The
Pastor's Responsibility To The Church
Elder
O. B. Mink
Pastor
- Sovereign Grace Baptist Church
Texarkana,
Texas
"This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth
a good work." (I Tim. 3:1)
I was not in the ministry very long before I realized the word "work" in
the above text should be underscored. I have never found the ministry to
be easy. But knowing the pastor's office is ordained of God affords me
great joy, and like Paul, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord ... for
putting me into the ministry." (I Tim. 1:12)
A pastor is not essential to the being of a church, but he is essential
to the well-being of the church. The church that has a God fearing pastor
needs to realize it was God that joined together the church and the pastor,
and woe to the man who endeavors to put asunder what God has joined together.
The Bible plainly states the pastor is a gift of God to His church(es),
"He gave ... pastors ..." (Eph. 4:11).
Every true pastor recognizes that his ministry is a multitudinous one.
That his duties are many and varied. He knows the court of heaven has delegated
him the awesome responsibility of overseeing every function of the greatest
institution on earth. Yet, some churches need to be reminded, while it
is the duty of the pastor to oversee all things, it is not his duty to
perform all things.
In this message I want to mention three things which I consider to be the
most profound and demanding responsibilities of the pastor. I will list
them in their logical order and endeavor to highlight each in its respective
place.
FIRST: The pastor should be an example of godliness.
SECOND: The pastor should properly feed the flock.
THIRD: The pastor should defend the flock.
1.
The Pastor Should Be An Example Of Godliness Unto The Church.
Paul writes to pastor Timothy, and says, ". . .Be thou an example
of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith,
in purity." (I Tim. 4:12). Peter writes saying pastors should be
"Ensamples to the flock." (I Pet. 5:3)
The story is told of a pastor who was more at home on a hunting trip or
out in a boat fishing than in the pulpit. The pastor and some friends had
planned a hunting trip, but a parishioner died and the pastor had to remain
behind to preach the funeral. He was annoyed by the delay. He told his
friends to go ahead, that he would catch up with them a little later. As
soon as the funeral was over he started out in pursuit of his friends.
He knew where they were going, but did not know exactly how to get there.
He met an old lady on the road, a member of his church. The pastor sought
information of her. She said, "Follow this road to the top of the hill
and there you will find a sign-pastor; follow the arrow, soon you will
see another sign-pastor; follow its direction and you will soon catch up
with your friends." The pastor said, "I thank you for the information,
but tell me, when you say sign-pastor, do you not mean sign-poster?"
"You see," said the old lady, "before you became our minister, we called
them sign-posters, but since you have been here, we call them sign-pastors,
for they point others the direction, but they never go themselves." If
the pastor fails in being a pattern of Christ, his entire ministry is a
failure, and irreparable damage will be inflicted on the church, for he
is the chief example to the flock in this world. The pastor is not the
supreme example; Jesus Christ, and He alone is the absolute perfect example.
Yet, every pastor should be able to say, like Paul, "Be ye followers of
me, even as I also am of Christ." (I Cor. 11:1) And to the Thessalonians
he says, "For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved
not ourselves disorderly among you." (II Thes. 3:7)
The pastor, by virtue of his office is a leader, and he is to lead by his
walk, as well as by his talk. Many people would much rather see a sermon
than hear one, and the pastor's life should be a graphic epistle of truth,
easily read and known of all men.
The pastor's ministry is but a brief few years, and there is not time for
him to be anything but his best. His life must magnify Christ, and he must
be willing to live decreasingly so that Christ might be increased. It is
not reason that the pastor should leave the word of God and serve tables,
but it is his duty to give himself continually to prayer, and the ministry
of the word. (Acts 6:24) For the pastor to "serve tables".
that
is, for him to be burdened with the carnal needs of the church is to circumscribe
his prayer and study time. Consequently, the pastor's sermons shall lack
the necessary ingredients to properly feed the flock, and the spiritual
power of the whole church will be severely diminished. The pastor cannot
be an effective leader, nor the correct example, when so burdened.
Most pastors do not mind being the first one at church, and the last one
to leave. He does not mind shoveling snow to clear a walkway to the church
door. Most are happy to pick up, or provide transportation with his car
for some who do not have a ride to church. The pastor does not mind visiting
hospitals, and homes of the sick, etc. But these duties do not belong exclusively
to the pastoral office. They are a part of membership obligation, and when
collectively shared they cease to be a burden for any individual member.
Nevertheless, the pastor usually takes the lead in these things, hoping
to set an example thereby.
Yet, the fact remains, if the church would accept in greater measure the
carnal responsibilities, the pastor would be more spiritual, a better preacher,
and a real power for God in his every day life.
The best pastor merits some criticism. Jesus Christ is the only member
Who cannot be justly criticized, but woe to the person who destructively
or unjustly condemns his pastor. Moses was maligned by Miriam and Aaron
(Num.
12:1). Moses did not recriminate, but went right on
with the business of leading Israel. However, God rebuked Miriam and Aaron
for vilifying Moses, and Miriam was struck with leprosy. They confessed
their sin of questioning the authority of Moses, Moses prayed for them,
and Miriam was healed. (Num. 12: 11-14)
Some people, it seems, think the spiritual vocation to which they have
been called, is that of keeping the pastor straight. I read where one self-
appointed critic objected to every proposal the pastor put forth. One mild
mannered and God fearing brother voiced an objection to the attitude of
the persistent critic. The critic, in angry tone cried out, "These objections
are within the realm of my rights!" The meek brother replied, "What if
Jesus would have asserted His rights. Where would we be at this time?"
Most people feel a degree of reluctance when it comes to criticizing a
doctor or a lawyer, but when it comes to criticizing their pastor, many
members feel themselves to be competent critics. A lot of preacher criticism
is tactical diversion, or a dodge to keep the critics own dilatoriness
from being questioned. Generally, the pastor with his God endowed fortitude,
and with undiminished resolution, endures the critic's ranting and goes
on his way, more determined than ever to be an example of Christ.
Paul says of himself and his missionary company, "...Unblameably we behaved
ourselves among you that believe." (I Thes. 2:10) And he exhorts
Titus, "... In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works."
(Tit.
2:7) Thus, we conclude, the primary responsibility of the pastor to
his church is to preach Christ through the medium of an irreproachable
character. In so doing, the pastor will not fear the moral scrutiny of
the public, and his adherence to the example of Christ will go a long way
in gainsaying the unjust critic.
2.
It Is The Pastor's Responsibility To Feed The Flock.
Paul said to the elders of the church at Ephesus, "Take heed therefore
unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath
made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased
with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)
One of the prerequisites for the pastoral office, yea, the chief one, is:
love for Christ. It was not until Christ received an affirmative answer
from Peter to the question, "Lovest thou Me?', that He said to Peter, "Feed
My sheep." (John 21:16) A head full of seminary training
is no substitute for a heart filled with love for the Head of the church.
Love for Christ begets love for the church, and the pastor's love for the
church is the parent of a proper spiritual diet.
It is not so much a question in New Testament Baptist churches of what
to feed the sheep as it is, how to feed them. The "what" is abundantly
revealed in the Scriptures. Christ said, "Teach them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you...." (Matt. 28:20) Let not
the indolent pastor excuse his laziness by saying, "But I do not know what
the 'all things' of the commission consists of." He will never know unless
he gives himself "continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
Paul was preeminently a man of prayer and study, and being blessed thereby,
said to the Ephesian pastors, "I have not shunned to declare unto you all
the counsel of God."
(Acts 20:27)
The pastor should never make eloquence in speech his main objective in
preaching, for one of the great things about the Bible is its ability to
say for the preacher what he cannot say himself. He should fervently labor
to express his ideas accurately, forcibly, and with the minimum of words.
He should, above all, speak as a dying man to dying men.
Peter charges the pastor, saying, "Feed the flock of God which is among
you, taking the oversight thereof, ..." (I Pet. 5:2) The "flock
of God" consists of sheep of various ages and learning. The same flock
may have a Ph.D. and a ten year old fourth grader. And once the pastor
begins to rationalize, saying, "I will put this in for little Junior, and
I will put something else in for Dr. Allwise," the sermon at that point
takes on a total humanistic character and can only serve to feed the intellect.
The pastor needs to keep in mind, it is the Holy Spirit Who takes the message
to the heart, and plants the spiritual manna in the soul, feeding both
the wise and unwise. If the pastor prepares his sermons with a purpose
to glorify God, he need not worry, for all the sheep will be fed. It is
true, "New born babes desire the sincere milk of the word," AND, "Strong
meat belongeth to them that are of full age." (I Pet. 2:2, Heb. 5:14)
Yet, the aging process is the work of the Holy Spirit. Accumulated years
and keenness of intellect do not, per se, contribute to spiritual growth.
It was not David's skill with a slingshot that killed Goliath. David let
the stone loose, but it was the Holy Spirit Who directed the stone to its
mark. It is the pastor's responsibility to preach the word of God in season
and out of season. If he is faithful in this the sheep will be fed, for
the Holy Spirit will open their hearts that they may attend unto the things
spoken, and they will grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. (Isa. 55:11; II Pet. 3:18)
"Only He Who made the world can make a preacher." It is through the local
New Testament church the Holy Spirit calls out God's elect from sin's condemnation,
and it is through the local New Testament church that God makes His preachers.
Arminian seminaries have produced legions of preachers with tremendous
powers of expression, but what worth is a man with great power of expression,
if he has nothing beneficial to express? There is no right way to feed
a sheep wood, hay, and stubble. Preaching is the greatest work on earth,
and when a pastor enters the pulpit, his study and preparation should be
of such nature that it enables him to feed the sheep. A pastor who enters
the pulpit with less than his best is guilty, in degree, of despising the
church of God.
There never was a church that did not demand more time than the pastor
had to give it. So it is, every pastor needs many hours every day of uninterrupted
study and prayer time, and the church that does not allow the pastor this
time shortchanges itself. The church with a God called pastor needs to
realize that their pastor has spent many hours in sermon preparation so
as the church may worship a few minutes. One pastor said to another, "I
wonder why you spend so much time on your sermons, with your ability and
ready speech. Many's the time I've written a sermon and caught a salmon
before breakfast." The studious pastor replied, "Well sir, I would rather
have eaten your salmon than listened to your sermon.
The pastor is an aqueduct through which the water of life flows, not that
God does not use all believers as conduits of truth, but. the ministry
of feeding the sheep is primarily the pastor's, and if his life is clogged
up with the cares of the world, the inevitable will be a spiritually starved
and dwarfed church. The pastor who is morally honest and fruitful in study
and prayer, need not fret himself about the results of his preaching, for
God has promised to use him "for the perfecting of the saints." (Eph.
4:12)
3.
The Pastor Is Responsible To Defend The Church.
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they
watch for your souls, as they that must give an account, that they may
do it with joy and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." (Heb.
13:17)
What an awesome responsibility is charged to the pastor! He "MUST" give
an account of his watchmanship over the flock unto God. On the other hand,
the responsibility of the church is to "obey them (pastors) that have the
rule over you, and submit themselves." The God called pastor will not lord
it over God's heritage, neither will he let God's heritage usurp the authority
divinely vested in his pastoral office.
A soldier may not see any sense in the training and discipline required
by the military, but many a soldier has learned that submission to those
in authority over him and their training enhances their safety in time
of battle.
Satan hates the New Testament Baptist pastor more than he hates any other
Christian, for he holds the highest rank in the army of the living God.
In ancient warfare there were men especially and purposefully trained to
kill the captain or leader of the opposing forces. They knew if they could
kill the chief officer, it would have a demoralizing effect on the enemy,
usually resulting in a rout and sure victory. The devil employs the same
strategy in his war against the Lord's churches.
Satan has his spiritual sharpshooters, and they have adjusted their scopes,
and focused them on the Lord's undershepherds. Our adversary, the devil,
walks about like a roaring lion, and he knows if he can devour the shepherd,
the sheep will become easy prey. The chief reason Satan singles out the
pastor and makes him the primary object of his hatred is not because the
pastor is necessarily a better Christian, but it is because the pastor
has been charged with the care of the church. (I Tim. 3:5) And the
wise pastor knows that the church's security is the devil's opportunity.
The devil is too wise to use Arminianism or eccumenism in a frontal attack
against the Lord's churches. He knows such an attack would be quickly and
emphatically repulsed. So, what he does is: dress up one of his angels
in sheep's clothing and infiltrate the flock. Paul said to the church at
Ephesus, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves
enter in among you, not sparing the flock." (Acts 20:29) And Christ
warned against this satanic method, saying, "Beware of false prophets,
which come unto you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves." (Matt. 7:15) The wolf cannot long restrain his vicious
nature, and there will soon be in motion a plan to tear the church apart.
The command to the pastor is, "...rebuke them sharply." (Titus 1:13),
and
the command to the church is, ". ..note that man and have no company
with him." (II Thes. 3:14) Satan has an army of highly trained church
saboteurs, and the pastor is ever to be on the watch for them to expose
them before they can light the fuse which leads to the destruction of the
church. More ships are lost at sea from internal problems than from external
elements, and we are living in an era when more churches are destroyed
from internal strife than by external persecution.
"But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed
one of another." (Gal. 5:15) It is the pastor's responsibility to
stand uncompromisingly against every person and thing that would in any
measure injure the church. One pastor said he wrote his sermons out in
manuscript form, read them over, and if he found anything in the sermon
which would offend any of his parishioners, he struck it out. The true
pastor derives no genuine pleasure from offending any of his flock, but
he should leave in his sermons everything that glorifies God and edifies
the church, no matter how offensive it may be to some member(s). "The fear
of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall
be safe." (Prov. 29:25) A ministry designed to please men excludes
the favor of God. (Gal. 1:10)
The story is told of a pastor who had in his congregation a member who
was very wealthy, and the pastor compromised some of his convictions in
order to court and keep the favor of the wealthy member. The member came
down with a terminal illness and he began to reflect upon his past life.
He thought of the large sums of money which he had spent on his family,
and the little time and money he had given the church. The pastor came
to his bedside to comfort him. The pastor said, "You have given as much
to the church as any other member, and after all, we everyone are unprofitable
servants."
But the dying member found no peace in his pastor's words, and as his end
drew near he took the pastor by the hand, and said, "I am going to the
Righteous Judge, and I am unprepared to meet Him. You have been unfaithful
to me. For years I have lived and taught my family to live mostly for the
world. We have denied ourselves nothing, but spent great sums on personal
comfort, luxuries, and pleasure. When I gave those tens and twenties to
the church, they should have at least been fifties and hundreds. My energy,
time, and money have been devoted to self- pleasing, and now I must give
an account of my ill stewardship to the Eternal and Infallible Judge. Pastor,
I am beyond recovery. Do what you can to help my family, and warn other
professors who are in the same current of self gratification, which is
carrying them to the lake of utter destruction."
God says to His pastors, "I have set thee a watchman. ..therefore thou
shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them for Me. When I say unto
the wicked, 0 wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak
to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity;
but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn
the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he does not turn from his way,
he shall die in his iniquity; but thou has delivered thy soul." (Ezek.
33:7-9)
So, if the pastor will live godly, preach the truth without fear or favor,
and defend the church at the peril of his own life, he will hear his heavenly
Shepherd say unto him at the end of the journey, "Well done thou good and
faithful servant." (Matt. 25:31)
(Sovereign
Grace Advocate - January, 1978)
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