Hi everyone. I've heard in church on a number of occasions (plus on Christian television) how all church leaders are appointed by God, for there is no authority that exists apart from God. And the bottom line? That as all church leaders are God appointed, Christians need to submit to them.
These people will tell you that disobedience is the worst possible sin. Actually, abuse of authority is worse, but they wioll never admit that.
Just cause someone is a pastor, doesn't mean their authority is for real. Pastor Jim Jones told everyone to drink cyanide and they obeyed.
I'm inclining to the view that rather than God appointing leaders (why stop there? Why not appointing worship leaders, house-group coordinators, property managers, pastoral visitors), what happens is that willing people offer themselves and God uses them.
Otherwise how do you explain the frequent failures of those in authority. It seems God makes therefore some BIG mistakes.
The role of a modern pastor owes much more to various church traditions than biblical precepts. The pyramid nature of most churches is just not biblical.
By and large, the answer to the question is, "No. Pastors are NOT 'appointed by God.'"
The New Testament shows that the church appoints them bishops, presbyters, and deacons, and that this is the responsibility OF the church. That's what the idea of the "priesthood of all believers" means--the whole body of believers delegating the pastoral responsibility to a select few to preach, administer the sacraments, lead congregations, etc.
The "appointing," in other words, is done by the people of God, having judged whether or not the person in question has satisfied the congregation that he indeed has a call from God (which is not the same as being "appointed" by God, you see).
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