Many of us run into pastors who do not meet the description of a pastor mentioned in scripture. Instead, we find narcisissitic types or even pastors with NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder). In scripture things like this were written and people were even named. Scripture tells us to expose the unfruitful works of darkness. This man is not gentle which disqualifies him from being an overseer. I will share those portions of scripture farther along in this article.
As I was dialoging with one of my sources, a fellow servant of Yeshua HaMashiach who holds a masters degree in psychology, they mentioned that about 90% of pastors are narcissists. Sad but true, this is one of the most serious issues in the body of Messiah today.
After my wife and I had relocated to another state, we attended a congregation that I had been watching online through a live stream every Sabbath. From that vantage point things seemed good. So I told her that I want to attend there.
In time as we got to know the people there we gained some good friends. However, narcissism appeared very seriously in the heads of that assembly. To the point that they loved the preeminence and dominated the flock. This practice is condemned in scripture. At that point I knew we were dealing with goats and not sheep. I had went to one of the pastors kindly to address a serious issue. He strongly proclaimed that he can throw anyone out that he wants. WHOA! It was during Sukkot one year and although we didn’t take our tents down at that point, we went home to return later and pack up. We walked out instantly and fired our pastor. It was not hard to see this man was the adversary. This is definitely a very arrogant man. He is quick tempered also and not patient as a Pastor should be. I’ve witnessed him telling someone who saw through him they didn’t understand scripture when it’s the other way around. Several people have witnessed the same thing and also came to me concerning this man. This practice is condemned in scripture.
I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the first among them, does not receive us. So if I come, I shall call to mind his works which he does, babbling against us with wicked words. And not satisfied with that, he himself does not receive the brothers, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the assembly.
3 John 1:9,10 TS2009
Only Messiah is the head of the body, only he has the preeminence.
And He is the Head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that He might become the One who is first in all.
Colossians 1:18 TS2009
But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi,’ for One is your Teacher, the Messiah, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your father, for One is your Father, He who is in the heavens. Neither be called leaders, for One is your Leader, the Messiah. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:8-12 TS2009
Rabbi means Master and is a position that only belongs to Yeshua HaMashiach. Even if a man does not call himself Rabbi, but takes on the attitude that he dominates the assembly and can throw anyone out he wants, he has taken on the role of “Master” which Messiah condemned because it belongs to him alone.
I have written this to you concerning those who lead you astray. But the anointing which you have received from Him stays in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as the same anointing does teach you concerning all, and is true, and is no falsehood, and even as it has taught you, you stay in Him.
1 John 2:26,27 TS2009
1 Timothy 3:1-5 TS2009
Since then, I have had two others that loved the preeminence. The first one was a false teacher and false prophet. Even when the entire congregation confronted him he still thought he was right. This is how deceived he is. I walked out of that congregation first with my wife following. I actually wanted to leave sooner but my wife compelled me to stay. Finally she got it and got tired of someone trying to shove lies down her.
Another group formed later out of the previous group and the man that was “in charge” there I refer to as a Tyrant Pastor. He actually had the audacity to call me on the phone and tell me I could not send scripture to my friends in text messages. I was simply sharing the scriptures that show that if we serve in the assembly we are to serve, not lording it over others. He thought other scriptures cancelled that out. But in reality, scripture interprets scripture. This man obviously is not spiritually minded, but carnally minded instead. I left that group as well. I knew of another group that I had taken my wife to in the past and we currently attend there and it has been going well.
But Yeshua called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones play the tyrant over them. It shall not be this way among you. But whoever wants to be great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you shall be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Mat 20:25-28 TLV
Loved ones, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1 TLV
You can also refer to this article for more information: http://www.messiahspeople.com/blog/the-pastoral-or-rabbinical-office-in-the-modern-day-congregation-is-not-biblical/