Note 1 at 1Co 4:1: In an effort to stop the division among the Corinthians over what minister they should follow, Paul had discredited putting faith in the people that God used to deliver the message. They were only the "delivery boys." That might lead some to criticize Paul, saying he was trying to sidestep responsibility. He dealt with that issue here.

Ministers are responsible to God as stewards. Stewards are not the master, and they do not get the glory for carrying out the instructions of the master. But they are responsible, and they do have to give account of their actions. Likewise, ministers must be faithful and have to give account, but to whom?

In 1Co 4:3 Paul made it very clear that the Corinthians were not his judge. He didn't even judge his own self (see note 2 at 1Co 4:3). 1Co 4:4 says that God was Paul's judge.

Paul was establishing the rules of accountability for ministers. They are not accountable to the people they minister to. They have to answer directly to God.

Most people can't understand this. They think that surely the body of believers must have some role to play in the correction of wayward ministers, and they do, indirectly. However, God has not given the authority to any group or individual member of a church to go and correct the pastor.

Ministers should voluntarily surround themselves with peers to whom they submit and to whom they give the authority to speak words of correction into their lives. Some denominations accomplish this by having a bishop, superintendent, or other spiritual leadership that exercises authority over ministers who are licensed with them. This denominational system as it exists today, however, goes far beyond voluntary intervention and influence. Most churches and denominations are set up where they can fire the minister.

No one has absolute authority over a minister except God. Therefore, scripturally, you can't kick a minister out of a church or denomination. That's what Paul was saying here. What these Corinthians thought of him didn't affect him. God was his judge.

That might lead some people to fear that we, as those who are being ministered to, have no recourse in dealing with ministers. That's not so. We do have a very effective method of reproving ministers. It's just a different method than what most people employ.

In Re 2:5, the Lord spoke to the pastor at Ephesus and told him to repent or He would come and remove the body of believers out from under him (Re 1:20 with Re 2:5). The recourse that individual members of the body of Christ have against ministers who are in error is to leave or quit listening to those ministers. This is very effective.

Pastors who lose all their members lose all their authority. They are reduced to nothing. Anyone who has had even a casual knowledge of ministers and how they think will know that most ministers, especially carnal ones who are causing trouble, are very moved by how people respond to them. An exodus of members will get their attention.

This, of course, is not encouraging church splits and the like. The first thing that should always be done is to try and reconcile any differences (see note 5 at Mt 18:17). It may not be the minister who has the problem or there may just be a misunderstanding. Every attempt to walk in unity should be attempted, but if it comes to a situation where a minister is persistent in gross error, just leave.

This could be illustrated through an employer/employee relationship. Employees do not have the authority to rebuke or fire an employer. A good employer will have some system to allow employees to air grievances, but it really is voluntary. If the boss refuses to change, the only real course of action for the employees is to leave. Likewise, church members who feel that their differences with the pastor are irreconcilable should leave.

It is really a lack of faith to think that God cannot deal with a disobedient minister without us helping out. The Lord can bring anyone to his or her knees (Da 4).