You know that moment when you realize something’s gotten a bit off balance in your spiritual life? Maybe you’ve noticed it yourself, or perhaps a friend has gently pointed it out. It’s that subtle shift where your pastor has somehow become the center of your faith journey instead of Christ. Let’s talk about this – not to make you feel bad, but to help you find that sweet spot between respecting your church leaders and keeping Christ at the center – where He belongs.
You Believe Every Word They Say Without Question
Ever catch yourself nodding along to everything your pastor says, taking their every word as gospel truth? Maybe you’ve found yourself quoting “Pastor said…” in every spiritual conversation, treating their interpretations as final and absolute. Your Bible study group brings up a different perspective, but you shut it down because it doesn’t match what your pastor taught last Sunday.
This kind of unwavering acceptance might feel like loyalty, but it actually goes against what most good pastors want for their congregation. They’re not looking for blind followers – they want disciples of Christ who think critically and engage deeply with God’s Word. Remember those times when your pastor mentioned something from the pulpit, and you took it as absolute truth without even opening your Bible? When we stop questioning, stop thinking, and stop engaging with Scripture ourselves, we’re not just doing ourselves a disservice, we’re putting human words on the same level as God’s truth.
You Constantly Prioritize Your Pastor’s Opinion and Approval Over God’s
This one starts innocently enough – wanting to make sure your decisions align with godly wisdom. But suddenly, you realize you’re more worried about what your pastor thinks than what God thinks. That job offer in another city? Your first thought wasn’t to pray about it, but to wonder if the Pastor would approve. That relationship you’re considering? You’re more concerned about getting your pastor’s blessing than seeking God’s guidance.
It gets deeper. Maybe you’ve found yourself changing your plans not because God convicted you, but because you overheard your pastor express disapproval about similar situations. Those nudges from the Holy Spirit? They take a backseat when your pastor has a different opinion. You might even find yourself filtering God’s voice through your pastor’s perspective, only accepting divine guidance if it matches what your pastor would say. That’s when you know the balance has tipped – when your pastor’s approval becomes more important than your personal relationship with God.
You Avoid Church if They’re Not The One Giving Sermons
“Oh, Pastor’s on vacation this week? Maybe I’ll catch up on my rest, too.” Sound familiar? Let’s be real, we all have our favorite teachers. But when you find yourself checking the preaching schedule before deciding whether to attend church, something’s off. It’s not just about missing a Sunday here and there. It’s about what this pattern reveals about where we’ve placed our faith.
Think about it: the early church thrived through various teachers, each bringing their unique perspective on God’s truth. Your pastor, as gifted as they might be, is just one voice God uses. When you skip services because guest speakers are preaching or zone out during associate pastors’ sermons, you’re saying something profound about where you think God’s voice comes from. Those Sundays when your pastor’s away? They might just be the ones where God has arranged a special message for you through someone else’s voice. But you’ll never know if you’re not there, or if your heart’s closed to any voice but one.
You Rarely Read the Bible on Your Own
Let’s talk about your Bible for a minute. Is it getting more action as a coaster than as a life manual? Maybe you’ve convinced yourself that Sunday sermons give you all the spiritual food you need. Your pastor’s insights are so good, so deep, that you’ve started relying on their study instead of doing your own. Those sermon notes have become your primary connection to Scripture, while your personal Bible reading has quietly slipped away.
Here’s the thing – your pastor spends hours studying to deliver those powerful messages. They dig into the Greek and Hebrew, cross-reference passages, and pray for insight. But they’re not doing this to replace your personal time with God; they’re doing it to enhance it.
When you find yourself only knowing Scripture through your pastor’s lens, you’re missing out on the intimate, personal way God wants to speak to you through His Word. Those quiet moments with just you, your Bible, and the Holy Spirit? They’re irreplaceable. No sermon, no matter how anointed, can substitute for the deep, personal revelations God wants to share with you directly.
You Defend Them, Even in the Face of Wrongdoing
This is a tough one to face. Remember that time someone raised a concern about something in the church, and you immediately jumped to your pastor’s defense? Not because you knew the facts, but because the very idea that your pastor could make a mistake felt like a personal attack. You’ve found yourself explaining away financial discrepancies, justifying questionable decisions, and maybe even dismissing other people’s hurt feelings because admitting your pastor could be wrong feels impossible.
Let’s dig deeper. When was the last time you heard criticism about your pastor and didn’t feel your blood pressure rise? It’s one thing to support your leader; it’s another to create an infallible image of them in your mind. Maybe you’ve caught yourself making elaborate excuses for their actions, or attacking anyone who raises legitimate concerns. The truth is, even the best pastors make mistakes. They face temptations, have blind spots, and sometimes make poor choices. When we refuse to acknowledge this reality, we’re not protecting them – we’re putting them on a pedestal that no human can safely occupy.
You Try to Imitate Their Lifestyle, Opinions, and Choices
Started drinking the same coffee brand as your pastor? Found yourself adopting their political views without really thinking them through? Maybe you’ve even caught yourself using their catchphrases or copying their style of dress. It’s subtle at first – a genuine appreciation for someone you admire. But somewhere along the line, appreciation turned into imitation, and imitation became identity theft.
This goes beyond just picking up a few habits. You might notice you’re no longer sure where your pastor’s preferences end, and your authentic self begins. Their opinions on movies become your opinions. Their stance on social issues becomes your default position. Their lifestyle choices become your blueprint. Even their sense of humor becomes your go-to style. While it’s natural to be influenced by people we respect, losing your God-given uniqueness in an attempt to become a carbon copy of your pastor means you’re missing out on the beautiful, individual way God designed you to express His truth.
You Don’t Really Trust Other Church Leaders
When was the last time you gave another preacher a fair chance? Maybe you sit through guest speakers’ sermons, mentally picking apart their theology, not because it’s unsound, but because it doesn’t match your pastor’s take exactly. That visiting missionary brought a powerful word, but you dismissed it because they didn’t present it like your pastor would have.
This mindset creates invisible walls in your spiritual growth. Every other minister gets measured against your pastor’s standard. Different teaching styles? Must be less anointed. Fresh perspective on a familiar passage? Probably not as deep as your pastor’s interpretation. You might even find yourself politely nodding through other leaders’ messages while internally dismissing everything they say. The irony is, your pastor probably appreciates and learns from other ministers all the time. By limiting yourself to one voice, you’re missing out on the beautiful assortment of gifts God has given His church.
You Feel Lost or Disconnected Without Them
Their two-week vacation feels like a spiritual drought. Missing their midweek message leaves you feeling unanchored. Heaven forbid they accept a calling to another church, and the mere thought sends you into panic mode. Sound familiar? When your spiritual well-being becomes so tied to one person’s presence that their absence leaves you feeling disconnected from God, you’re dealing with more than just appreciation for good teaching.
This dependency shows up in subtle ways. Maybe you save their sermons to replay during the week because you can’t seem to feel God’s presence without their voice guiding you. Perhaps you’ve noticed your worship feels less meaningful when they’re not in the building. Your prayer life might even suffer because you’re used to riding the spiritual momentum of their leadership. But the thing is, your connection to God shouldn’t depend on any human being, no matter how anointed they are. If your pastor’s absence affects your relationship with God, it might be time to examine who you’re really following.
You Center Church Events Around Them
Think about the last few church events you attended. Did you find yourself checking if your pastor would be there before deciding to go? Maybe you’ve noticed feeling less enthusiastic about worship services when your pastor is away, or perhaps you’ve caught yourself saying things like, “It just won’t be the same without Pastor there.”
These moments might seem harmless, but they reveal something deeper about where we’re placing our spiritual anchor. Church events are meant to be opportunities for fellowship and worship, whether your favorite pastor is present or not. When we start measuring an event’s value by one person’s presence, we might be missing out on what God has in store for us through other members of the body of Christ.
You Prioritize Their Words Over Scripture
Ever noticed how quickly you can recall your pastor’s catchphrases or sermon illustrations, but sometimes struggle to remember Bible verses? It’s wonderful when God uses our pastors to help us understand His Word better. But there’s a subtle shift that can happen when we find ourselves quoting our pastor more than Scripture, or when we accept everything they say without opening our Bibles to study for ourselves.
Your pastor would probably be the first to tell you that their words should always lead you back to God’s Word, not replace it. When someone challenges something your pastor said, do you immediately become defensive, or do you take time to search the Scriptures together?
You Celebrate Them More Than Christ
Social media can reveal quite a lot about where our hearts are. Take a moment to scroll through your recent posts or shares. Do you find yourself posting more about your pastor’s latest sermon series or book than about what God is doing in your life? It’s great to celebrate good teaching, but when was the last time you shared a personal moment with God or a Scripture that touched your heart? Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our pastor’s ministry that we forget whose ministry it really is. Your pastor’s greatest joy should be seeing you grow closer to Christ, not to them.
Finding Your Way Back to Christ-Centered Faith
The journey back to a healthy, Christ-centered faith begins with honest self-reflection. Recognizing these signs isn’t about condemning pastoral relationships but about restoring proper spiritual priorities. Every believer deserves a direct, personal relationship with Christ while benefiting from godly leadership.
Start by returning to scripture, developing personal prayer time, and viewing pastors as fellow servants rather than spiritual celebrities. Remember, true spiritual growth happens when Christ alone sits on the throne of your heart, while pastors serve as guides pointing the way to Him.
More From Hope No Matter What
15 Myths People Misunderstand About the Afterlife
12 Spiritual Myths That Sound Good but Go Against Scripture
19 Facts About the Book of Revelation
14 Truths the Bible Teaches Us About Hell
Jannah is a dedicated Christian content writer with growing experience, driven by her love for sharing the message of faith. She brings dedication and passion to every piece she writes, drawing from her background as a former lector. Jannah is committed to creating meaningful and inspiring content that reflects her Christian values.