Should I Submit to my Pastor(s)?
Yes, you should. Here's why and how.
Submission is a word that makes many recoil. We often talk about it in reference to a wife submitting to her husband—which is biblical—but there are other ways in which submission comes up in Scripture.
What about submitting to the authority of our pastor(s)? “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders,” 1 Peter 5:5 says, “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” (ESV).
This comes on the heels of Peter talking directly to pastors, those who shepherd God’s flock in a particular congregation. And then he shifts his focus to the young people in that local church, and directs them to be subject to the elders, to submit to their authority.
Pastors Have Authority
It must be said that pastors don’t have authority in and of themselves. Any authority pastors have over you comes directly from God as it relates to his calling as an elder (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2-3). Pastors aren’t perfect; they have sins just like any other Christian. But they are most certainly held to a higher standard (James 3:1). This doesn’t mean pastors are justified by works, as if they have a different salvific bar to meet compared to Christian laymen; this simply means God will hold them accountable for what they teach in the pulpit and how they shepherd the people God has entrusted to them. Still terrifying for those who are called to eldership.
The reason I bring this up is because there are pastors who do, unfortunately, abuse their God-given authority. Those moments exist and I know it’s difficult for some to trust leadership when that happens. But that’s not the focal point here. Even though some pastors abuse authority doesn’t mean we throw out this directive from Peter altogether. We are subject to our pastor(s).1
Your Church Needs a Plurality of Elders
Before I dive into ways we can be active and joyful in submitting to our pastor(s), we must address something. Anytime Scripture talks about the pastorate, it’s always plural, meaning there should be more than one elder in each church. As it relates to pastoral mischief and abuse, part of the reason that happens—aside from the pastor’s sin—is because there’s no accountability from other pastors. It’s a one-man show, a business hierarchy that treats the pastor as an untouchable CEO. That leads to all sorts of dysfunction and sin.
This is why Scripture is clear that churches must be led by a plurality of elders/pastors (Acts 14:23, 15:2, 15:6, 20:17, 21:18; and others).2 Each pastor is also subject to the other pastor(s). However, having a plurality of elders isn’t merely about having accountability, but being able to devote time and energy to shepherding the congregation. How can one man be faithful to his congregation of 200 if it’s just him? That church needs more biblically-qualified pastors.
How Can We Submit to our Pastors?
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account,” says Hebrews 13:17.
Being subject to our pastors doesn’t mean we have to agree with everything they say, but it does mean we should respect the role God has placed them in. Though a pastor has authority, he only has it based on Scripture. “Ultimately pastoral ministry centers on Christ and His message, not on the pastor and his role as messenger,” Tony Reinke said. “And so to obey and submit to our pastors is a call to esteem and respect and obey the Word of God.”
So what are some practical ways we submit to them as faithful congregants?
Take their preaching to heart. Your pastor would love nothing more than for you to listen and take his sermon to heart. Think about the sermon. Apply it to your life. Did something convict you, encourage you, or even rebuke you? Take inventory of your walk with Jesus after every sermon—and tell him how God used it in your life. This is part of ensuring we encourage our pastors.
There will be things in each sermon you might disagree with. Maybe he spoke about eschatology and you differ with him on that topic. Perhaps he preached on election and you part ways with him on how that occurs. Or maybe you agree with him on a doctrine or topic but don’t agree on the application. That’s okay; it’s going to happen. You can have conversations with him about that, but don’t bombard him. Of course, another way to submit to your pastors is being able to disagree with them in ways that are respectful and still honoring to them as the elders.
Give weight to their counsel. Ninety percent of your pastor’s role is not preaching, but counseling. Whether you’re in a formal counseling session or it’s impromptu, you need to give weight to his counsel. Consider his words. See where you can become more like Jesus and take his advice seriously. Don’t brush it off if you don’t agree with it.
Of course, there will be moments you disagree with counsel. That doesn’t mean you don’t consider it. Always consider the counsel. Sometimes it’s counsel you need to take as true, and sometimes it’s counsel that is less serious (just depends on the circumstance). Regardless, it’s your responsibility as a congregant to give weight to his counsel and not be stubborn.
Serve when asked (or better yet, ask to serve!). If your pastor asks you to serve, you should do it. If he asks you to serve, it is usually because he sees a gift in you that could serve the local church. If he asks you to teach Sunday school to the little kids—do it! If he asks you to teach Wednesday night Bible study—do it! If he asks you to help with administration tasks—do it!
What will thrill your pastor even more is if you ask him, “How can I serve the church?” That is a wonderful question for him to hear. But you should understand that his answer might be something you don’t actually want to do. Consider it anyway. Sometimes we should serve in areas that aren’t our forte simply because we are serving our church and the people we love.
Submit out of Joy
Friend, I am subject to the elders of my local church not out of compulsion or coercion, but joy. I love each of them, and know they care for my soul. I know they love me, and care about my walk with the Lord. Therefore, because God has called them to the role of being my shepherd, I submit to their leadership.
That doesn’t mean I agree with everything they say. That doesn’t mean I choose to take every single bit of advice they give. But it does mean I respect their role as it accords with Scripture. And I know God has placed them in my life to help my sanctification as a Christian.
And the same should be true for every follower of Jesus.
I know not every Christian is in the same situation. Some Christians can’t find a solid church; others are stuck in a church that doesn’t function well. Do your best to submit to the pastor (if he’s doing things biblically). Ultimately, our submission to our pastor(s) is an extension of our submission to the Lord. It would do us well to think about how we can do that better.
A lion of the pulpit, Voddie Baucham, died yesterday. May he rest in peace.
What I am not saying is remain at a church where pastoral abuse is taking place, in whatever form. Find a solid, biblical church.
Elder/pastor is interchangeable.