Over 30 years ago, my wife and I were new to an assembly of a particular denomination. Before entering that place I had never in my life read a Bible even though I was 32 years old and, of course all of the congregation and the pastor knew that.
I never questioned my pastor's authority because I did not know at the time what authority he had. I was interested in learning about and asked him privately to explain what the basis for his authority was. I had only been in his congregation for a few weeks at the time. I expected and hoped to receive an answer from scripture. Instead, He apparently not understanding what it was I wanted didn't answer me at all and left the room. It was just about time for service to start so I went and rejoined my wife sitting in a pew in the sanctuary.
Shortly after the start of the service the pastor went to the podium and speaking before the entire congregation rebuked me saying that I had questioned his authority. I was completely stunned as was my wife for I had already explained to her what had occurred just few minutes earlier.
Still, I would have thought that the man had simply not understood me. That was not the case as I discovered. I have never been a person easily angered and I did not get angry then, but I cannot say the same for my wife.
In the 21st chapter of John, Jesus told Peter once to feed His lambs and then He told him twice to feed His sheep. It was a simple command. I guess that at the time I was rebuked, I was a lamb and I was very hungry, and my pastor did feed me. He never did answer my question. I did not leave the church because I did not know enough to understand what had happened. I am not certain that I do even today.
I hold no hard feelings against the man. Rather, I prayed for him for many years after he had finally driven my wife and me from his assembly. He is probably dead now since he was quite a few years older than me. I hope that sometime before the end he learned just what it was that God wanted Him to do.
I never questioned my pastor's authority because I did not know at the time what authority he had. I was interested in learning about and asked him privately to explain what the basis for his authority was. I had only been in his congregation for a few weeks at the time. I expected and hoped to receive an answer from scripture. Instead, He apparently not understanding what it was I wanted didn't answer me at all and left the room. It was just about time for service to start so I went and rejoined my wife sitting in a pew in the sanctuary.
Shortly after the start of the service the pastor went to the podium and speaking before the entire congregation rebuked me saying that I had questioned his authority. I was completely stunned as was my wife for I had already explained to her what had occurred just few minutes earlier.
Still, I would have thought that the man had simply not understood me. That was not the case as I discovered. I have never been a person easily angered and I did not get angry then, but I cannot say the same for my wife.
In the 21st chapter of John, Jesus told Peter once to feed His lambs and then He told him twice to feed His sheep. It was a simple command. I guess that at the time I was rebuked, I was a lamb and I was very hungry, and my pastor did feed me. He never did answer my question. I did not leave the church because I did not know enough to understand what had happened. I am not certain that I do even today.
I hold no hard feelings against the man. Rather, I prayed for him for many years after he had finally driven my wife and me from his assembly. He is probably dead now since he was quite a few years older than me. I hope that sometime before the end he learned just what it was that God wanted Him to do.
