It’s important to note that Paul places the two imperatives, command and teach, together. That is, he meant for Timothy to engage in both as part of his pulpit ministry. He was not just to command. If so, he would become an overbearing dictator simply shelling out orders. Pastors, while called to issue commands, are not called to be drill instructors! In order to prevent this from developing, Timothy must always provide teaching for his commands. Or to put it in seminary language, the indicative must reinforce, explain, undergird, support the imperative.

Many church members mistake the place of pastoral authority and believe the pastor to be stubborn, head-strong, or dictator-like simply because as pastor, he must issue certain demands. Pastors must have convictions, biblical convictions, on issues such as sound doctrine, biblical methodology, and holy living. Just because pastors are called to hold the church firm to sound teaching and godly applications, that does not make them dictators. Actually, it makes them God-honoring pastors! (cf 1 Tim 4:11-16) Where do churches end up when pastors do not budge from sound doctrine and holy living?

To be sure, some men abuse the privilege of pastoring by becoming sergeants instead of servants! Through lack of training, personal weaknesses, lack of accountability, or whatever the case may be, some pastors abuse pastoral authority.

How would you know if a pastor is being abusive and not pastoral? The first indicator is that he makes demands without backing his authority on correctly, lovingly, and patiently teaching the Word of God. In other words, if he makes imperatives without indicatives! His reasons must be beyond his personality or his office. His reasoning must be grounded in sound interpretation of Scripture. He must command AND teach. In doing so, people understand the “why” behind the command, and therefore, are spiritually equipped and given the right motivation to rise to the challenge.