Good Pastors Need to Be Examined
“As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and upsetting the crowds.”
– Acts 17:10-13
Questioning or Examining pastors and their teaching is not a new concept nor is it a bad thing. In fact, it is a necessary action that, when done in humility and love, edifies the whole church body including its shepherd. Perhaps you have read this passage before and even thought highly of the Berean Jews who diligently questioned the Apostles’ teaching against the Scripture to verify its truth. Today, the mention of questioning pastors seems to have the connotation of a fight or an argument, but this isn’t the model we see in this passage or the New Testament church. Discussion and questioning is not only encouraged it’s considered a part of noble character. To understand how this can be we have to realize a few important things.
On the one hand Paul and Silas are Apostles. THE Apostles in many of our minds. How dare these people question them! Yet, on the other hand, their Apostleship and character are most seen by their kindness and humility. They are not worried, put off, or even irritated that these believers are examining their teaching each day against scripture. Even though poor experiences in the past or loud voices may tell us otherwise, most pastors would be thrilled if their people questioned and chewed on their sermons in this way. Which leads us to wonder why so often questions feel less than encouraging.
Noble Questions Seek to Learn Not Attack
The description of the Bereans’ actions help us understand the nature of questions from noble character. The men and women of Berea came to the teaching of God’s Word with eagerness to learn. They understood that it was so fulfilling, satisfying, and necessary to their lives that they examined it daily. They did this because they lived what Paul wrote to the Philippians, and likely taught to others:
“Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.” - Philippians 2:12-13 CSB
The questioning they brought to these Apostles from their personal study was designed to help them better understand and unify them around the message of the Gospel. But the key is in the standard they used and the consistency of their examinations. They used Scripture rather than opinion, common knowledge, trends of the day, etc. They went back into God’s Word and simply searched daily and consistently to see if God’s Word affirmed what they were hearing.
What was the result of this examining? “…many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men.” When God’s people consume and examine their church’s teaching against God’s Word to make sure it is so, it leads us to creating disciples. In one short passage we see discipleship lead to replication, which leads to revival.
A Word of Warning
We mentioned above that many of us feel like the idea of questioning or examining pastors is synonymous with starting a fight. Perhaps the second group of people we see in the passage can illuminate why. Paul and Silas are soon confronted by Jews from Thessalonica. These people were known to stir up trouble against Paul. They would charge these missionaries with stirring up trouble while they were actually the ones disturbing the peace. Reading about the Thessalonians it sounds much more like the culture of questioning we are accustomed to today. Seeking to get our way, push our point, and further our agenda. We have justified our actions, believe we are right, and we will not stop until we get our way.
Often, we judge the quality of teaching on whether it aligns with our current views rather than asking if a teaching aligns with Scripture and allowing it to inform what we believe. Now, you may be thinking, “This doesn’t make sense, the Thessalonian Jews weren’t even believers.” And that is the point. Does the way we examine and question our pastors reflect the character of a noble Christian, genuinely seeking to learn, study, and be unified, or do our questions and expectations reflect the same priorities and values of unbelievers?
A Word of Encouragement
For many believers the process of examining their pastor’s teaching is a daunting task and it can be for sure.
Dean Inserra, in his book The Unsaved Christian, wrote a very helpful list of questions that pastors should keep in mind and believers can use to pursue being a disciple and examining scripture. These questions are a great launching point.
Would this message still make sense if Jesus was just a good moral example?
Is Jesus referenced as merely an example, or as a substitute? Is His Lordship mentioned? Is His deity acknowledged?
Is the point of the message self-improvement or deeper commitment to and trust in Jesus?
What does the listener need to do after the message ends?
Anything? By whose strength is the listener supposed to accomplish this work?
What Scripture was used? Read it in context. Does correctly point to Jesus? Or am I, the listener, the subject of the message?
*Adapted from The Unsaved Christian by Dean Inserra
