Should You Obey Your Pastor in Everything?

Pastors are leaders of the church, and they are called to shepherd the flock of God so they may live godly lives in a world that is hostile to God. Pastoral authority comes from the Scriptures as they proclaim God's truth to equip the saints for works of service (Ephesians 4:11-12 & 2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

The Bible says we are to obey our pastors. The writer of Hebrews says, "Obey your leaders and submit to them⁠—for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account⁠—so that they will do this with joy and not with groaning, for this would be unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17). Does that mean we obey our pastors in everything? Do they have authority to tell us what to wear, what to eat, or even what car we are to drive in? 

Pastors are to shepherd and even protect the flock of God. They can give recommendations for books to read and even warnings on what books to stay away from. The same is true with other church pastors. They are to call our false teachers and warn the church about them fulfilling the command from the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:11 to have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness but expose them. By the way, this is a command to all Christians not just pastors.

When a pastor says we are to obey what the Bible says and everything your pastor tells you, there is a good chance you have a pastor that loves authority more than shepherding. The Apostle Peter wrote:

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not under compulsion, but willingly, according to God; and not for dishonest gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to you, but being examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:1-3).

As I wrote in a post from 2018 titled, Elders Are Not To Be Domineering, I mentioned that Peter, using a quote from the Reformation Study Bible, was warning the people "against haughty abuse of power." Sadly, many pastors, if not kept in check, will abuse their authority. The church is to honor their leaders but not to the point where they are abusing their authority.

This is not just in practical matters, but also in spiritual matters. A pastor is a human being so they can get a passage wrong. It does not mean he is a false teacher; it just means he is in error. What if a pastor says something that sounds Biblical but is really not. This is where we need to follow the example of the Bereans in Acts 17. The Bible says, "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). We need to search the Scriptures to see what our pastors are saying lines up with God's special revelation. Pastors who encourage their congregations to do so are those who can be trusted. 

God has given us pastors to help guide us as we walk with the Lord. When it comes to spiritual matters, we must obey them unless it goes against what the Bible says. Pastors are not to overreach their God-given authority.