To speak for God means to say, “These are God’s words, not only mine.”
Presumptuous means acting as if you have a right that you do not have.
A prophet was a person who brought a message from God. The Bible warns about false prophets, who said God sent them when he did not.
To test a sermon means to check it against the Bible.
Open a Bible. Read Jeremiah 23:16. Read Acts 5:34–39. Who is speaking? Who is he speaking to? Then come back.
What do some preachers say?
“No pastor can speak for God. If a pastor thinks he can, he is presumptuous.”
“When God sends his word through a man of God, never reject it. If you say, ‘Who is he to tell me?’, you are playing with fire.”
This page does not name any preacher or church. It asks one question: can both of these be true?
Five points
- Both cannot be true. If no pastor speaks for God, then disagreeing with a pastor is not disagreeing with God.
- God does speak through good preaching. But then we must check the sermon against the Bible. The Bible tells us to.
- Jeremiah warned about men who said “God sent me” when God did not send them.
- Being criticised does not prove a preacher is right. It depends on whether the criticism is true.
- “Do not fight God” was said to leaders, to protect the apostles. It was not said to protect leaders from questions.
This is my own opinion. A preacher can believe that God speaks through good sermons. That is an old and serious belief. But he cannot say “no one speaks for God” and then say “if you question me, God will punish you.” Either he does not notice that he contradicts himself, or he notices and does it anyway. We would not accept this from a doctor.
God does speak through preaching
Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me.
Luke 10:16 · World English Bible
In simple words: Jesus said this to 70 followers he sent out with a message. If people rejected the message, they rejected Jesus.
This is true. But Jesus gave them a clear message to carry. The authority was in the message. So we must check if a sermon has the right message.
Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 · World English Bible
In simple words: Paul told the church to check everything, even what he taught.
An honest preacher says: “If I preach God’s Word, you must listen. So check it.” He does not say: “Do not ask questions.”
What Jeremiah said
Some preachers say: “People attack me, as they attacked the prophet Jeremiah.” But read what Jeremiah wrote:
Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They teach you vanity. They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Yahweh.
Jeremiah 23:16 · World English Bible
In simple words: Some men say their own ideas are God’s words. Do not listen to them.
In Jeremiah’s time, two prophets both said, “God says this.” But they said opposite things. So saying “God says” did not prove anything. People had to test the message.
Does criticism prove a preacher is right?
Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Matthew 5:11 · World English Bible
In simple words: You are blessed when people say false things about you because you follow Jesus.
Notice the word “falsely.” Sometimes criticism is false. Sometimes it is true. Being criticised does not prove you are right. We must ask: is the criticism true?
“Do not fight God”
If this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!
Acts 5:38–39 · World English Bible
In simple words: A leader named Gamaliel told the other leaders: “Leave the apostles alone. If God sent them, you will be fighting God.”
Who was being warned? The leaders. Who was being protected? The apostles, who would not stop preaching. Today some preachers use this verse the other way round. They warn church members not to question the leader.
Should preachers be careful?
Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
James 3:1 · World English Bible
In simple words: Teachers have a big responsibility. God will judge them more carefully.
Imagine a doctor who says: “I cannot tell you what is wrong with you.” Then he says: “If you ask another doctor, you will die.” Would you trust him? Either he does not notice that he contradicts himself, or he is trying to scare you. Both are a problem.
“No pastor speaks for God by himself. My job is to bring you God’s Word from the Bible. So check what I say. Read the verses. If I am wrong, tell me.”
This is honest. It lets you check. You can decide for yourself.
Read it yourself
- Read Jeremiah chapter 23.
- Read Acts chapter 5, verses 17 to 42.
- When a preacher says “God says,” ask kindly: “Where is that in the Bible?”
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