The Disillusioned Pastor Pt. 2

As a pastor, I can only present the truth in word and deed. I cannot set people’s standards for them. They must obey the standards set within the Bible. I cannot force people to do right. I can only motivate people to do right, and that seems to be most difficult.  I cannot limit godliness to what one does. Godliness is measured by what one allows to be produced in their life by the Spirit of God. I cannot expect people to be what I was growing up, nor can I expect them to be what I have become. I am not the standard but I should be an example.  I can only expect people to be obedient or disobedient to the Lord.  Here is the part that is disillusioning. A gardener can see sprouts after several days.  A painter can see progress as he steps back to glance at his work. A carpenter can look around him and see the framing which has been built. However, it is very “disenchanting” for a pastor to look around at his ministry because what he would expect to see takes years to develop from the inside out.  One of the dangers which Paul warned the Corinthian believers of was regarding comparisons. We all do it. We are supposed to compare. However, Paul was sure to relate to those early Christians the importance of God’s Word being the standard and not man’s opinions. We all want our professional sports team to win the championship and to be the best. We compare our favorite make of automobile to one of inferior quality. It is only natural for us to do so. The hazard is that we are not to compare carnal things with spiritual things.  God’s word is still as powerful now as it was when Moses was around. God’s word doesn’t lose effectiveness from location to location. Why then does it seem that one church down the road is growing by leaps and bounds while “your church” isn’t growing numerically at all? Could it be that they do not have “dress standards?”  Could it be that they have contemporary music? Could it be that their pastor is more likeable? Could it be that they have more activities?  Could it be that they have more ministries? All these things are mere examples of what happens when one compares carnal things with spiritual things.

                Let us look at the things which God requires a pastor to do and who God wants them to be.

I Timothy 3:1-7 “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

 Titus 1:6-9 “ If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

• Above Reproach
• Husband of One Wife
• Self-Control
• Lives Wisely
• Has a Good Reputation
• Hospitable
• He Can Teach
• Not Given to Wine
• Not Violent
• Gentle
• Loves Peace
• Does Not Love Money
• Manages His Home Well
• Not a New Christian
• His children must Be Well-Behaved.
• Not Arrogant
• Not Quick-Tempered
• A Strong and Steadfast Belief

According to this list, there cannot be a separation between who the pastor is and what the pastor is to do. We find the duty of the pastor in the early church where he was to be given to a threefold job description (II Tim 4:2, Acts 6:4, II Tim 2:24-26):

To Others:

1.      Ministry of Prayer

2.      Ministry of Study

3.      Ministry of Administering the Word with patience and all longsuffering

a.       Counseling

b.      Organize the affairs of the church according to the Word of God

c.       Train men and women to manage these things under your oversight

d.      Ordain deacons and “assistants” to assist in the daily administration of the church (taking care of the widows and fatherless – if any)

e.       Leading the local body of believers to the furtherance of the gospel

To God:

1.      Obedience to the Word

2.      Yielding to the Spirit

3.      Maintaining daily walk with God

To Himself and His Family

1.       To take heed to himself.

2.       To take heed to his doctrine.

3.       To continue therein. (I Tim 4:16)

4.      To provide for his own (financially, emotionally, physically, spiritually)

5.      To maintain his relationship with his wife

6.      To maintain his relationship and role with his children

7.      His own physical well-being

Now, these are all things according to Scripture. A balanced pastor will maintain all these areas of his life. He will have scripture integrated, as would every seasoned believer, into every facet of his daily life. How then does a pastor become disillusioned? How could he possibly get discouraged at the size of his congregation or at the spiritual growth he sees being displayed by the flock that God has entrusted him with? (more to come)