We will discuss why we should not criticize pastors. This is an important point that we need God’s wisdom to understand. We will never truly understand this without divine wisdom.
The Bible teaches us to respect our church leaders. The pastor of the church is the shepherd who guides Jesus’ disciples and helps them to walk in the way of God. The pastor of the congregation can never do his job voluntarily. Unless God has chosen him, he will never be able to do this work of his own free will.
If we have any issues with our pastor, let us resolve them humbly and lovingly. We will never discuss anything bad against the shepherd because it will be done against God’s will. Since the pastor of the church is an anointed one chosen by God, we should not criticize that person.
In one incident in the Old Testament, we see King Saul making every effort to kill David. Once on the hill, when Saul had fallen asleep, David’s followers told him to kill Saul. But David refused to do so because he said Saul was the king anointed by God, so if I go against him, I will go against God. In this case, we see that if we go against God’s chosen person, that means we are going against God.
So we will never criticize our pastor. If we have something to say, we will directly approach him. By this, we can honor Him and God, too.
Let’s see the Bible scriptures below that talk about Bible Verses About Criticizing Pastors.
What Does the Bible Say About Respecting Church Leaders?
“Obey them that have the rule over you, submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you”
— Hebrews 13:17
“We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, are over you in the Lord, admonish you”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:12
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word doctrine”
— 1 Timothy 5:17
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, giveth grace to the humble”
— 1 Peter 5:5
“He gave some, apostles; some, prophets; some, evangelists; some, pastors teachers”
— Ephesians 4:11
“God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tonguesAre all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?”
— 1 Corinthians 12:28-29
“This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work”
— 1 Timothy 3:1
“For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre”
— Titus 1:7
How to Address Concerns with Pastors Biblically
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go tell him his fault between thee him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother”
— Matthew 18:15
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted”
— Galatians 6:1
“Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses”
— 1 Timothy 5:19
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”
— James 1:19
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger”
— Proverbs 15:1
“The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient”
— 2 Timothy 2:24
“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations”
— Romans 14:1
Biblical Examples of Confronting Religious Leaders
“But woe unto you, scribes Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in”
— Matthew 23:13
“Then Peter the other apostles answered said, We ought to obey God rather than men”
— Acts 5:29
“But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed”
— Galatians 2:11
“Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not goodThou wilt surely wear away, both thou, this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself aloneHearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God”
— Exodus 18:17-19
“Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul”
— 2 Samuel 12:7
“It came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord , thou hast followed Baalim”
— 1 Kings 18:17-18
The Importance of Accountability in Church Leadership
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach”
— 1 Timothy 3:2
“If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unrulyFor a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre”
— Titus 1:6-7
“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation”
— James 3:1
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood”
— Acts 20:28
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend”
— Proverbs 27:17
“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mindNeither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock”
— 1 Peter 5:2-3
“Take heed unto thyself, unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, them that hear thee”
— 1 Timothy 4:16
When Is It Appropriate to Criticize a Pastor According to Scripture?
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go tell him his fault between thee him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brotherBut if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be establishedAnd if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man a publican”
— Matthew 18:15-17
“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear”
— 1 Timothy 5:20
“This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith”
— Titus 1:13
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering doctrine”
— 2 Timothy 4:2
“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wifeAnd ye are puffed up, have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you”
— 1 Corinthians 5:1-2
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; avoid them”
— Romans 16:17