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NASB | 1 Corinthians 4:4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 4:4 I am aware of nothing against myself and I feel blameless, but I am not by this acquitted [before God]. It is the Lord who judges me. |
Subject: Should pastors/preachers be evaluated |
Bible Note: Dear Sister Azure, Perhaps the passage in question (1 Corinthians 4:1-5) would be applicable to the young elder if he was an Apostle. :-) We know, of course, that he is not. When we take the passages on the characteristics of an elder (1 Timothy 3:1-16; Titus 1:6-9; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 5:1; etc.) they are all a matter of visible characteristics to the rest of the church. I would be very surprised at any pastor or elder who would not want to be continually examined by his brethren, to the glory of God and the good of the saints. Wanting to lord it over the others in the church, to not be questioned, and to be able to do all things with impunity is evidence of a false teacher, not a shepherd of Christ's flock. Looking back at the time that your young elder came to your church, it would have been best to have asked him about this oversight during his application. Even during the times of the primitive church, bishops were subject to oversight by the church as a whole. Today we operate differently, but compare the men who lead predominantly in Christian circles. They are pastors of a local congregation, they are recognized teachers and leaders in Christian thought, they affirm published standards of doctrine, and they lead exemplary personal lives. Compare them with some of the parachurch leaders popular in the less doctrinally sound groups. The differences are pretty obvious. The real question is do we want to follow the Holy Spirit as He leads through the Word, or do we want people to scratch our itching ears. In Him, Doc |