Addressing the Accusations: When Pastors Attack

When Pastors Attack – Addressing the Accusations

When we started questioning the writings attributed to Paul, we took our concerns to the “pastor” for guidance. Rather than engaging in an open discussion, we got an old-fashioned pulpit beatdown. If you’ve ever questioned these writings, you might have experienced a similar reaction from people in the “family of God.” Have you had pastors attack you? Maybe your experience has been even worse. Addressing the accusations we face requires courage and persistence.

If you’ve been on the receiving end of these pastoral attacks, know that you are not alone. Keep searching for the truth. Don’t rush your study or make hasty conclusions. In this article, we’ll explore the accusations thrown at us and examine whether they hold any truth.

Questioning the Writings Attributed to Paul vs. Questioning Paul

You might notice I say “questioning the writings attributed to Paul” rather than “questioning Paul.” There’s a reason. We know Paul claimed to be an apostle, and we have historical references outside the Bible confirming his existence. But we don’t know with certainty which letters he actually wrote. The biblical canon was compiled by fallible men—some books were added, and others removed over time. Scholars widely agree that some letters attributed to Paul were likely written by someone else.

I don’t trust fallible men to determine which writings are inspired by God, but I do trust the Holy Spirit!

Some say there’s a curse for questioning Paul, claiming those who do so lose their grip on truth. That’s nonsense. In fact, questioning Paul’s writings has brought us closer to the Most High.

We know that pseudepigrapha (writings falsely attributed to someone) existed in biblical times. We also know that translators have altered scripture, sometimes to fit their own agendas. For example, Acts 12:4 replaces Passover with Easter, clearly an attempt to push pagan traditions over YHVH’s feast days. Mark 7:19 adds the phrase “thus declaring all foods clean”—yet, by Torah standards, not all animals are food.

These examples show how men have tampered with scripture. So why is it forbidden to question the writings attributed to Paul?

unrecognizable boxer hitting young ethnic sportsman during training. When pastors attack it can seem to come out of the blue. Addressing the accusations thrown at us. — Photo by Julia Larson on Pexels.com

Addressing the Accusations Thrown at Us

When we left our church, the pastor’s sermon contained the following accusations:

Accusation	Our Response
Turning against the Word of Truth and the Holy Scriptures	Actually, we turned to the Word, seeking obedience to YHVH’s commandments.
Turning against God-glorifying people	We never turned against anyone; instead, we were shunned and ostracized.
Heading down a path of destruction	Obeying YHVH’s commandments is the exact opposite of destruction.
Following Satan and his angels to hell	This was an emotional attack, not a logical argument.
The Word of God is hard to understand	No, it isn’t. The Holy Spirit gives understanding.
Trying to divide people’s understanding of the Word	You can’t “divide” understanding. People either comprehend something, or they don’t.
Destroying trust in the Word	Our study has deepened our trust in the Word.
Allowing people to make “merchandise” of us	The pastor was upset that we used a different Bible translation.
Planting seeds of doubt	Seeking truth is not the same as spreading doubt.
Slippery slope fallacy	Slippery slope arguments are, by definition, fallacies.
Causing chaos, destruction, and division	The only chaos came from the pastor’s reaction, not our questions.
This book has been sealed, protected by God for a reason	If that were true, men wouldn’t have removed books from the canon in the 1800s.

Addressing the Accusations

Addressing the Accusations: Turning Against the Word?

We weren’t rejecting the Word; we were embracing it more fully. Revelation 14:12 says:

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Clearly, both obedience and faith are required. So how does questioning writings that contradict obedience make us rebellious?

Addressing the Accusations: Turning Against “God-Glorifying People”?

Was this a self-fulfilling prophecy? We didn’t reject anyone, but the entire congregation stopped speaking to us. Ironically, the very thing they accused us of, they did to us.

The pastor even told his congregants, “Know your enemies. It’s important to know who you can and can’t count on.” Apparently, questioning Paul puts you on the enemies list.

Addressing the Accusations: Following Satan?

Seriously? We are obeying the Most High’s laws, just as Yeshua did. Since when is obedience to YHVH considered satanic?

Addressing the Accusations: The Word is Hard to Understand?

That’s a lie meant to keep people dependent on pastors. James 1:5 says:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach.”

YHVH grants understanding to those who seek it. You don’t need a theological degree to read the Bible.

Addressing the Accusations: The Slippery Slope Fallacy

Ah yes, the famous slippery slope argument: “If you question Paul, next you’ll reject Yeshua, then the whole Bible!”

False. Questioning Paul has only strengthened our faith in YHVH and His commandments.

Addressing the Accusations: This Book Has Been Sealed?

If the Bible was “sealed and protected,” then why did men remove books? What if YHVH allowed questionable writings to test whether we would choose His commandments or lawlessness? After all, Deuteronomy 13 warns that false prophets may arise to test us.

Conclusion: Do You Want to Be Obedient?

At the end of the day, this isn’t about Paul—it’s about YHVH’s commandments. Will you obey them, as Yeshua did, or will you cling to writings that promote lawlessness?

Questioning the writings attributed to Paul is not rebellion. It’s a search for truth. If that search makes pastors attack, maybe it says more about them than it does about us.

So I’ll ask you: Do you want to be obedient?

Recommended Tools for Your Spiritual and Health Journey

If you are searching for an assembly where questioning anything the Bible does not result in abuse, I encourage you to check out Ross K Nichols’ Youtube. He also has an after-class discussion that you can get in on if you are a subscriber. If you are not a subscriber, you can still watch an hour of the after-class discussion on this Youtube channel: Horeb

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