The Role of the Pastor

The Role of the Pastor
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The source of authority in the local church is the pastor, who is under the authority of Jesus Christ and the body of Christ is under His authority at all times. Someone might ask, "If there are three members of the Godhead, how can you say we are under the authority of Jesus alone?" However, this question serves to illustrate that even in the Godhead there is a principle of authority and submission we are to follow. Jesus was given authority over the Church by God the Father. (Ephesians 1:22,23)

There is a beautiful flowing of submission and authority within the Godhead. The Holy Spirit is in submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is in submission to God the Father, and yet they are all in submission to each other and flow in unity. It is possible to have submission and unity at the same time. Submission only works among equals.

The same principle is true in in the home. If the children don't agree with the father, they still submit to his authority. If he exercises authority in line with God's Word, he will be operating in godly wisdom and will deserve the respect of his children and wife. However, if he is a tyrant, he will only be able to command obedience.

Obedience without submission is slavery. In the end, he will defeat and destroy his own position. If the husband is making every effort to fulfill his role as head of the home, the wife needs to let him make his mistakes when he becomes stubborn. Do not try to usurp his authority. Counsel and love him, but let him learn the hard way a time or two. He'll come to value your wisdom and sensitivity.

The human body also operates on the principle of submission and authority. If a hand didn't respond to the orders of the head, it would soon become apparent that the hand was sick or in trouble. The body would do everything it could to to locate and solve the problem. Things just wouldn't be right in the body without that hand. In the human body there is never rebellion against the head. The body may become sick, but there is never rebellion.

In the principle of authority and submission, authority works only when someone submits. Authority cannot exist when there is no one to receive it. That is why rebellion where authority has been established brings frustration and anxiety.

What happens in rebellion? Why is God so opposed to rebellion? It is Satan's sin. It is as the sin of witchcraft. Rebellion causes one of two things to happen. The person in the position of authority either loses his authority or he tries to exert his authority with force. When the latter happens, the person in submission will either crack and come under authority against his will or be even more rebellious.

Rebellion at the bottom causes more pressure from the top. It becomes a vicious circle until something gives. Anarchy results. That's why God's system of authority is never based on force but on love and submission - all members being in submission to one another and acting only out of love or regard for another member.

Christ LOVES the church and GAVE HIS LIFE FOR IT. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and as they love their own bodies. Have you ever seen a man cutting up his body for pleasure? Not if he's sane. Have you ever seen a man disregard the least little scratch in his body? The head exercises the same concern for each member of the body.

In these analogies we find the principle that causes God's authority work in the local church. The pastor exercises his authority in the love of God. He cares for the people. There is the same flowing of authority and submission in the local body of Christ as there is in the human body, in a marriage, and in the universal Church.

God tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:21 that Christ, the head of the body, needs every part of His body. So husbands, never think you don't need your wife or her counsel. God gave her to you to make you complete. Pastors, never take the attitude you don't need every member of your congregation. Sheep, never think you don't need the shepherd or pastor God has set in the church for you. He's there to help you in the things of God.

The pastor is chosen and placed in the office in which he stands by God. God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ choose men as pastors (1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:8,11).

The word for "pastor" is poimen and it means "shepherd." The pastor appoints elders. The word for "elder" is presbuteros, meaning someone who is mature. However, the office of an elder requires more than being mature in the Word alone.

The word for "bishop" is episkopos, which is a compound word in the Greek. It comes from epi- meaning "over" and skopos meaning "to view or to see." It means "an overseer." The last office in the local church is the deacon, which comes from the word diakonos, meaning "to minister."

The Pastor

God didn't use the title pastor or shepherd without purpose. A pastor is a leader, and specifically, the leader of the local church. Leadership is the first quality of a pastor. He heads his flock and makes decisions concerning them. His main function is to find pasture for them. He teaches them the Word of God. He may not be knowledgable in every area of church operations, but he is gifted with a teaching ability. He needs to spend much time in the Word and prayer to feed his gift and mature in his office.

Every pastor should be aware that God will place congregational members in his church who are more knowledgable in some areas than he is. Many have great expertise in natural fields and can benefit the pastor through counsel. He must remain teachable. Some may even be more mature in the Word than he is. But if he leans on the anointing that accompanies his office, he can always successfully fill his place as pastor and leader of the flock. The abilities of the Holy Spirit accompany every ministry gift. (Romans 11:29)

1 Peter 5:1-4:

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Did you notice the word "pastor" isn't mentioned? You may ask, "How do we know we're discussing a pastor?" By context. Peter begins by exhorting the elders. Notice, "elders" is plural. Peter also points out that he is an elder (presbuteros). In verse two, however, he says, "Feed the flock of God." Immediately we know he's referring to pastors because the Greek word for "feed" is poimen (pastor or shepherd). Verse two should read, "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you."

Who is the shepherd? The pastor. In this passage we have Peter calling the pastor an elder. That makes sense. The pastor should be mature in the Word of God, in spiritual matters. You wouldn't want someone without maturity in the pastorate of your church.

The term "elder" is quite freely used for the office of pastor as the context indicates. When the pastor is called an elder, he is clearly different from the other elders. He stands as the chief elder.

The next indication that Peter is addressing pastors is found in the phrase "taking the oversight." The word "oversight" is episkopos: bishopric. There is only one person who can take the oversight of God's flock. He is the pastor, the one chosen by God.

Peter's instruction is significant because he is telling the pastor to take the initiative. God puts the responsibility for leadership on the pastor's shoulders. The pastor doesn't say, "Lord, let the congregation know this or that." God speaks to the pastor and tells him what the congregation should hear. Notice, the instruction is a command. "Take the oversight." He's telling the pastor to take the leadership of the church.

However, there are some qualifications given to this charge. First, the pastor is to take the office willingly rather than by constraint. Constraint here means "of necessity." A pastor should never take his position because he feels must. When God calls a pastor, he gives him a pastor's heart, the desire to help people spiritually.

The next qualification deals with motives. He's not to take the pastor's office for filthy lucre. This means money isn't to be his reason for accepting the job. Some people might think a pastor shouldn't make much money. I'll show you from the Word of God that he ought to be paid well for dedicating himself to his calling.

The next instruction is very important. The pastor isn't to be a dictator: "... neither as being lords over God's heritage." Look at that carefully. Whose heritage? God's. How is one to be over the flock? As an example. That's what "ensamples" means. A pastor leads and he doesn't tell his congregation to do anything he wouldn't do himself, both by word and deed.

This passage from 1 Peter 5 shows the chain of command in the local church. Notice, verse four says when the chief shepherd (Jesus) appears, He will reward the pastor. The word for "shepherd" is poimen. So Jesus identifies himself with the pastor. In the same way, the pastor is called an elder. In verse two, by implication that pastor is also a bishop. If Jesus is called the chief shepherd, then the pastor ought to be called the chief elder and the chief bishop in the local church. Jesus is a pastor, but not all pastors are Jesus. The pastor is an elder, but not all elders (or bishops) are the pastor. A pastor must maintain the qualities of those below him.

In reference to the pastor's heart we read, "Neither as being lords over God's heritage." Whose heritage? God's. Go back to verse two: "...feed the flock of God." It should be clear that the pastor doesn't own the flock; he merely has responsibility over it. Moses watched Jethro's sheep. He was the shepherd, but the sheep belonged to Jethro. It is great freedom for the pastor who understands this. The sheep belong to God. The pastor always has recourse to the owner. He can always talk to the owner about the sheep and their problems. The owner will take care of the things the shepherd can't handle.

In the local congregation it also is clear that the people do not ultimately answer to the pastor; they answer to God. God owns the sheep. The pastor's responsibility is to admonish and to feed the sheep from the Word of God. Once the people walk out the door, whether or not they live the Word is their responsibility. That doesn't mean the pastor has no concern for them; he simply can't dictate to them. He can encourage and exhort them, but he can't watch over their lives. Have you ever seen people suddenly stop talking when a pastor walks into the room? If you talk about things you wouldn't want the pastor to hear, remember the "Chief Pastor," the Lord Jesus Christ, hears every word you say. He never leaves you nor forsakes you.

In Acts 20:17-28, Paul meets with the elders of Ephesus.

Acts 20:17:

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

The reason "elders" is plural and Ephesus is singular is because there were many churches in Ephesus. The churches are not like they are today. They were not large congregations. Most of them met in homes. We know these elders are pastors from what Paul says to them in verse 28:

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Several things ought to stand out because of their similarity to what Peter said. First, who made these elders to be overseers? The Holy Spirit. Therefore, Paul must be addressing pastors because the mere office of a bishop is something a man aspires to (1 Timothy 3:1) and is not a ministry gift given by the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 4:11)

Next, the pastor is called the overseer in his congregation. Accordingly, he has authority over all the elders and bishops under him and is the one who chooses them.

The final evidence in this verse is Paul instructed his listeners to feed the flock of God. The word "feed" is the word poimen - "to pastor." Again, the flock belongs to God. The purchase price is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever purchases, owns.

Bob Yandian

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