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12 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR PASTOR
(adapted from the book “What’s Going On Among the Lutherans?” (by Smith/Leppien)
Many Seminaries today that train denominational Pastors, no longer teach the historic truths of Christianity. Think how that will affect a Pastor; his Ministry; and his hearers - which may be you and your family! The following questions are provided to help people determine the theological positions of their Pastors. These questions should be asked of the Pastor exactly as worded. Your Pastor should be able to answer them with a simple yes or no. Don't "assume" that he believes the same way you do - ask. If he is a godly man, he will be joyful to talk about his faith and extatic that his parishioners care about such things!
QUESTIONS:
- Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Bible
Do you personally believe that the writers of the Bible were so controlled by the Holy Spirit that they wrote exactly what God wanted them to write?
Do you personally believe that the Bible contains no errors or contradictions?
- Creation
Do you personally believe that God created everything in six, 24-hour days as recorded in Scripture?
- Adam and Eve
Do you believe that Adam and Eve were real, historical people?
What about Jonah, Noah, and Job?
- The Words of Jesus
Do you personally believe that the Words of Jesus, as recorded in the New Testament, were all actually spoken by Him?
- Miracles
Do you personally believe that every miracle recorded in the Bible was a real, historical event?
- The Virgin Birth
a. Do you truly believe that Jesus did not have a human father?
b. Do you believe that the Bible and therefore the Apostles Creed contains myth?
7. Deity of Christ
Do you personally believe that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man?
8. The Trinity
Do you believe that the Bible teaches of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit – three Persons in one God?
Do you personally believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – three in One – as is stated in the Athanasian Creed, one of the three great ecumenical creeds of the Christian Church?
9. Atonement
Do you personally believe that God took his anger for our sins out on Christ – that he was the final blood sacrifice that appeased God’s wrath and bought the forgiveness of our sins?
- Resurrection
Do you personally believe that Christ was physically raised from the dead…that these our physical bodies will be raised from the dead?
- Immortality of the Soul
Do you personally believe that man has a soul that survives the death of the physical body?
- Homosexuality
a. Do you personally believe that the Bible condemns the practice of homosexuality?
If he says it is no worse than any other sin, say you agree but then add: Homosexuality, like all sin requires repentance (sorrow over sins) and the faithful resolve that, with God’s help, a person can give it up and sin no more. Do you agree with that statement?
b. Do you personally believe that homosexuality is an acceptable alternate lifestyle ordained by God – a gift from God to be celebrated and enjoyed?
All questions should be whole-heartily answered with a "yes" (except 6b & 12b). If not, then you should "speak the truth in love" and bring God's Word before the pastor and lovingly plead for him to trust and believe what God has said instead of man's reasonings and opinions. Pray for him diligently and with tears. And after all this, if this shepherd is still not preaching and teaching what God has said he should, then you should find a pastor and Church that preaches the whole counsel of God. If a Doctor was found to be dispensing medicine with poison in it, you would not take your family to him for treatment. How much more important then is the care of your soul than the body! You must be careful to guard your and your family's souls.
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
- 2 Timothy 4:2-4
(Speaking of Pastors, the Spirit says) "He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught..." (And) "You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine."
- Titus 1:9, 2:1
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."
- Colossians 2:8
(Jesus says) "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' "
-Matthew 7:15-23
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