“Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence…receiveth us not.”

 

Reader, We recently wrote an article about churches that persecute it’s pastor. In that article we also wrote that we would write on the subject of removing a pastor from a church.  I will not go into the details of a church’s constitution. We will address this matter from the spiritual side of things.

One must concede to the fact that there are some bad men in pulpits. These men are called, by Scripture, *Wolves in sheep’s clothing,  *False prophets,  *False teachers,  *Men crept in unawares,  *Enemies of the Cross of Christ,  *[M]en having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof,  *Waves foaming out their own shame  *(s)atan’s ministers  *false apostles  *deceitful workers.  This is not an exhaustive list but it should suffice us.

Reader, Whether it be good or bad, I am skeptical of every man in any office in any church upon first (1st) meeting him (Revelation 2).  I am told to try the spirits to see whether they be of God or not and so I do. It is true, (s)atan has his minisssssssters in many a church. There can be no doubt. But how can a church uncover this minisssssssssssssster of the serpent, (s)atan?

The Answer is simple.  One can uncover a false teacher by comparing his teachings with the Word of God. One could look at the family and if the family is disfunctional and the pastor does nothing about it, there is a problem. If you find that he has disqualified himself according to 1 Timothy 3, he should be dealt with swiftly and lovingly.

After writing the above, the church must make certain that the pastor is the problem and not a cliquish church or a church that has as it’s congregant’s, a number of large families, or is funded heavily by just a few.  The church must eliminate the possibility that someone within the church is not trying to usurp the pastorate or in other words, stage a coup, or in business terms, lead a hostile take-over.

This has been the case in very many churches. One (1) person or one (1) family is vying for the leadership of the church. This person or family can be likened unto Absolom, David’s son. Absolom manipulated the feelings and emotions of many of King David’s subjects. And there was an over-throw of the kingdom.  However, it ended with David on the throne and Absolom hanging from a tree by his hair and being stabbed to death. Also, remember, Judas who betrayed Christ. Judas ended up hanging himself, falling and his guts busted open. Remember Miriam, Moses’ sister. Miriam went against Mose and God struck her with leprosy.  Reader, this writer has seen two (2) men killed right after offending men of God.

Reader, the person or the family that is seeking to remove a pastor had better make certain that their intentions and motivations are pure and right and aligned with Scripture. Else they may be visited by a chastening God.  David would counsel you to, “touch not the LORD’s anointed.”

If a pastor is out of sorts with  1 Timothy 3, if a pastor is being irratic and acting out or has crossed moral or ethical line, he should be remove in accordance to the church’s constitution.  The church would be out of the will of God if they did not act.  But again, Make certain the pastor is the problem and someone or something else is not the problem.