Role of a pastor

IanLC · May 12, 2011

First Timothy 3:1-7:
*One must seek the office
*Must be without reproach
*A faithful spouse
*Self-controlled
*Sober-minded
*Orderly
*Hospitable
*Able to teach
*Not a drunkard
*Not violent but gentle
*Not quarrelsome
*Not a lover of money
*Must manage their own household well, with all dignity keeping their children submissive
*Must not be a recent convert
*Moreover, must be well thought of by outsiders

Titus 1:5-9:
*Above reproach
*A faithful spouse
* Children are believers not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
*Not arrogant
*Not quick-tempered
*Not a drunkard
*Not violent
*Not greedy for gain
*Hospitable
*A lover of good
*Self-controlled
*Upright
*Holy
*Disciplined
*Must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.-Jeremiah 3:15
Do many pastors meet these qualifications? Not based of your own opinion but off of the word of God do they sincerely meet them? From mega church pastors to small church pastors? Mission overseers to Organizational Bishops? Does your pastor meet these qualifications? Are we praying for our pastors and all pastors to meet these qualifications? Or are we bashing them and slandering them?

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.- Galatians 6:1

jiggyfly · May 12, 2011

If they don't than they simply are not elders and should not be considered one until they do possess this kind of character. The christian religious system is full of self appointed and man appointed leaders.

charlesj · May 12, 2011

UHCAIan said:
First Timothy 3:1-7:
*One must seek the office
*Must be without reproach
*A faithful spouse
*Self-controlled
*Sober-minded
*Orderly
*Hospitable
*Able to teach
*Not a drunkard
*Not violent but gentle
*Not quarrelsome
*Not a lover of money
*Must manage their own household well, with all dignity keeping their children submissive
*Must not be a recent convert
*Moreover, must be well thought of by outsiders

Titus 1:5-9:
*Above reproach
*A faithful spouse
* Children are believers not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
*Not arrogant
*Not quick-tempered
*Not a drunkard
*Not violent
*Not greedy for gain
*Hospitable
*A lover of good
*Self-controlled
*Upright
*Holy
*Disciplined
*Must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.-Jeremiah 3:15
Do many pastors meet these qualifications? Not based of your own opinion but off of the word of God do they sincerely meet them? From mega church pastors to small church pastors? Mission overseers to Organizational Bishops? Does your pastor meet these qualifications? Are we praying for our pastors and all pastors to meet these qualifications? Or are we bashing them and slandering them?

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.- Galatians 6:1

Hello UHCAIan:

How did you choose your user name? Just curious.

This is my two cents on eldership. I wrote this in "Word" and pasted it to this site. Normally when I do this some of my words run together. To overcome this, I will also "attach" the writing so then the words won't run together.

Preachers ARE NOTPastors. The New Testament does notrefer to its evangelists or preacher as pastors. Thisis a DENOMINATIONAL misuse of the term. Nor is there a difference between an evangelist and a gospel preacher, aman who preachers for a local church as Timothy did in Ephesus.

The ONE place where the Greek “POIMEN” is translated“pastors” (plural) in the English N.T. is Eph 4:11.

“ Andhe gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastorsand teachers;…”

There is a very clear line ofdistinction between evangelists and pastors.

Anevangelist is a preacher and a pastor is an elder. This Greek word translated “pastor” is alwaysin the plural in the New Testament. Anelder can be a preacher, but not every preacher is qualified to be anelder. Again, elders in each assemblyhave to be more than one. We have no newcovenant teaching or example that tells us otherwise.

Eachassembly in the first century, if they had qualified men, had elders, deaconsand a minister. They didn’t have anyother church government except for Jesus Christ as their head.

Today,you have “priests, popes, archbishops, etc. etc.” Their names are legion. They are referred to as “father, priest,reverend, pastor, etc)

They have left the New Covenantteachings of Christ.

ThreeGreek words describe an elder:

Presbuteros– translated “presbyter,” or “elder, bishop.”

Episkopos– translated “bishop” or “overseer.”

Poimen– translated “pastor” or “shepherd.”

IN acts 20:17-28 all three Greekwords are used to refer to the same group of men – elders. Eldership is a “work,” not an office.

Notice, Paul “called the eldersof the Ephesusassembly.”

17 And from Miletushe sent to Ephesus,and called the elders (presbuteros)of the church.

18 And when they were come to him, he saidunto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia,after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind,and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait ofthe Jews:

20 And how I kept back nothing that wasprofitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly,and from house to house,

21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also tothe Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spiritunto Jerusalem,not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth inevery city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

24 But none of these things move me, neithercount I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy,and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify thegospel of the grace of God.

25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, amongwhom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my faceno more.

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day,that I am pure from the blood of all men.

27 For I have not shunned to declare unto youall the counsel of God.

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and toall the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, (episkopos) to feed (poimen) the church of God, which he hath purchasedwith his own blood.

Verse17 Paul calls to them “elders in the church” at Ephesus.

Thesame verse says that they met him at Miletus.

Beginning at verse 18 the apostle addresses the elders and his address is recordedthrough verse 35.

Inverse 28 Paul is yet speaking to these elders and charges them: “take heed untoyourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made youbishops.” Notice carefully, the apostle addresses the ELDERS and says that th Holy Spirit made them BISHOPS. Thus elders and bishops are the samething. An elder (Presbuteros) is thesame as a bishop (episkopos).

Further,to the elder, the bishops, Paul continues to say that they are to “feed thechurch of the Lord” (Acts 20:28) What are they to do? They are to “FEED” the church. This word “feed” is the Greek word POIMAINO. It is the VERB form of the word POIMEN which is translated “pastor” or “shepherd.” The verb is also translated “pastor” or“shepherd,” and here it is translated “feed.”

Therefore,shepherds shepherd flocks, and pastors pastor sheep. The noun and the verb can be translated inthe same way.

Youmight say, “feeders feed. But the pointis that to “feed” is actually to “pastor,” or to “shepherd,” and this is whatthe apostle tells the elders or the bishops to do.

Theelders (PRESBUTEROS) or bishops (EIPSKOPOS) are to feed (POIMAINO) thechurch. All three Greek words are not to be distinguished from each other.

Episkoposis a compound Greek word with “epi” means “over” and “skopos” – to see, this iswhere we get our English word “scope” like for a rifle.

Also, in 1 Peter 5:1,2we see all three Greek words used again.

1 Peter 5:1-2 [sup]KJV [/sup]1 Peter 5:1The elders (presbuteros) which are among you I exhort, who am also anelder(sumpresbuteros, = “fellow elder”), and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glorythat shall be revealed: [sup]2[/sup] Feed (poimaino) the flock of God which is among you, takingthe

oversight (episkopeo) thereof, not by constraint, butwillingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

In Titus 1:5-7 you see two of the Greek wordsused with eldership duties.

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things thatare wanting, and ordain elders(presbuteros) in every city, as I had appointed thee:

6 If any be blameless, the husband of onewife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

7 For a bishop (episkopos) must beblameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given towine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Paul left Titus in Crete and told him tosetup “elders” in the assembly. Then hetold Titus how to pick them from among the assembly. They must be blameless, only have one wife,faithful children etc. The reason thatthese elders are to be blameless etc. is because a bishop (elder) must beblameless doing a work for God, not self-willed, no hot temper, not a heavydrinker of wine etc.

The point I want you to see is what is an elder, what he is called and hiswork, that is, his duties.

Today, the religious world makes “offices” and changes the names of thisduty the first century assembly had. (Notice, I use the word “assembly” instead of “church” as the Protestantand Catholic organizations give you the wrong idea of the use of this Greekword translated “church or assembly” in the New Testament.)

May you be blessed as you study His Word,

Your servant in Christ,

charlesj

pilgrimjo · May 12, 2011

Regardless of their given title, e.g. Rev, Fr., Very Rev, Dr., etc..a pastor is one who shepherds the sheep..the one who cares for them, goes out to seek the lost ones, and guides them on a daily basis. There is no greater image for this than Jesus Himself who said, "I am the Good Shepherd." If someone in this position is there simply to lord it over others or only to preach to others; but does not have a "pastoral" heart for the sheep then I would not consider them to be walking in the call of pastor but doing something else.

I praise God that my lead pastor is a good shepherd who cares for the sheep and I am pleased to call him..."Pastor".

IanLC · May 12, 2011

I love the feedback and the in depth study. I also praise God for my pastor who is a an elder in the United Holy Church of America (UHCA) and a pastor who truly is a shephard after God's own heart. I also agree that not everyone God calls to preach is called to pastor! We need to stop using those names interchangibly!

jiggyfly · May 12, 2011

Very nice post Charlesj.

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