Are the Pastors and Elders of the Religious World Truly Appointed by the Lord?

     God personally gives testimony to everyone He appoints and makes use of. At the very least, they all receive the confirmation of the work of the Holy Spirit, exhibit the fruits of the Holy Spirit's work, and can help God's chosen people receive the provision of life and true shepherding. Because God is righteous and holy, everyone He appoints and uses must accord with God's will. Pastors and elders from the religious world all lack the word of God as testimony, and also lack the confirmation of the work of the Holy Spirit. So how could pastors and elders within the religious world be personally appointed and used by God?

Is Obedience to Pastors and Elders the Same as Obedience to God?

    Some believers believe that the pastors and elders of the religious world have all been chosen and appointed by the Lord, and that they are all people who serve the Lord. So they believe that only obeying the pastors and elders is obeying the Lord, and that defying or condemning the pastors and elders is defying the Lord. They even believe that, in churches, only the pastors and elders understand the Bible and can explain the Bible, and so long as that which is preached or done by the pastors and elders accords with the Bible and is based on the Bible, then people should obey and follow them. So does this kind of obedience to pastors and elders accord with the truth? Does an understanding of Bible knowledge represent an understanding of the truth and knowledge of God? Exactly what approach should we take to the pastors and elders that conforms to God's will?