How Much Authority Does a Pastor Have In The Lives of His Congregants?

SOMEONE ASKED John Fullerton MacArthur Jr., a pastor of Reformed Baptist church, in the United States of America the question above.

Below is an excerpt of Pastor MacArthur’s response to the questioner which has gone viral.

‘No authority. I have no authority in this church.

My experience doesn’t give me any authority, my knowledge doesn’t give me any authority, my education doesn’t give me any authority. I have no authority. My position doesn’t give me any authority. My title doesn’t give me any authority.

That’s why I don’t like titles. Only the Word of God has authority.

Christ is the head of the Church, and He mediates His rule in the church through His Word.

I have no authority. I don’t have authority beyond the Scripture. I can never exceed what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6).

To do that is to become, as Paul says, arrogant. And to regard yourself as superior; listen to what Paul says, “Who is Paul? Who is Apollos? Who is Cephas?

We are nothing.” It is all of Christ. It is all of the Holy Spirit. It is all of the Scripture, okay?”