Having been a Christian for 35 years I have heard my share of people criticizing pastors. I know of one family who regularly makes the pastor their meal at Sunday lunch. Sad.
Before I reflect let’s make sure we are on the same page with the terminology.
By “criticizing” I mean expressing comments to others that tear down the content, person or purpose of the message for perceived faults or shortcomings. Criticizing is not the same as discerning. Masking gossip as a prayer request for another as trying to justify your criticism is wrong. Stop it.
To quote an online dictionary, ” discernment is perception in the absence of judgment with a view to obtaining spiritual direction and understanding.” Discernment is used to determine truth.
Philippians 1:10
, “so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
Criticism does not have a pure motive.
Back to the question. The short answer is-it is never okay to criticize your pastor.
Do you know his struggles? Have you experienced his burdens that week?
I Thessalonians 5:11 instructs us to “encourage one another and build each other up (NIV).” This applies to all believers not just the pastor.
The clearest voice on why we should not use our words to hurt others comes from Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (NIV)”
A couple suggestions if you are around people criticizing your pastor:
- Compliment him. Don’t try to offer excuses or rebut the one criticizing. Simply say something positive about him. This alone should serve as a message that you are not interested in hearing the criticism.
- Ask the one criticizing if they have approached the pastor with their concerns. Encourage them in light of Matthew 5:24. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” If they say they have not, offer to go with them.
- Avoid them. You don’t need to be around people who could bring you down. If the first two suggestions fail to let them know you won’t tolerate hearing criticism you have to protect yourself.
What if the pastor is out of line or there is sin in his life? Shouldn’t he be held accountable? Of course he should, just like you and I. However, open sin is different than being critical of a person’s preferences or style. What someone finds boring another will be enthralled.
There are specific instructions on how to approach a brother who is caught in sin. Primarily, we should first examine our self. Luke 6:42 is clear: How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. (ESV)”
What I understand in this verse is the person not only had a log in his eye but had the wrong motive for attempting to correct his brother. Some people like to criticize their pastor because their motives are impure.
Romans 2:1 says, “You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. (NLT)”
When correcting another Christian it is always with the goal of restoring that person to a right relationship with Jesus. Criticizing does not work towards that end.
