Why are there pastors who do not believe?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

It’s a hard reality, but not every pastor truly knows Christ. Some lead out of ignorance, doubt, or even personal gain. The Bible makes it clear that such leaders should not be pastors. Leaders must be mature, faithful believers, able to teach and guide others in truth.Pastor who do not genuinely follow Christ can mislead the church, distort God’s Word, and stunt or harm spiritual growth. Knowing that not all pastors are truly believers, Christians should know God’s Word and compare a pastor’s teaching to that. Believers must trust in Christ above any human leader, growing in our faith, not just being dependent on a pastor. Christians should support godly pastors, knowing that healthy, faithful leadership matters for both our growth and the health of the church.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Throughout Israel’s history, kings, priests, and prophets were expected to lead faithfully, yet many were unfaithful, self-serving, or corrupt (e.g., 1 Samuel 2:12; 2 Chronicles 26:16–21; Jeremiah 14:14). Leadership does not automatically guarantee true faith.
• God warned Israel that those who lead His people must obey Him and teach His Word accurately (Deuteronomy 17:18–20). Believers should not follow leaders who ignore God’s standards or rely on position alone.
• The prophets repeatedly condemned priests and prophets who misled the people, performed rituals without faith, or exploited God’s people for personal gain (Jeremiah 23:1–4; Ezekiel 34:1–10).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The New Testament presents guidelines for pastors and elders. Of course, unbelievers are disqualified from serving in church leadership. An elder or pastor is not even to be a recent convert (1 Timothy 3:6). He must be able to teach and have character that is “above reproach” (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).
• Some unbelieving pastors may genuinely think they are helping others. However, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for leading God's people wrongly because they didn’t know God. Matthew 23:16 calls them "blind guides."
• Certain unbelieving pastors may serve for financial or personal gain. Jesus condemned the religious leaders of His time who served for such benefits: "They love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others" (Matthew 23:6-7).
• Some pastors may have genuine doubts about their faith. How can a pastor without faith lead people to faith? In such cases, they should step down, pray to God to increase their faith (Mark 9:24), and refrain from leading until they address their own significant spiritual weakness.
• Some individuals lead, yet do not understand the truth of God. They fit the description Paul shares in 1 Timothy 1:5-7: "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” God gives strong warnings about the judgment facing teachers (James 3:1), so anyone lacking understanding about the truth of God should be humble enough to step down.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

“Do two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3 KJV)---God asked His people this rhetorical question through the prophet Amos to highlight how their sin would bring about His punishment. That same question can be asked of some pastors today who are meant to guide believers in God’s word but who themselves don’t “agree” with it because they are unbelievers.

Sometimes, this is a matter of the blind leading the blind in that come churches that don’t adhere to Scripture are led by “pastors” who also don’t follow the Bible. If a church or denomination accepts practices contrary to the Bible, most likely they’ll hire one of their own—a pastor who is also an unbeliever.

On the other hand, it could be that an unbelieving pastor may be truly blind to his need for salvation. If a person has been taught that certain works are sufficient, he may naturally believe such works save him. He could then become a pastor in a genuine attempt to help others yet never truly know the Lord.

Whether a pastor thought he was saved or knew he wasn’t or was led astray by doubts or changes in theology (showing he was we never saved to begin with), the reality of unbelieving pastors is a sobering reminder that not everyone in spiritual leadership is walking faithfully with Christ. Unbelieving pastors can mislead the flock, distort sound doctrine, and hinder the spiritual growth of those under their care. For this reason, believers must ensure that we are following Christ rather than any human leader. That means we need to know the Bible so well that we recognize when a pastor is straying from its teachings.

When a pastor is not a believer, our prayer should be for his salvation. But such individuals should stop serving as pastors, since they do not fit the biblical qualifications and can cause much misunderstanding in the congregation they serve and to others in the community. And we should give God thanks for biblical, godly pastors and encourage them. We can do this by supporting them through prayer, accountability, specific encouragement, and practical help, recognizing the heavy responsibility they carry in shepherding God’s people.

UNDERSTAND

• A pastorate role does not automatically ensure that he is a believer.
• Unbelieving pastors can mislead, distort doctrine, and harm the church.
• Believers must follow Christ, discern leadership, and support godly pastors.

REFLECT

• How do you ensure that your faith is grounded in Christ and not just in following a pastor?
• How would you respond to a pastor who is not a believer?
• How can you pray for, support, and encourage godly pastors in your life?

ENGAGE

• How do we identify leaders who may not be true believers?
• What practical steps can we take to protect the church from spiritual harm caused by unbelieving pastors?
• How can we support pastors in a way that strengthens both their faith and the health of the congregation?