A couple of years ago, I had a discuss with a Senior Pastor on how the various offices of the 5 fold ministries of the Church could work together in the function of equipping the saints in building the body of Christ, and produce better results and he said to me, “What the pastors built over years, an evangelist comes one day to scatter.” Right there I perceive a problem area, call it a challenge and what appears a threat to the body of Christ. After a deep prayerful thought on the issue, I commenced a study on the functions, workings and perceived grey areas of different ministries of the Church. Last year, I published a study on the works of an Evangelist (charity begins at home). This time around, I shall reflect of the portrait of a Pastor, which includes the requirements, traits and duties of a pastor. NIV puts it this way, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelist, some to be pastors and some to be teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Eph 4:11-12).
Definition: Webster New Explorer defines a pastor as a priest or minister serving a Church or parish or a layperson having spiritual charge over a person or group. Another modern translation is a clergyman or spiritual overseer having spiritual charge over a congregation or other group. Today, the word is translated from a shepherd meaning a person who guards, tends, feeds a group of sheep or a person who protects, guides and watches over a person or a group of people. From a biblical viewpoint “every pastor is an elder and every elder has a pastor’s heart.” Also all pastors are ministers (servants) but not all ministers are pastors. In some churches, a pastor is a teaching elder.
In the old testament, the word shepherd refers to one who feeds the sheep (Genesis 29:7) or feeds others spiritually with God’s word as in “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15). In the New Testament, the word refers to Jesus or the word is used by Jesus himself and establishes the spiritual guidance and teaching, and caring of people as the work of a shepherd in the field tendering the sheep. John 10 describes and uses Jesus Christ as a good shepherd, an example a pastor should emulate. In that portion, Jesus describes five specific aspects of shepherding: His sheep (vs. 14 &17); His voice (vs. 16 &27); His life (vs. 15 &17); His hand (vs. 26) and His Father (vs. 17-19 & 25). Also, “I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep…” (John10:11-16); tend the flock of God/ feed my sheep (John 21:15-17; 1 Peter 5:1-5); “Be shepherds of the Church of God” (Acts 20:28-29). Jesus is the Chief shepherd (1 Peter 5:4) and the modern pastors should be same as under-shepherds who guard the flock under the Chief Shepherd’s watchful eyes – Elders of the early Church.
In this era of proliferation, we have many pastors than Churches, some pasturing self and families. Some graduated from theological colleges as Reverends, a professional thing. Any calling? The truth is, “The preacher is not a professional man; his ministry is not a profession. It’s a divine institution, a divine devotion” – E. M. Bounds. Again, John Piper admonishes, “…Professionalism has nothing to do with the essence and heart of Christian ministry…” “The aims of our ministry are eternal and spiritual. They are not shared by any of the professions. The world sets the agenda for the professional man; God sets the agenda for the Spiritual man.” Pope Francis admonished the clergy in US, you don’t smell like the sheep. In a meeting in the Diocese of Rome, the Pope said the Church needs “shepherds of the people, not clerics of the state.” He added, “a priest belongs to the people of God; invites them to be both pastors and zealous missionaries who live in constant yearning to go in search of the lost, never settling for simple administration.” Shepherding the flock of God is an enormous task, but a faithful Pastor has a rich reward of unfading crown of glory when the Chief Shepherd shall appear (1 Pet 5:4; Heb 13:17). Numerous people called pastors who do not know their sheep by name and are not there when the wolf attacks the flocks and scatter them (John 10:12).
Dr Stephen F. Olford was quoted addressing ministers said, God is more concern about who we are than what we do and if who we are does not please Him, then what we do is virtually useless.” Pope Francis spoke at the Papal Basilica of St Paul’s outside the Walls, “Inconsistency on the part of pastors and the faithful between what they say and what they do, between word and manner of life, is undermining the Church’s credibility.” The Pontiff added, “Those who listen to us and observe us must be able to see in our actions what they hear from our lips, and so give glory to God!” Pastor Ade Okonrende, RCCG Pavilion of Redemption speaking to Christian Entertainment News (October 2015 Edition) on his 60th birthday advised young Christians and pastors, “Don’t do it if you cannot stand up to it….indulgence is not a mark of love; it is a bate of destruction. if you indulge yourself, you will destroy yourself.”
Responsibilities of a Pastor: groups Pastor’s duties into 3: leads, feeds, nurtures, comforts, corrects and protects.
- a) Shepherd: i) Rescuers: Lost sheep, like lost people can wander a far with no sense of directions, no instinct to return to the fold; walk in state of confusion, unrest and even panic. The perishing and lost, need rescuer to seek, find and lead them back to safety; redirect them to Jesus (John 10:11). ii) Leaders/Overseers: Major duty; care and shepherd the congregation. Must exercise oversight voluntarily and with eagerness and are held accountable over the flocks of God (1 Peter 5:2; Heb 13:17). Pastors lead from the front with integrity and showing good example-set the pace (1 Tim 4:16). By so doing loving, uniting, and sacrificing self for the sheep. iii) Feeders: Most of the time sheep eat and drink, are indiscriminate about their diet; he must guide them to pasture with rich nutrients. They must feed and nourish their soul with biblical truth; neither entertains nor tickles their ears (John 21:15-17; Jere 23:1-4; Ezek 34:2-10). iv) Protects: Sheep are easy prey and defenseless. They huddle together rather than run away when attacked by predators. Pastors guide and guard their flocks from errors, lies, going astray and savage wolves (Acts 20:28-30). v) Comforters: Sheep are so humble and meek, such that if maltreated, can easily crush in spirit, give up and die. Pastors must know their sheep’s individual temperaments and care to avoid stress. He must “admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak and be patient with all (1 Thess 5:14).
- b) Prayer, Preaching and teaching: Pastors must study the bible and prepare sermons and bible study outlines. In addition to sometimes teaching Sunday school and evening bible classes as well. “But we will devote ourselves to prayers, and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4; 1 Tim 5:17-19). He must teach sound doctrine and refute false teachings; pray for the Church, the state and especially the sick (Eph 6:18 – Pray Until Something happen – PUSH).The prayers of faithful man availed much (Pr 15:29; 1 Peter3:12; James 5:15; Luke 3:21). Must teach and lead in evangelism and send forth the flocks to win new soul for Christ.
- c) Counseling: Another main duty of pastors is to counsel members of the congregation. This include: meeting one to one with pastors/ elders for prayers, visitations, pre-marital, marriage/relationship conflicts, helping to resolve doctrinal and disciplinary issues etc (James 5:14; Acts 15:6; Matt 18:15-17).
- d) The Pastor’s Relationship: “Relationships are chief among all the pastor’s duties. Ministry is about people and relationships. Spiritual leadership built upon relationship requires availability, commitment, and trust.” The Pastor’s Priorities: Erwin Lutzer suggests the following priorities: “praying is more important than preaching, preaching is more important than administration, the family is more important than congregation, faithfulness is more important than competition and love is more important than ability.”
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill @ weefreeministries@yahoo.com or P. O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272. Web: weefreeministries.org. Ph. 832.881.3929 c.