I wonder today if we have redefined biblical terms. I believe that we have. Case in point “pastor”. I go on websites and listen to guys and I wonder how in the world do they call themselves pastors. Now I do want you to understand that the bible doesn’t call individuals pastors, only Christ as far as I can tell, but there are people who are gifted to function in “shepherding”.
This will be quick, but let me explain something to you. If those in your care can’t touch you, they don’t know you, you don’t know them, there is no relationship, there is no personal care and concern, if this person dropped dead tomorrow and you don’t know about it, if you don’t know their families and they don’t know yours other than by face and name, if there is no mutual edification, if they love your teaching more than you, and your only interaction with them is an expository sermon, you are not “pastoring”. I want to make that clear and call people to the table.
There are way too many broken sheep. Way too many wandering sheep, way too many upside down families, way too many wounded sheep in the Church today to call what we do today “pastoring”. I will say this again, you aren’t pastoring. You may be doing something else but it ain’t pastoring. If those you are “pastoring” spend more time in your books than with you, then you aren’t pastoring. We need to start calling a spade a spade. We are doing a lot of stuff today, but I don’t even think it is Church as described in the scriptures. I will leave it at that. But I am getting way too many phone calls, there are way too many broken marriages, and burden-ladened Christians that I come in contact with to call what we call shepherding. No they aren’t going to come to you or the other elders, because they have no relationship with them. Most of these gentleman are figure heads, not relational elders. Okay that was it. But if people can’t come to you because they don’t know you or you are too busy stuck at conferences and writing books then please stop calling yourself a pastor you are confusing way too many people with that title. Find a new word.
>>>>>>>>>>Updated with BLD’s Comment<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
You are a pastor when:
1. People address you as one after you’ve been serving them constantly and consistently and your response is “Hey, I’m just your brother in Christ.”
2. People attempt to give you money for what you’ve done for them and you can immediately suggest a better person/place for them to give it.
3. Your happiest moments are people saying, “I’m praying for you” rather than “You are really anointed!”.
4. Your service to others is driven by their needs and not their creeds.
5. You’re willing to lose everything because you realize you have nothing to lose.
6. You see yourself as equally needful of the grace of Christ as you see everyone else.
7. You belong to the people who see you as their’s.
8. You cease seeing yourself as “on the clock”.
9. People call on Christ for spiritual needs before they call on you because that’s who you’ve pointed them to.
10. You see yourself as a trumpet in God’s hand and your only desire is for the Spirit to blow!
Not in that particular order but……
You are a pastor when:
1. People address you as one after you’ve been serving them constantly and consistently and your response is “Hey, I’m just your brother in Christ.”
2. People attempt to give you money for what you’ve done for them and you can immediately suggest a better person/place for them to give it.
3. Your happiest moments are people saying, “I’m praying for you” rather than “You are really anointed!”.
4. Your service to others is driven by their needs and not their creeds.
5. You’re willing to lose everything because you realize you have nothing to lose.
6. You see yourself as equally needful of the grace of Christ as you see everyone else.
7. You belong to the people who see you as their’s.
8. You cease seeing yourself as “on the clock”.
9. People call on Christ for spiritual needs before they call on you because that’s who you’ve pointed them to.
10. You see yourself as a trumpet in God’s hand and your only desire is for the Spirit to blow!
Not in that particular order but……
I will append this post brother with this!
Lionel,
I would like to also add that you are a pastor when someone is loudly calling you a false prophet and those around are rebuking that person and telling them you don’t treat the man of God that way. I was personally shown how much the people I minister to love me when that very thing happened at a home two weeks ago.
I also have already been recieving comments as the first. They were calling me reverend and such. I said, don’t call me that, just call me Steve. It took them by surprise as that is what they are used to calling someone who ministers. I am reminded of Jesus’s word when He said call no one teacher.
Also last night a family who I have been discipling at the mobile home park called our house last night to check on my wife and kids.
This is something they took time to do on their own as they just recently got a phone. The love of Christ is being expressed when we share His word and love to others.
Steve
The truths contained in this post really hit home for me a few years back, when we were really struggling for some encouragement and direction from someone in our walks with Christ. We ended up deciding to go talk to the head pastor of the church I’d grown up with, as we had always respected him and knew him to be a sound biblical teacher. After reaching that decision, I was a little taken aback when I learned just how difficult it was to schedule an appointment to see him. His receptionist was able to get us a time slot about a month from when I called. At the “appointment”, we had exactly one hour, where we hurriedly tried to sum up everything that had been going on basically in both of our entire lives, and it felt choppy and rushed, at best. As the hour drew to a close, he quickly prayed with us, gave us some very encouraging words, and a copy of his book for each of us, as he prepared for the next appointment. It felt like going to the doctor’s office, really…
Overall, I know his heart was really to build us up and strengthen us in our faith, but as we drove home, I was struck by the fact that this man that I had called “Pastor” for all those years really didn’t know me from a guy off the street. I knew it wasn’t a strike against him personally, or his devotion to serving God’s people, but that it was just an impossibility in that kind of scenario. Looking back, I now can recognize moments like that as God planting seeds in my spirit to be able to accept and embrace the kind of life in the Body of Christ that the Bible actually describes….
Daniel,
My heart goes out to many people who find themselves in your old situation. And I promise you many are experiencing today. We are taught to look the one pastor or “pastors” but even in mega churches there doesn’t seem to be enough to meet the needs and so many of them are so young and immature in life that they don’t even qualify to meet those needs. So people are set up with a once a month meeting that seems more like psychiatrist than a loving gifted brother encouraging you along this journey.
Lionel,
I’m with you all the way on this one, and with Bro. L.D.
Another point: A true shepherd is willing to risk himself for members of Christ’s flock. He is concerned about being a Jesus Christ follower, loving and serving those who don’t have the great riches with which he has been endowed. And, sometimes, as my wife and I know, the cost is much pain.
We wouldn’t have changed a thing, except, maybe being a lttle wiser!
Hello there!
There is such a wide acceptance of hired preachers who CALL themselves pastors but really, they are hired to deliver sermons on Sundays and to make ceremonial appearances.
They are NOT required to be in relationship with the congregation. There are churches I know of and the pastor’s address is UN-published, his phone number is UN-published and his email address is actually a ghost account that some staff person is responsible for.
I am not kidding.
There are some who do not care about having any tie to the people and then there are some who have a tie to the people that is controlling and dysfunctional.
The last spiritual leader I was associated with would tell me that “I am not your father” if I refused to allow him access to my personal life… he felt he could inquire about my personal affairs and he even demanded my bank account information instead of paying me by check. He would call me ALL hours of the night with requests. He paid everyone who worked with him a pittance while he lived ostentaciously. He would say that NO ONE could criticize him or else they were in violation of “divine protocol” set by God.
Oh yes, I am free from this spiritual tyranny.
I just wanted to mention that this notion of “pastor” and “shepherd” has become completely corrupt. Many sitting in the pews allow the spiritual leader to TELL THEM what the role of “shepherd” is and therefore they don’t seek God to understand if they are under ordained leadership.
Peace, blessings and DUNAMIS!
Lisa
Great post. Like the amendments a lot too, except for the “You cease seeing yourself as “on the clock” part–at least if this means that pastors should be busy 24/7. That kills families.
Hey John,
You are never on the “clock” you are just another Christian with different giftings.
SO,
About time you got called out! LOL. Thanks for sharing that testimony and the fact that someone has your number to call you and you talk to them is a testimony in itself.
AJ,
Do you believe that this is what Jesus is referring to in John 10? Or was that just a reference to Himself? I think you are right. I would even add that he is willing to risk himself at his own costs. That is when you know you are a pastor. Paul did it on his own dime and time! No financial packages!
BWBT,
I agree wholeheartedly. I am also glad to see you away from such tyranny. You have a very unique site by the way.
Bro. John,
No sir it doesn’t mean that pastors should be busy 24/7. It means that they should never intentionally rush through serving someone in need. It means that they should make every effort to be available when needed, for as long as needed.
A true pastor that is doing the work of shepherding will not normally be needed 24/7. If a pastor is needed 24/7, then either it is because of the shortage of true shepherds or because he is being a god (to the people) rather than a pastor, even if not intentionally.
Lionel,
“Yes” to your question.
Here is a true story of a Scotsman, entrusted with leadership, who understood what the Hebrews heard Jesus speaking about, and what a true “shepherd” really is.
He was visiting Israel, and with a friend was travelling in a car. They came to a flock of sheep being DRIVEN along the road. He asked the driver to stop.
Getting out of the car, he said to the man DRIVING the sheep, “I have always understood that shepherds in Israel wlked in front of the sheep, leading them”
The man answered, “You are right, shepherds DO lead their sheep. I’m not a shepherd. I’m the BUTCHER!”
True story, with a huge message in it. There are more BUTCHERS than shepherds!
In Jesus day shepherds always encountered; wild animals which he knew would kill the sheep, thickets of thorn bushes which caught the sheep’s wool, often trapping them till they died, sheep theives and many other hidden dangers. They put their lives at risk for their sheep, sometimes paying the ultimate sacrifice.
My Shepherd did that for me!
now this is a great post… thanks
I wonder how many people would want the job as a pastor if they had to follow those statements.
I’m not sure if all of the respondents have been male, but as a woman with a tremendous burning spirit to minister to others and truly get to know them, I find it hard to be comfortable in those mega churches.
Recently my church opened up a 3rd “campus” closer to my home because of demographics. I pray that this new campus will offer a more intimate opportunity to get to know each other.
It’s kind of like, if you were a member of Rick Warren’s church, would you really ever get to see him in any other setting than special functions and the sermon on Sunday? Not to pick on him, but that’s just an example.
My church has 4 weekend services (one on Saturday and 3 on Sunday) and they are just huge. Big enough to make you feel alone in a crowd of people.
The thought came to me that maybe I am called to be a youth pastor. Not because I’m female, but because that is the group with which I have always found my greatest joy in helping and encouraging. So, God willing, I’ll be starting my Master’s in Church Ministry this summer.
But I stumbled upon this blog while trying to find the answer to the question, “can anyone call themselves a pastor?”
As I meditate more and more on God’s purpose for my life, I know that titles don’t matter, it’s being available for God’s service.
If we look at being a pastor as being a shepherd and being in a position to truly impact people on a personal level, then the title of pastor won’t matter as much. It provides some sort of comfort to those you serve in your ministry and church.