I've been studying into the teaching/understanding of spiritual authority.  It seems (in my life anyways) that satan is trying to get people to believe that they shouldn't have to submit to or obey spiritual leaders that God has put over them.  The argument that comes up varies in different ways from "I don't have to submit to that person because they've done *this* and that's not Godly!" to "I don't have to let someone else tell me how to run my life" or "I follow God, not man", etc, etc. 

The thing is, I almost got sucked in to this lie of satan's as well.  It actually surprised me how cunning he was at doing it, too.  It's so amazing how he can wrap the lie all up with a lot of truth.  Underneath it's still a lie, though kinda' like a fish hook wrapped up in a worm. 

God clearly says in Heb. 13:17 "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you." 

What is does NOT say is "Obey those who rule over you as long as they do all the right things, say all the right things and are sinless."  Pastors are not put in their position because they're sinless.  Rather, they're there because GOD put them there.  Therefore, we are to obey them and submit to them.

Notice when we don't submit and obey the end of the scripture says, "...that would be unprofitable for you."  How so?  Let's turn to Isaiah 1:19-20.  "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword."

Let's note the beginning of the first sentence.  'If you are willing and obedient..."  Willingness deals with attitude.  If your attitude stinks, you're going to be devoured by the sword!  That's what God's word says!

Some people may ask, "Where do you draw the line, though?" 

Only If your Pastor is telling you to do something that goes against God's word, you are not to obey BUT you are still to submit.  Can you submit without obeying?  I believe, yes. Off the top of my head, obedience is an action that you carry out.  Submission, on the other hand, is an attitude of the heart.  So if my Pastor was requiring something of me that went against God's word,  I wouldn't obey meaning I wouldn't do the action he was asking of me BUT I would still 'honor' him as my Pastor by not speaking out publicly against him, not slandering him, etc. etc.  Take for example Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo.  Nebuchadnezzar make the decree for everyone to bow down to an idol but the three men knew that went against God's word so they refused to do it.  However, they still showed a submissive attitude when confronted by the King.  (Dan. 3:16-18)They referred to Nebuchadnezzar as "O King" or as NLT states, "Your Majesty." 

They didn't go behind the King's back and try to talk others into why the decree was wrong and why they shouldn't follow the King's orders.  They didn't speak out against the King whatsoever.  When they were confronted, they politely and respectfully stated to the King why they weren't going to obey. 

The reason why I'm writing this is because I've learned such a valuable lesson in regards to this very issue and it's so heavy on my heart right now.  It's so easy to get sucked in to satan's lies that say we have rights, opinions, rights to choose, etc.  I now know how church splits happen.  It's so amazing to me because not so long ago I would hear of stories where people got together behind the scenes and started talking about the leadership of their church and their Pastor and how 'such and such' wasn't right and should be changed, etc. and the church ended up splitting because of it.  I would look at those people and think, "How in the world could they do that and call themselves a Christian?"   I now know how easy it is to be sucked into that trap.  You may have the best reasons in the world why things need to be changed in your church but that doesn't make it right for you to have a bad attitude or disobedience towards leadership or the Pastor of your church!  It will NOT go well with you.....