THE PASTOR of a church has a God given authority. According to Hebrews 13:7, the pastor has "the rule over you". That passage of scripture instructs the reader to follow the pastor's faith. And Hebrews 13:17, tells the church to "obey" and "submit" themselves to their pastor.

As a pastor, I understand that these passages give the holder of the position of pastor a tremendous authority. I, also, understand that with that position comes tremendous responsibility. A pastor's authority is to "preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine". See II Timothy 4:2.

Ephesians 4:12 tells us that the job of the ministry is "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ". Many times a pastor is misunderstood. Sometimes some people may think that he is just trying to suppress people, that he is trying to exalt himself, or that he is just critical and bossy, but he is just doing what God requires of him. He is just fulfilling his responsibilities. He must do this, because the Bible says he must "watch for your souls, as they that must give account". The pastor must stand before God to give an account for the souls that were under his care.

Your pastor loves you and has no interest in trying to be a Lord over you, or to be a controller of your life, but he must follow the dictates of the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, which requires that he teach doctrine, reprove, correct, and instruct.

Remember, when the pastor is correcting and exhorting you he is just trying to be faithful to his calling. He is serving you in an effort to see you saved, because that is the job that God has called him to. Finally, know this that the Bible calls your pastor a gift from God for you. Stand behind him that he may fulfill his job "with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you". Hebrews 13:17