When is it right to criticize my pastor?

Answer

Pastors have been called by God to preach the Word, to emulate Christ, and to serve their congregations. It is a high calling: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position” «This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. », (1 Timothy 3:1, NLT). This doesn’t mean that pastors are immune from criticism; in fact, it usually means they are targeted for criticism.

Laying some groundwork in preparation to criticize your pastor, we should consider the biblical requirements for pastors. According to 1 Timothy 3:2–7, a pastor should:

• be above reproach

• be faithful to his wife

• be temperate

• be self-controlled

• be respectable

• be hospitable

• be able to teach

• not be given to drunkenness

• not be violent but gentle

• not be quarrelsome

• not be a lover of money

• manage his own family well

• not be a recent convert

• have a good reputation with outsiders

• preach the Word (Galatians 1:6-9;2 Timothy 4:2)

Given the above description, here are some valid reasons you could criticize your pastor:

• he is scandal-ridden and involved in cover-ups

• he is cheating on his wife

• his behavior and speech are extreme

• he cannot control himself

• he acts in shamefully appalling ways

• he is inhospitable and rude

• he can’t teach and doesn’t know how to

• he is a drunkard

• he is physically or verbally violent

• he is always quarrelsome

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• he is greedy

• he doesn’t meet the needs of his family

• he is a new believer

• his reputation in the community is dreadful

• he is not preaching the Bible, or he perverts the gospel

Truly, these are the only reasons to criticize your pastor. Notice what is not on this list: you do not have the right to criticize your pastor for matters of personal preference, for his style of ministry, for his hobbies, for his clothing choices, for his sense of humor, or for a thousand other things that people can (and do) think of.

When and if your pastor is violating 1 Timothy 4 or Titus 1—that is, he is engaging in sinful behavior or is consistently eroding the reputation of Christ and the church—then your criticism is warranted. What’s important at that juncture is how you engage in the act of criticism. As you approach your pastor with a criticism, please keep in mind what type of person you should be:

• be private; keep the matter between the two of you, until further witnesses are necessary « Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. », (Matthew 18:15)

• be respectful «Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. », (1 Timothy 5:17)

• be gentle «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)

• be humble «Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mi

And let each esteem others better than themselves. », (Philippians 2:3)

• Be gracious «Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man. », (Colossians 4:6)

Some churchgoers seem to think their mission in the church is to keep the pastor in check, to play devil’s advocate, to be permission-givers for his ideas, or to ensure the pastor’s actions do not crimp their style. However, no matter how many times you re-read the New Testament, you’ll never find criticism listed as a spiritual gift. Crankiness is not a fruit of the Spirit.

There are times when pastors need to be confronted. But as long as your pastor is faithfully preaching the gospel and conforming to the standards of 1 Timothy 4 and Titus 1, you should refrain from criticizing him. Moreover, you should avoid gossiping about him to others.

So, your pastor irritates you sometimes, or his sermons are not as interesting as the ones on TV, or he’s not extroverted, or he made what you think is a foolish decision. Is he sinning? Or does this come down to your personal preference? Instead of criticizing your pastor, consider your responsibility to him and the church:

• Provide for him and “share all good things” with him (Matthew 10:10;Galatians 6:6)

• Pray for him and his family (1 Thessalonians 5:25;1 Timothy 2:1-2)

• Be willing to follow his lead «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.»

Commit to the ministry of your church and be willing to serve (Romans 12:5; Romans 15:2).

Actively pursue peace in the church (Romans 14:19; Psalm 133:1).

The pastoral ministry is not easy. The pastor has a heavy responsibility to the church and its spiritual growth. But church members also have a responsibility to their pastor, and they, too, must give an account someday for how receptive they were to spiritual guidance. “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you” (Hebrews 13:17).