A Pastor's Responsibility
We have already touched on the
subject of responsibilities in the last chapter, as we considered the importance
of spiritual and practical gifts, both with regard to pastor and for the church
as a whole. But we need to clarify a pastor’s responsibility as regards His
calling, that is, to the church to whom God calls him to minister, and who,
recognising that call, have appointed him.
We have seen that the term “pastor” means “shepherd”—and that gives us more than
a clue as to the sort of responsibility that is expected of him. As all
believers must seek to be like Jesus, so too the pastor. The Lord Jesus, when He
looked around and saw the multitudes of people, He saw them as lost. He was
“moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like
sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). As the Lord, so too the pastor! He
should be moved with similar compassion concerning those whom the Lord has given
him responsibility—for the church itself, and for those around who do not know
Christ.
Peter gives a very clear instruction that the pastor, together with other
elders, is to “shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as
overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly”
(1 Peter 5:2). The Lord Jesus, before He ascended into Heaven, had instructed
Peter as leader of the disciples, to “feed My sheep” (John 21:17).
By such terms, it is quite clear that a pastor’s responsibility is to care for,
and nurture, the people whom God has placed under his care. After all, that is
why a church calls him. To look after their spiritual needs, to teach them the
truths of God’s Word, to encourage the people to walk in God’s ways, and to
protect them, as far as is possible, from the evil one.
Paul instructs the elders at Ephesus very specifically. “Take heed to yourselves
and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to
shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).
Paul is here showing them the importance of the responsibility, in that they are
to realise that the believers who are committed to their care are those for whom
Christ has died. That is an awesome responsibility. And the awesomeness of the
task is accentuated when Paul tells them, that it is “the Holy Spirit [who] has
made you overseers”. Therefore they ought to be concerned in taking care how
they “oversee”—to undertake it diligently—realising they are answerable to the
Saviour for the task. They are to be spiritual examples to the church. But they
are to care also for the spiritual needs of “all the flock”.
But there is one thing that is very clear in the New Testament. It is that the
pastor is not a priest! Yet how many Christians tend to treat him as such. To
understand this we need to define the term “priest”. A priest is, as we see from
the Old Covenant, an official minister, appointed by God to represent the people
before God, and God to the people—and who performs certain rituals on behalf of
both. A priest makes offerings and sacrifices that are designed to appease the
wrath of God against sin. It is very sad that ministers of the Anglican Church,
for example, accept the title of “priest”. For the New Testament is very clear
that the priesthood is now over. The Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the
priesthood, in being the High Priest who fulfils all High Priests. He is the
only High Priest. The writer tells us that we who are “partakers of the heavenly
calling” are to “consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ
Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1). There is for us no other priest, for He has undertaken all
the high priestly functions. At one and the same time He made the final and
complete sacrifice for sins—and He Himself was the offering presented to God. As
John the Baptist had announced Him, “Behold! the Lamb of God who takes away the
sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Therefore, no one can now take on such duties as
were unique to Him.
There are no sacrifices any longer. [Note that the Roman Catholic Mass is a
sacrifice that requires a priest, but has absolutely no warrant in Scripture,
cf. Hebrews 9.28, 10:10-12,14.] There are now no restrictions in meeting with
God, apart from the need to be covered with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Therefore we believe in the priesthood of all believers—a principle that
the New Testament clearly upholds. Everyone may now have a personal relationship
with, and direct access to, the Saviour. We no longer require priests. Therefore
a pastor cannot be a priest.
Thus Christians must not treat the pastor as if he were a priest. They can
easily do so by expecting him to do for them what they ought to be doing for
themselves. They may expect him to do all the praying and interceding for them.
They may go to him as if he could forgive their sins. They might treat him as if
he were in the place of God for them. But this is simply a failure to take on
their own responsibilities as Christians. For they should be seeking to find
Christ, to know Christ for themselves, and to cultivate their own personal
relationship with Him by praying and reading God’s Word daily. It is as if they
expect the pastor to give them a weekly injection of religion to keep them going
for the rest of the week. Please take care that you never think of your pastor
that way.
But Paul gives us detailed instructions as to what a pastor is to do. He
instructs Timothy very clearly. “If you instruct the brethren in these things,
you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and
of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed” (1 Timothy 4:6).
“These
things” refers to the teaching Paul gives concerning church government, as well
as the truths of our faith, and warning about the errors that some seek to
introduce (as the context shows). Paul commends Timothy as being a “good
minister of Jesus Christ” as he seeks to be grounded in truth, “nourished in the
words of faith”, and commends him for the way he has already proved himself in
“the good doctrine which you have carefully followed” at the same time as
encouraging him to continue in it. Then further on in v.16 Paul warns him, as a
pastor/elder to “take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them,
for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you”
(1 Timothy 4:16). This is a pastor’s responsibility. To apply himself to do all
that is necessary to ensure that he himself is saved by the grace of God, and
also that all those whom he is given the responsibility to shepherd will be
saved.
A pastor is to take incredible care over his own soul. He is never to consider
this responsibility lightly. Look how Paul further encourages Timothy. “But you,
O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,
love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal
life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in
the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:11-12). There is effort
involved—concerted effort. It may even be sacrificial effort, to continue in his
responsibilities as an under-shepherd of the Lord Jesus Christ. But this is an
example that he must give to others. Else, how does he expect them to follow
Christ, if he fails to do so?
Let us note the further instructions that Paul seeks to give Timothy. “Therefore
do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but
share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God”
(2 Timothy 1:8). “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from
me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13).
“You
therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”
(2 Timothy 2:1). “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not
to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers” (2 Timothy 2:14). Here is some very practical advice on his personal witness,
his personal life as a Christian, and even on sermon preparation. But then Paul
also shows how an elder, and especially a pastor, must conduct himself. “And a
servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach,
patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will
grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come
to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by
him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26). Thus it is through the example of a
pastor, the teaching of a pastor, and the humility of a pastor, that the hearts
of those who oppose the truth of God may be touched, that they come to know the
truth as it is in Jesus.
Paul is quite adamant that the main responsibility of a pastor/elder is the
proclaiming of the truth of God in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Preach
the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with
all longsuffering and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2).
He is also equally sure that such a man must take every precaution to protect
himself from the spiritual dangers that lurk around and about, as well as being
diligent in the work God has given him. So Paul continues to similarly warn and
encourage the pastor. “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do
the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). And when he is
writing to Titus, Paul also gives him similar practical instruction, as we see
in Titus 2:1-10; 3:1,9.
So what does Paul mean when he instructed Timothy to “be watchful in all
things”? A straightforward understanding from the English text might suggest
that the pastor is to take care in all his responsibilities and the things that
demand his attention. He has to be especially careful not to find himself in
compromising situations, or in circumstances that prove to be outside of his
ability to handle. The Greek words that Paul uses indicate an ‘abstaining from
drinking wine’, to be sober. But if Paul’s meaning is broader than this, it
surely means he is to be awake to adverse and unexpected circumstances—to be
awake to potential problems. Though that sounds very negative, it really has a
positive side. That is, the pastor is to do his utmost to ensure that he
maintains a positive witness in all circumstances, and that he must be
self-controlled, self-possessed, and confident in his responsibilities in his
service for the Lord.
He must also “endure afflictions”. Paul is no doubt thinking of all the trials
and problems he faced in seeking to bring men and women under the sound of the
Gospel, and in his endeavour to help them grow in grace. But there is not only
the physical dangers, but also the more subtle problems of meeting with, and
handling, people. They may turn on him, when he thought they were friends.
People may accuse him of things that he is totally innocent of. Members may make
things difficult for him, as he seeks to minister to the church. They may have
very different ideas of what their gifts are than the pastor, and turn on him
when they think he is wrong. It will not prove to be very easy to be a pastor.
That he must “do the work of an evangelist” is misunderstood by some. But the
pastor’s responsibility is to announce the Good News to men and women—it is to
preach the Gospel. He must be clear on what that Gospel is. He must not only
have experienced the grace of God in the Gospel for Himself, but have the
anointing of the Holy Spirit on him commissioning him to share that Gospel with
others. It is the pastor’s responsibility to make the Gospel understood, and to
seek to bring men and women to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the
pastor’s responsibility to know the implications of the Gospel, and how the
Gospel is to meet the needs of men and women. He is to recognise the infinite
value of the free and Sovereign grace of God that is at the centre of the gospel
message, and He is to seek to proclaim the greatness of the exalted Lord and
Saviour. How will men and women know who the Lord Jesus is until He is presented
to them in all His glory? (cf. Colossians chapters 1-3) The pastor must proclaim
the Gospel clearly and he must point sinners to Christ as their only hope. Such
is his responsibility.
Then Timothy is also told by Paul to “fulfil your ministry”? This is a solemn
charge, that every pastor is to take seriously. “Discharge your duties
faithfully”, he could have said. “Follow your calling diligently”. Simply put,
the pastor is being counselled to do his utmost, as far as it is possible for
him to do so, to ensure that his ministry is both complete and effective. There
is no doubt that the pastor’s responsibility is awesome.
We are reminded that no man can do this unless the Lord Himself instructs Him.
That is what we find happening in our Lord’s post-resurrection ministry to His
disciples. “He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the
Scriptures” (Luke 24:45). The pastor needs to have not merely an adequate
understanding of the Scriptures, but must be able to handle them humbly but
competently, so as to be able to teach others their meaning. We have referred
before to the training of the pastor, but there also needs to be an ongoing
diligence in learning the Scriptures. The pastor must be a man of diligent
study, so that he is able to apply those same Scriptures to the needs and
situations that the members of the church face every day. He must be able to
discern the times, like the men of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12 32). The pastor is
to be always aware of his calling and his commission, as Jesus gave it to his
disciples, to be able to explain from the Scriptures, as Jesus did for them, the
meaning of His life, death and resurrection. “Then [Jesus] said to them, ‘Thus
it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise
from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:46-47).
The pastor must appreciate, above others, the importance and power of the Word
of God. As Paul reminded the believers at Rome, that he was “not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who
believes… For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.”
(Romans 1:16-17). The power of God is seen in the conversion of souls, which is
the deep desire of every pastor to see at work in the souls of men and women.
The power of God is applied by the Holy Spirit to the souls of those who will be
saved. The experience of the new birth that brings one whom God calls by grace
into the experience of salvation is through the power of God. The power that
raised Jesus from the dead, and declared Him to be the risen Son of God, is the
power that raises dead souls to life through faith in Christ. The pastor, having
been called by God to minister to the needs of the souls of men and women, is
conscious of the need to see that power at work in his ministry. That power is
embodied in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is “incorruptible seed” (1
Peter 1:23). It is imperishable—nothing can diminish the power of the Gospel. It
cannot be corrupted—it is the Word of the eternal and living God who is the
Creator of all things. It is the Word of Him who is the source of, and Giver of,
spiritual life. Thus the Gospel is the life-giving message about Jesus’ death
and resurrection. It is the pastor’s responsibility to proclaim this glorious
message with the desire to see souls saved—that men and women experience the new
birth that comes through the living, powerful and abiding Word of God. God
reveals Himself in His Word, as Creator, Lord, and Saviour, and the task of the
pastor is not to get in the way of the message, but to humbly seek to be the
medium of the message that souls may be saved by grace. The pastor is to
appreciate that this precious Word that is entrusted to Him to proclaim is the
means by which the eternal, faithful, powerful Creator of all speaks to sinners,
and by which He shares glorious promises with those whom He saves. He cannot
therefore handle it carelessly. The pastor must handle this precious word with
seriousness and humble dedication.
Thus in this connection the pastor must realise that all human help such as he
is personally able to give is merely weak and perishable. He can, in his own
strength, accomplish what is inadequate. But how precious it is that the Word of
God with which he is entrusted “endures forever” (1 Peter 1:25). Therefore the
pastor is to seek to keep the Word of God in focus at all times, both for his
own personal walk with the Lord, and as he seeks to minister to the needs of
those whom God has entrusted in His care.
And we need to remind ourselves of the overwhelming responsibility of a shepherd
as God sees it. “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel;
therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me”
(Ezekiel 3:17). I would refer you back to the second chapter, to see again what
God requires from His servant, where He underlines the awesomeness of the
responsibility.
Thus a pastor is a man under authority. He is not the servant of the church. He
is the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. But this does not place Him ‘a cut
above other people’. Rather, it does the opposite. For though he is not a
servant of the church, he is called the serve the church by the Lord Jesus
Christ, in humility, in diligence, and with a deep concern for souls.
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