LOL! Is your MIL a pastor in one of those weird lesbian churches?
LOL - not in her current life, but had seen been born 15-20 years later, it wouldn’t totally surprise me. Let’s just say I’m from Texas and though I only see her once a year, I usually just about lose half my tongue and one cheek from biting them from the stuff she says over the few days that they visit. Oh - I know - female version of Keith Olbermann. Does that help explain it?
She just reminded me of OP’s pastor because that’s something she’d do...she wants people to “prove” stuff or challenge her, says stuff like OP’s pastor (and much, much worse I presume). But, OP, in all seriousness - if your pastor was an internally honest person, they would seek the truth themselves. I’ve found in life that people like your pastor and my MIL just want to keep others busy (confirming what they already know) and if you present them with the evidence, they either won’t read it or will choose to ignore the facts. I hope I’m wrong about your pastor though - maybe he means it?