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Some pastors are considered genuine; others are regarded as false. Those who are known to be fake are often criticised. To criticise is to reprove, correct, admonish, chide, reprimand or reproach.
These are not words that encourage people. This may be the reason why many hate to see church leaders rebuked. In fact, some Christians find it very difficult to understand why pastors should be reproved.
Now what does God say about all of this? Many do not know or they forget that the Holy Bible from which pastors preach and teach points out that it is profitable to rebuke believers including church leaders.
Paul, the apostle, throws light on this in his letter to Timothy:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
In another letter to Titus, Paul writes, “…reproof with all authority…” (Titus 2:15).
You see, rebuking or criticizing wrongdoing is beneficial. It trains people in righteousness so that they may be qualified to serve well. For this reason, God recommends reproving to check wrongdoing in the Church.
One thing Christians must understand is that not everyone who preaches from the Bible or in name of Christ Jesus is a true minister of God. Many are false ministers sent by the devil to counterfeit the activities of true servants of Christ.
The evil activities of false pastors such as distorting scriptures, creating divisions among believers, giving false prophecies, swindling people and uttering blasphemies create serious problems for the Church.
For example, it makes unbelievers and immature believers to lose interest in the gospel of Jesus Christ for them to be saved. Instead of loving God, these people are often influenced to hate Him or even doubt that there is God.
This is the state in which the Church finds itself today. Many speak and write against the Church because of ungodly deeds, practices and teachings of false ministers around the world.
Genuine servants of Christ Jesus should not fold their arms, shut their mouths, and look on unconcerned. They must criticise, rebuke, reprove and boldly correct false ministers for the evil things that they do to dent the image of the Church.
However, this should be done in the spirit of love, gentleness and humility so that no one may find any legitimate reason to launch counter attacks against them.
In the next teaching, we shall focus on biblical evidences of servants of God rebuking and criticising false prophets and teachers.
By James Quansah
