s truths.

When St. Paul fled Thessalonica after preaching Christ to the people there, he and his companions settled in the city of Berea. St. Luke tells us: “When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:10-11)

God commended the laity in Berea who checked the Scriptures daily to verify what even St. Paul was teaching. If God commended them for verifying Paul’s teaching, no pastor today should discourage the flock from verifying what they teach from the pulpit.

Be suspicious of the pastor who dissuades the flock from studying God’s word.

Do you consistently follow a plan to read and study your Bible every day? If not, will you start one today? You can find many annual Bible reading plans on the internet. If you do not have access to the internet, ask your pastor, or a Christian friend to recommend a Bible reading plan.