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Can Pastors tell others what to do if they are not obeying their own instruction?
A pastor who loves more is a better pastor. But a pastor's authority comes from the Bible and from his ordination.
If your pastor says "stop robbing banks; it's a sin," it is not an acceptable reply to say "you haven't proven yourself by loving others in a humble way and by getting your hands dirty by helping the poor on the streets, or handing out tracts, or praying over their house, and helping others in your church financially."
To say "I only accept correction from perfect people" is to say "I don't accept correction at all."
I would argue that even if a man advises others to do what is good, and he does evil, his advice is still sound.No. A person cannot tell others what to do if they do not obey their own instruction (thereby showing they do not love God or others). That would be hypocritical. It is written,
1 "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?" (Romans 2:1-3).
I would argue that even if a man advises others to do what is good, and he does evil, his advice is still sound.
This kind of reminds me of the Donatist controversy of the 300's.
Donatism - Wikipedia
No. A person cannot tell others what to do if they do not obey their own instruction (thereby showing they do not love God or others). That would be hypocritical. It is written,
1 "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?" (Romans 2:1-3).
I would argue that even if a man advises others to do what is good, and he does evil, his advice is still sound.
This kind of reminds me of the Donatist controversy of the 300's.
Donatism - Wikipedia
For a start, a pastor is just an ordinary sinner like all the rest of us. He is given a role by the grace of God to teach His Word and to give pastoral care to those whom he is responsible for. The pastor is not Jesus and therefore to expect perfection from him is unfair and pointless.Can Pastors tell others what to do if they are not obeying their own instruction?
I would argue that even if a man advises others to do what is good, and he does evil, his advice is still sound.
This kind of reminds me of the Donatist controversy of the 300's.
Donatism - Wikipedia
For a start, a pastor is just an ordinary sinner like all the rest of us. He is given a role by the grace of God to teach His Word and to give pastoral care to those whom he is responsible for. The pastor is not Jesus and therefore to expect perfection from him is unfair and pointless.
In ourselves, none of us are qualified to give instruction to anyone, because we all come short of perfection. Paul knew his own limitations, and when he went to plant the Corinthian church he determined to know nothing among them save Christ and Him crucified.
Some pastors have the mistaken view that they are holier than the common herd and exhibit arrogance in the way they deal with people. They are not real pastors according to God's Word, but are hypocritical pretenders whom Jesus may reject at the judgment. A good pastor is one who fully knows his limitations and imperfection, and does not hide them; but faithfully teaches the Word in a way that inspires people to come closer to Christ.
The point of Romans 1:18-3:20 is that all alike are under sin, and condemned. The point of what comes after is that we are saved by grace, through faith when we trust in Him.
Everyone is a hypocrite. We are all sinners. But we need to repent and walk in the Spirit so he can live in us, rather than our hypocritical flesh.
And even if the pastor is not in step with the Spirit, we need to still look to Christ, not the pastor.
No. You are taking Romans 3:10 and Romans 3:23 out of context. Unless of course you believe that no Christian today seeks after God and they have no understanding as per Romans 3:11.
He is speaking about the degradation of all humankind in sin in Romans 1. And he particularly highlights shocking sins of idolatry, sexual sins etc, but then in chapter 2 also indicates that those who condemn such things in others are no better themselves.
The whole point of the quotes regarding no understanding, is to show Old Testament evidence that everyone is a sinne, and condemned by law.
It is because we are condemned by law because we have sinned that we need a righteousness apart from law, which is by faith.
Once you are in Christ and you are forgiven, and His Spirit lives in you then it is no longer the case that no one seeks after God. But he was talking about the lost condition that necessitated grace in the first place.
No. You are not forgiven of future sin. 1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Who said you are forgiven of future sin?
I said in Romans 1:18-3:20 he is relating why everyone needs the gospel, because all have sinned. And then in 3:21-5 he explains the gospel.
But then in 6-8 he speaks of life in the Spirit and learning to walk in holiness, involving being baptized into his death, dying to sin, dying to the law to be married to another, etc.
Can Pastors tell others what to do if they are not obeying their own instruction?
They can try; but there's no reason the other person should listen to someone who doesn't practice what they preach.
I would argue that even if a man advises others to do what is good, and he does evil, his advice is still sound.
But people can sometimes be experts at hiding their evil where it is not so obvious. But there are "tells" by the kind of belief that they profess, though.