INTRODUCTION
Scripture
clearly teaches us the qualifications for the office of a bishop,
an elder, a preacher, a pastor (e.g. I Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-8).
There are countless examples in God’s Word of godly men of character
whom God chose to carry the good news, and to perfect the saints for
the work of ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Throughout
the ages God has chosen many men to preach the Word. Some we know
personally. Some we have had the privilege of coming to know through
the pages of written material or by word of mouth. Still others we
will never know until we get to heaven. They are ordinary men whom
God chose to empower with His Spirit to become extraordinary men.
God shaped the lives of these men for His divine purposes and glory.
I
do not think the true heart and soul of a pastor/teacher can be fully
understood, and therefore not fully expressed, by anyone. Even the
pastor himself at times has difficulty explaining to others his passion
for the things of God. Only God has full understanding of what makes
a pastor tick, so to speak.
Although
pastors demonstrate many similar character traits, God has blessed
each pastor with his own individual personality, which make up the
uniqueness of these called men of God. In A Portrait of A Pastor,
you will see some of the similarities as well as some of the uniqueness
of a pastor/teacher. A Portrait of A Pastor is not written
to place anyone on a pedestal. My husband wouldn’t like that,
and I know better. This work is basically written to give honor to
whom honor is due, and to encourage my husband to continue to preach
and live God’s Word with boldness and conviction.
There
are several names used of men in the preaching ministry—elder,
bishop, pastor, preacher, evangelist, etc. I will predominantly use
the title of pastor or pastor/teacher simply because this book is
geared towards the portrayal of the local church pastor.
I
want to thank God for placing it on my heart to write A Portrait
of A Pastor. It is with great joy that I enter into this labor
of love in sharing with my husband, and others, A Portrait of A
Pastor.
PREACH
THE WORD
"Herald
and preach the Word! Keep a sense of urgency (stand by, be at hand
and ready, whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable,
whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it be welcome
or unwelcome, you as a preacher of the Word are to show people in
what way their lives are wrong) and convince them, rebuking and
correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, be unflagging
and inexhaustible in patience and teaching."
(II Timothy 4:2 - Amplified Bible)
What
a commission, a command. Yet, what a privilege it is to be called
by God to preach the Word of God. God has entrusted His precious,
holy Word into the hands of mortal men. There is no greater calling
on earth than to be chosen by God to preach the Word. What preacher
called by God would even think of preaching anything other than the
Word of the One who called him? The fact of the matter is, men who
are truly called by God wouldn’t dare think of preaching anything
other than God’s Word. Their very calling commands them to do
so. Men called by God into the preaching ministry have no other alternative
than to preach the Word of God if they expect to be used effectively
by God to glorify God, and to bless the lives of people.
Proclaiming
God’s Word is serious business. Yet, so many people (preachers
and those they preach to) do not take the proclamation of God’s
Word seriously. How tragic! Pastors who are serious about their calling
into the ministry take particular care in accurately teaching God’s
Word. The thought of adding to or taking away from God’s Word,
to benefit himself or anyone else, would never enter into the mind
of the man truly called by God. We can conclude right now that men
who are not preaching the Word of God are not called by God. It’s
just that simple.
High
calling. High accountability! God calls men to preach the Word, and
God is the one who will hold them accountable to carry out that commission.
Two compelling reasons why any man who thinks he is being called into
the preaching ministry must count the cost before undertaking
such a tremendous responsibility. He must make sure God is calling
him and not himself or others. The same thing it took to get a man
into ministry is the same thing it will take to keep him there. When
God calls a man into ministry, it will be the grace of God that will
empower him to endure. When men call themselves or allow others to
push them into the preaching ministry, they will rely upon self-motivation
and outside influences to sustain them throughout their endeavor.
I can’t say throughout their ministry, because if God has not
called you, there certainly can’t be any ministry going on. You
cannot rely upon self-motivation and the influence of other people
to be the foundation of your call into ministry. A man must be absolutely
sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God has called him to preach
the Word. My husband was so sure about his calling into the ministry
that he asked God to kill him if he did not preach the Word as God
intended. "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to
glory of for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I
preach not the gospel" (I Cor. 9:16)!
Until a man is absolutely sure he is called by God to preach the Word,
he would do best not to venture out into this field of ministry.
In
II Timothy 4:2, Paul’s charge to Timothy
included the command to be ready at all times to preach the Word.
The Pastor is commanded to be prepared to preach the Word at all times
regardless of the circumstances. I don’t see any option here.
If you think being prepared means having a sermon ready, you are only
partly right. Without question having a sermon/message prepared is
one of the most essential elements in proclaiming God’s Word,
but it is not the only element for being ready. A ready mind and heart
are also necessary in order to be prepared to proclaim God’s
Word. Do we see how important it is for our pastors not to be distracted,
especially with trivial matters, before they proclaim God’s Word?,
and I’m not just talking about immediately before church services.
They need to be free of distractions as much as humanly possible all
during the week. Does this mean we shouldn’t talk to our pastors
during the week or before services? Of course not. Pastors are in
the people business, so to speak. Their calling demands that they
interact with people. Talk to them regarding your concerns, and why
not encourage them once in a while. Why not find out what their needs
are. The fact is, there are many issues which can and should be handled
by others in leadership, and throughout the congregation. If pastors
are bombarded with constant interruptions and unnecessary matters
which take them away from their main commission to preach the Word,
it makes it difficult for them to have a ready mind and heart or a
prepared sermon. But then, Paul addresses the issue of readiness in
spite of the externals.
External
situations are often unpredictable. Distractions will come. There
will be times when a pastor’s attention is legitimately required.
Nevertheless, as stated, pastors are commanded to be ready to preach
the Word regardless of the circumstances. They are to be ready to
preach the Word whether the conditions are favorable, convenient,
or welcome or whether the conditions are unfavorable, inconvenient,
or unwelcome. A pastor is to be ready whether there are legitimate
distractions in his life, or whether trivial matters siphon his time.
The unpredictability, and the predictability for that matter, in the
life of the pastor/teacher necessitates longsuffering and patience.
Longsuffering
and doctrine are vital to a pastor when he must "show people
in what way their lives are wrong." The Amplified Bible says
the heralder is to be "unflagging and inexhaustible in patience
and teaching." A pastor is to preach with vigor and not to grow
weak in his proclamation of God’s Word. He may grow weary in
the work, but he is not to grow weary of the work. Although rebuke
and reproof may not be the most popular or pleasant part of a pastor’s
teaching, he is commanded by God to preach the whole counsel of God
from Genesis to Revelation. The whole counsel of God most certainly
includes rebuke and reproof as well as exhortation and encouragement.
We need all of God’s Word so that we may be complete,
and thoroughly equipped for all good works (see II
Timothy 3:16-17).
Preaching
the inspired Word of God, to a generation of people who seem to welcome
the attacks of Satan, the world’s system, and their own flesh
rather than welcome and submit to sound doctrine, is a ministry designed
for a select group of men. Men called and equipped by Almighty God.
STUDY
TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED
"Study
and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved
(tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly
analyzing and accurately dividing—rightly handling and skillfully
teaching—the Word of Truth." (II
Timothy 2:15 - Amplified Bible).
"Study
the Word. Get an education about spiritual things."
—Harley
Howard
Once
a man recognizes beyond a shadow of a doubt he has been called by
God to preach the Word, he continues his lifetime pursuit in the study
of the scriptures. Continues his pursuit? That’s right. You see
the man God chooses to preach the Word has already been, to some degree
in his Christian life, a student of the Word. He may have been a very
serious student of the Word before his calling into the preaching
ministry, but one thing is for certain, his study of the Word will
broaden and increase in depth and application after he is commissioned
to preach the Word.
"Study"
in the context of II Timothy 2:15 deals
with both an attitude as well as the act of obtaining knowledge. Let’s
briefly take a look at each.
Study
- The Attitude
The
pastor/teacher called by God to preach the Word will love God and
will love the Word of God. His attitude towards study will be a reflection
of his love for God and the Word, and his dedication to his call into
the ministry. So what should be the attitude of a pastor/teacher when
he approaches the study of God’s Word? He should be eager—"impatiently
desirous of something" (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary,
Vol. 1, A-M, pg. 200)—in his pursuit to search the scriptures.
The pastor/teacher should have a zealous state of mind when he studies
God’s Word.
Study
- The Act of Obtaining Knowledge
When
a pastor has an eager attitude towards study, the process of obtaining
knowledge becomes a time of disciplined discovery of things spiritual;
and oh what a joy it is for God to open up one’s understanding
to the truths of scripture! Studying God’s Word is exciting to
the man called by God to preach the Word. If a pastor/teacher isn’t
excited about studying God’s Word, something is desperately wrong.
A
pastor/teacher’s desire and love for the Word of God drives him
to dig out the truths of scripture. He spends hours and hours laboring
in the Word and doctrine. He meditates on the Word. He ponders the
truths that are revealed to him, and each truth revealed is a challenge
to keep on digging. The pastor/teacher burns a lot of midnight oil
(all throughout the day actually) searching the scriptures. He searches
the scriptures so that his exegesis of the text will be accurate.
Studying the Word of God is hard work, nevertheless, extremely rewarding
work. The benefits and the blessings of diligently studying the Word
of God will always outweigh the effort. A workman (i.e. a working
man) has no need to be ashamed when he labors in studying God’s
Word. The pastor who does not spend long hours studying the Word of
God will not be confident in his proclamation or his presentation
of the Word. His message will be lacking in substance and zeal.
An
important part of study, the act of obtaining knowledge of the scriptures,
is the process of accurately dividing the Word. You don’t wait
until it’s time to proclaim the Word to accurately divide it.
The pastor who does not accurately divide the Word when he is studying
it, will not be able to cut it straight when he proclaims it.
We
will take a closer look at the pastor as a teacher a little bit more
in section IV, "The Pastor, God’s Chosen Servant".
TESTED
BY TRIAL
"Be
assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith
bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience."
(James 1:3 - Amplified
Bible)
If
you want God’s stamp of approval upon your life, rest assured
your faith will be tested. Guaranteed. No escape. As my husband would
say, "Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide." God sends His servants
through trials to test the genuineness of their faith, and to develop
their character by experience.
Because
of the magnitude of the preaching ministry, God orchestrates the events
in the life of the pastor/teacher that will sharpen, shape, and increase
his usability. The tests the pastor/teacher endures will make his
proclamation of the truth much more of a reality to him. Those men
chosen by God to preach the Word must endure hardship as a good soldier
(II Timothy 2:3). Other than proving your
faith, the very purpose or result of trials is to produce patience
and endurance. So let patience have her perfect (i.e. complete) work
(James 1:4) so that we can mature in the faith.
The
pastor/teacher seems to go through an accelerated course in the area
of testing. In fact, time and time again it is a number of tests which
help drive men into the preaching ministry in the first place. Now
just because you may be going through a lot of test doesn’t mean
God is calling you into the ministry. That is not what I’m saying.
What I am saying is that the tests become a reality of the call.
There
are a number of ways God may use to test our faith. We will look at
only three.
1.
Physical Affliction
2.
Misunderstandings
3.
Persecution
Physical
Affliction
There
are times when God chooses physical affliction to test one’s
faith. These afflictions may range from minor to severe in their intensity,
from frequent to infrequent in their occurrence, and from short-term
to long-term in their length of time. The apostle Paul never did get
rid of the thorn in his side, which is said to be some type of physical
affliction. Physical afflictions are not limited to severe medical
conditions that plague the body. Those in the preaching ministry are
often plagued with fatigue and massive head- aches (not necessarily
migraines) due to the physical and emotional strain of the ministry.
Physical afflictions are one of the most difficult tests to endure
because the body and the mind become lethargic, which forces the pastor/teacher
to push his body beyond its natural limitations. Fact of the matter
is, forcing the body to operate beyond its natural ability can only
be done through the power of the Holy Spirit.
There
are many occasions when I knew my husband could barely stand let alone
preach, study, or take care of any other pastoral duties. Often plagued
with fatigue and headaches, there are several instances which are
quite memorable in my thinking where my husband was challenged with
physical afflictions other than fatigue and headaches. Let me share
a couple of these situations with you. One was rather humorous and
the other was more serious.
Some
years ago when our ministry was quite small and Harley had the responsibility
and oversight of all the pastoral operations of the church, he preached
with a patch over his left eye and a moon boot (as we affectionately
called it) on his right foot. Some of the particulars escape me at
this time. However, I do remember coming in from work to greet my
husband who had already fractured his toe, and was wearing a special
shoe the doctor recommended he wear to give his flat feet some support.
I walked in the door, said hello to Harley as I put my things down,
and proceeded into the kitchen where Harley was cooking. The way our
apartment was set up, I could not see Harley until I reached the kitchen.
Harley continued talking with me until I reached the kitchen. As I
reached the kitchen to hug and kiss my husband, his back was turned
towards me. He turned to face me and to my astonishment there was
a patch of cloth taped over his left eye. "What happened to you?",
I said. Harley had gotten a small piece of metal in his eye at his
work. We joked about the matter because Harley was such a sight to
see, and the injury could have been a lot worse than it was. Come
Sunday, Pastor Harley is preaching with a moon boot on his right foot
and reading his Bible with one eye!
I
must admit it was hard to concentrate on the sermon that Sunday. In
August of 1991 Harley was driving home from North Hollywood at around
3:00 a.m. in the morning. He was the host of a live, two-hour radio
talk show on a well-known Southern California radio station. Harley
would teach the Word and accept calls from the listening audience.
He would often accept listeners’ calls even after the program
was off the air. On our way home, I was coming out of a short nap
in the car when Harley said, "I think I’m going to go to
the emergency room. My heart hasn’t been beating right."
Immediately, I was totally alert. I sat up in the seat and asked Harley
if he wanted me to drive. He said, "No. I’ll drive",
as he massaged his chest. I kept my eyes on Harley as I began to pray.
Thank God we were very close to home and to the hospital. Nevertheless,
it seemed like a long ride to the hospital. To make a long story short,
the emergency room took Harley in right away. They did an EKG then
hooked him up to another cardiac monitoring machine. His heartbeat
was racing. I asked the doctor on call if my husband was having a
heart attack. The doctor told me Harley was not having a heart attack,
but he did suggest they continue monitoring him for a few hours. Around
8 or 9 o’clock that morning, Harley was transferred to another
hospital where he spent the next couple of days dealing with what
the doctor’s called fibrillation—"irregular, uncoordinated
contraction of muscle fibers of the heart." Harley was more concerned
about getting out of the hospital so he could preach the coming Sunday
than he was about his health. Harley was released from the hospital
and in the pulpit preaching the Word on Sunday. He was also released
just in time for a surprise birthday celebration I had planned for
him after services that Sunday. It truly was a celebration to have
my husband back in the pulpit and back at home. He was thoroughly
worn out that first Sunday back, needless to say, but thank God for
protecting and strengthening his servant once again.
MISUNDERSTANDINGS
The
pastor/teacher is also tested by trial through misunderstandings.
You say misunderstandings don’t seem so threatening? What’s
the big deal about that? Granted, some misunderstandings are very
easily handled and not much fuss is made over them. However, this
is not always the case. I have often seen misunderstandings not dealt
with biblically, whether considered great or small, turn into misrepresentation,
lies, and slander.
This
is a big deal. When someone misunderstands what a pastor says or does,
and that seed of misunderstanding is not dealt with biblically or
is planted into someone else’s mind, evil surmisings and bitterness
take root. The results can be devastating. The character of godly
men has been slandered and churches split over misunderstandings not
dealt with biblically.
My
husband’s first pastorate was the product of misunderstandings
(and other sinful, wicked behavior) not dealt with in a biblical manner,
which turned into evil surmisings and big time roots of bitterness.
The result? My husband, my pastor, a godly man’s character was
slandered and the church split. Thank God for using this test of faith
to work together for good.
Although
the unsaved community has more than their fair share of not understanding
the role of the local church pastor, it is sad to say the majority
of misunderstandings come from the professing Christian community.
Those who should understand, or at least trust the spirit-filled pastor,
seem to be the ones who are the most suspect of their leader(s). Instead
of trusting in the ability, leadership, and integrity of godly pastors,
Christians question all of that as well as pastors’ motives.
A
pastor will be misunderstood. Sometimes he has to directly confront
his accusers. Yes, it is a testing of his faith. Yes, it is a big
deal. It’s sin!
Persecution
It
is inevitable that the godly pastor/teacher will be tested by trial
through persecution. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ
Jesus shall (affirmative) suffer persecution" (II
Timothy 3:12 - KJV, emphasis added). Verbal persecution
is predominate in our country although physical persecution is still
very much alive in the United States and abroad.
Since
the beginning of time, men have loved darkness rather than light and
things have certainly gotten worse. The pastor/teacher is turning
on the lights, and sinful man does not want to hear the truth. The
bolder a pastor’s stand for the things of God, the more persecution
he is likely to suffer. The wicked hates God, and everyone who has
anything to do with God. The adversary would like nothing more than
to ruin the credibility of God’s called ones, and to have them
fold under persecution.
It
is bad enough the pastor/teacher has to deal with persecution from
the unsaved, but again, oftentimes he suffers persecution from professing
believers! Those who profess to be believers frequently give the pastor/teacher
the most headaches and heartaches. These are the people who say they
want the truth! Yet, when the truth finds them out, they forget the
Word is God’s Word and turn on the one teaching the truth. Oh,
ye scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites!
My
husband has had plenty of opposition since becoming a believer. The
opposition increased when he was called to preach the Word, and the
burners were turned up even hotter after he accepted his calling into
the pastorate. I could tell you story after story how this man has
endured tremendous verbal persecution from family and strangers, unsaved
and saved, young and old, male and female, rich and poor, Jew and
Gentile, Black and White, people of all shapes, sizes, and races,
not to mention even other Bible teachers and ministers! And people
wonder why my husband preaches as hard as he does. I don’t have
to wonder. He has been called by God to preach the Word, and that
is what he will do with all diligence no matter what the opposition
he is faced with. "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him..."
(Job 13:15a). Thanks be to God, as far as I
know, Harley has not suffered any physical persecution although he
has come very close on several occasions.
Lies,
slander, backbiting, misrepresentation, accusations, and innuendoes
(to name a few) are weapons used to attack the character of a pastor.
Isn’t it amazing the very opposition used to tear down the character
of a pastor/teacher is the very opposition God uses to build his character?
Physical
affliction, misunderstandings, persecution (and whatever else God
wants to use in our lives to develop our character) places us in a
position where we must rely upon the supernatural power, grace, and
love of the Almighty to keep us focused upon what the trial will produce
and not upon the trial itself. Because of the indwelling Holy Spirit
when we are tested by trial, our prayer life and study of God’s
Word increases in order to draw us closer to God. Therefore, keeping
us focused upon things that are spiritual.
It
is when we fix our hearts and minds upon the things of God, we will
be able to enjoy the fruits of being tested and count it all joy.
THE
PASTOR, GOD’S CHOSEN SERVANT
"He
God! I Slave!" — Harley
Howard
"This
is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth
a good work." (I
Timothy 3:1 - KJV)
The
longing or craving to be in the office of a pastor is a desire for
a good work. The longing and craving for the office of a pastor comes
from God just like the calling to preach the Word comes from God.
You cannot manufacture the calling to preach, or the desire for the
office of a pastor. The calling and the desire are a supernatural
work of the Holy Spirit.
Once
a man recognizes the calling to preach the Word or the desire for
the office of a pastor, he is compelled to respond in obedience. He
will grieve the Spirit, and not have peace of mind until he answers
the call. Think about it. Have you ever had a craving for something?
You wanted that something bad. I’ve got to have it! You did everything
in your power to get that craving satisfied. You became almost frantic
until that craving was satisfied. Well, that is how the Spirit of
God works on those he calls. God chooses an individual to preach and/or
pastor, and until he submits to what the Holy Spirit is urging him
to do, he will not be fulfilled.
Look
at the above text again. The desire is for a "good work."
The man God chooses to pastor is going to work, and he is going to
work hard! How can anyone think the office of an overseer is glamorous.
The pastorate isn’t the kick-back-serve-me-alliance. The office
of a pastor is an office of service, to God and to His people. A servant
is one called to serve, to minister—doulos. A slave friends!
Does this sound glamorous to you? I like the way the Vine’s Complete
Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words defines bondman,
"one who gives himself up to the will of another" (p. 73,
New Testament section). Now that’s service! That’s a "good
work"...when your Master is God!
The
office of a pastor involves many different areas of service. He (or
preferably, they) has the responsibility for the oversight of the
operation of the church’s administration, but most importantly
he (or they) is responsible "For the perfecting of the saints,
for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ"
(Eph. 4:12). Pastors are responsible for souls.
Teaching the Word of God is their primary function in perfecting the
saints.
The
Pastor As A Teacher
A
pastor’s major area of service is the of teaching God’s
Word. Whether it’s in the corporate setting of a local church,
a group setting (formal or informal), or one on one counseling, pastors
are always teaching. That’s what they are, pastor/teachers. It
comes down to who they are rather than what they do. This is why God’s
chosen servants preach with such passion and conviction. It’s
their life. They live to please their Master. God’s chosen servant
wants his life to glorify his Master. This is truly a portrait of
a pastor—one who fears God and strives to do His will for His
glory.
God’s
chosen servant is a good steward of the Word of God. We have already
established that pastor/teachers are commanded to teach the Word.
God has entrusted His perfect Word into the hands of imperfect men.
They had better take good care of it, or God will take care of them.
We have also seen that the pastor/teacher God chooses labors studying
the Word, so that he may accurately teach the Word in season and out
of season. The high calling of ministry demands accuracy in teaching
God’s Word. With such a high calling at stake, souls, a pastor
must not allow his preaching/teaching of God’s Word to fall below
the high standard God has placed upon His Word. A pastor must not
compromise or lower the standard of God’s Word to make it comfortable
to achieve. Holiness is not achieved in comfort. The Bible teaching
pastor is not popular, and is often perceived as a legalist because
of his unwillingness to lower the standard of God’s holy Word.
Popularity isn’t the objective, pleasing God is.
Even
though a pastor spends hours laboring in the Word, he wouldn’t
think of operating apart from the Holy Spirit or relying upon gimmicks.
He knows operating apart from the Holy Spirit is a death sentence
to the ministry God has entrusted him with, and relying upon gimmicks
is only temporary at best. The biblical pastor preaches through the
power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers the pastor/teacher
to skillfully teach God’s Word, making his proclamation of the
Word understandable to the listener(s). No matter how many study tools
a pastor uses, if the message is not empowered by he Holy Spirit,
it will not have its desired effect and no one will be edified. Fact
of the matter is, the Holy Spirit is the teacher. The pastor is the
vessel.
You
have heard the old adage "actions speak louder than words?"
There is a lot of truth to that statement. God’s chosen servants
also teach by example. They are commanded to be biblical in their
proclamation of the truth as well as in their practice of the truth.
The high calling and visibility of the pastorate requires pastors
to live orderly, disciplined lives both publicly and privately. How
can a pastor effectively teach the Word of God if he is not living
it? His life must be above reproach. He must be blameless. The Bible
teaching pastor/teacher may be accused of a number of things,
but he must live a life that will not give credit to those accusations.
The life of a pastor is under scrutiny from the saved and from the
unsaved. People watch pastors to see if they are living in obedience
to the Word they teach others to follow. The office of a bishop goes
beyond the desire for the office. If a man doesn’t qualify according
to the scriptures, he doesn’t qualify (see I
Timothy 3:1-7). Unfortunately, there are men and women in the
office of a pastor who do not qualify. The reasons vary from they
were never called (by God) to immorality. If a pastor is faithfully
serving in the office and for whatever reasons fails to meet the requirements
laid out in scripture, he is disqualified. Pastors influence lives
by their words and by their deeds. They cannot afford to neglect either
area. God will not use an unclean vessel. High accountability without
question.
We
cannot leave this area of teaching without touching bases on those
who are preaching and teaching another gospel, false teachers.
False
Teachers - Slaves to Unrighteousness
Many
men and women have decided to operate in the office of a pastor who
are doing the devil’s bidding. False teachers, Satan’s chosen
servants, masquerade as God’s chosen for the purpose of promoting
their deception. False teachers lead men and women, boys and girls
away from the truth of God’s Word by teaching heresy—lies.
Many souls will be in hell because of the craftiness of false teachers,
and their false teachings. It’s no wonder why God has reserved
a special place in the lake of fire for false teachers—the blackness
of darkness (Jude 13 - KJV). "Woe be unto
the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith
the Lord" (Jeremiah 23:1).
False
teachers and their teachings appeal to the flesh. False teachers are
most likely to have large followings because their teachings do not
challenge people to give up their sinful lifestyles. Therefore, many
are drawn to these individuals to satisfy the desires of their own
flesh. The false teacher manipulates the Word of God in such a way
as to give his teaching the appearance of truth. That’s deception
friends! That’s the false teacher’s agenda. And let me add
this footnote, false teachers are not only in pulpits. They infiltrate
all areas of life.
Whatever
a true man a God is, a false teacher is the direct opposite. God’s
Word clearly tells us what to look for in those he calls as well as
those teaching false doctrine (e.g. Jeremiah 14:14-15,
23:16-32; I Timothy
3:1-7; Titus 1:6-8, 10-11;
Jude) . For the individual seeking the truth, there
is no need to be deceived. The element of personal Bible study is
absolutely essential in order not to be deceived by anyone.
False
teachers and their teachings are not to be taken lightly by any means.
God’s chosen servants will expose them.
Since
we have taken a look at the pastor as a teacher, let’s take a
glance at a few of the characteristics of a pastor/teacher. We will
bring together some of the characteristics we have already seen throughout
this book as well as add to the list.
Some
Characteristics of God’s Chosen Servant
One
of the most prevalent characteristics of the biblical pastor is his
love for the Word of God. His fear of God and love for God stimulates
and deepens his love for the Word of God. God’s chosen servants
value the Word of God, and will handle the Word as a precious treasure.
Oh, if pastors would have a love for the Word of God as King David
did (see Psalm 119). The Word was priceless
to King David. He valued the Word more than any earthly riches or
his earthly needs. He meditated upon the Word day and night. David
knew the Word of God is what he needed to stay focused and objective.
David recognized the power of God’s Word, and took every opportunity
to learn it and live it. The remaining characteristics are really
a result of a pastor’s love for God and His Word.
The
Bible is a passionate book. As he studies the Word, the biblical pastor/teacher
will be passionate as well. Being passionate doesn’t mean being
weak minded, on the contrary. The biblical pastor’s passion is
often expressed through his forceful, uncompromising proclamation
and appli- cation of the Word. They recognize the urgency of the times,
and that souls hang in the balance. The biblical pastor’s passion
for souls compels him to proclaim the Word as if it were his last
time, or the last time for the hearer. Pastors with a compelling message
are often seen as uncaring and unloving, because of their hatred for
sin and their desire for holiness throughout the church body they
have been selected to oversee, as well as the body of Christ as a
whole. God’s chosen servants love people, but are not a respecter
of persons, and will not be partial to anyone when it comes to proclaiming
God’s revealed truth.
God’s
chosen servants confront issues boldly and with confidence, because
they confront issues biblically in the power of the Holy Spirit. People
often misjudge a pastor’s confidence as arrogance. His confidence
is not in himself. The biblical pastor’s confidence is in God.
He draws his boldness and confidence from God, and is convinced every
situation he encounters has a biblical solution.
The
Word of God cuts right into the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The man of God who studies and applies the Word of God will develop
a tremendous amount of wisdom and discernment; not only of the Word
itself, but will possess supernatural insight into the lives of people.
This scares people sometimes. They often wonder how a pastor "knows"
what is going on in their lives. Often pastors don’t know. God
knows all about us, and His Word will find all of us out!
The
role of a pastor requires him to be a decision-maker. Pastors are
constantly making decisions which affect the entire church body. A
number of his personal decisions are made based upon how it will affect
the church. God gives wisdom and discernment to His chosen servants,
which I believe is specifically designed for those in leadership.
Along with that wisdom and discernment is an element of not only insight,
but foresight. The ability to foresee is a valuable asset in making
decisions, especially those decisions which have long-ranged or widespread
consequences. There are times a pastor is left standing alone on issues
when no one understands why he has decided to take a particular course
of action. There are times when pastors make very unpopular decisions.
Unpopular, that is, to those who do not understand the leadership
role and responsibility of a shepherd. Those not walking in a pastor’s
shoes often evaluate situations a lot differently than a pastor does.
Pastors usually have more information and a broader scope regarding
situations by which to base his decisions upon than those who are
not in leadership. This isn’t to say pastors don’t take
advise and suggestions from other spirit-filled believers not in leadership.
Of course, they do. But, even that advise must be filtered through
how God is leading the pastor as a shepherd because he knows he is
ultimately responsible (to man), and accountable (to God) for the
outcome of the decisions he makes.
Although
pastors are gifted with the ability to teach God’s Word, the
wise pastor knows he has not reached a plateau in his ability to learn.
He’s teachable. Pastor/teachers continue to be a part of the
learning process in order to be apt to teach. Pastors know they do
not have all of the answers. Mysteries written in the Bible are continually
being revealed to fallible man. Interpreting scripture takes a lifetime
of study, and relying upon the Holy Spirit to open up our understanding
to God’s inspired, holy Word. When pastors confront issues or
passages of scripture which has not yet been clearly revealed to them
for proper biblical interpretation, they are not afraid to say those
three unthinkable little words, "I DON’T KNOW." However,
the teachable pastor will keep searching the scriptures for the answer(s).
Having our understanding opened to the truths of God’s Word,
on a continual basis, is a mystery in and of itself.
Pastors,
God’s chosen servants, are dedicated and dependable. They are
consistent in what they say and what they do. They are practical in
their teaching; making the Word understandable to the youngest convert
(by earthly years or the new believer). They are good listeners. They
are men of courage, integrity, purpose, and vision.
Lastly,
and this may be a shocking revelation to you, pastors are human beings.
They are susceptible to human frailties—they make mistakes; they
worry at times. They laugh. They cry. They are fathers, and husbands,
and brothers. Some have secular jobs. Some don’t. (Note: All
men called by God are in full-time ministry whether they have a secular
job or not.) They fish. They golf. They go to the supermarket. They
cut the grass. They go to their children’s school functions.
They do life.
There
aren’t any perfect pastors like there aren’t any perfect
people. But, there are men of character and convictions God has chosen
to preach the Word who live holy, spirit-filled lives worthy to be
emulated, and who strive for perfection.
CONCLUSION
Although
we have taken a mere glance at a portrait of a pastor, we have seen
a clear picture of the man, and the awesomeness of the office he serves
in. Knowing this, we should constantly pray for our pastors and willingly
submit to their authority. We are commanded to obey those whom God
has placed over us to watch for our souls (Hebrews.
13:17). Why add grief to men who already have an enormous responsibility?
This, most certainly, would be unprofitable to us.
Sure,
their are charlatans who abuse the office of a pastor for their own
gain. This is sad to say, but very true. The adversary has infiltrated
this area of ministry more than ever before because he knows 1) his
time is short and 2) he can "take down" more people by having
those in leadership positions serve him by deceiving the masses. Many
in the office of a pastor are not called by God, and they do not preach
the Word of God, resulting in terminology such as biblical pastor
or Bible teaching church. What an insult to God. God only calls Bible
teaching preachers. The church of Jesus Christ is a Bible teaching
church. There use to be a time when a preacher or pastor was automatically
viewed as one holy and set apart to do God’s work. There use
to be a time when someone said they were a Christian, they actually
lived a life which backed up their profession. People have been "burned"
by pastors, and pastors have been "burned" by people. It’s
a reality of the times in which we live. Bible teaching preachers
and Bible teaching churches are at a rare premium these days.
The
scarcity of Bible teaching pastors has thrusted them into a very precarious
arena. On the positive, Christians seeking the truth have come to
love, honor, respect, and appreciate pastors who preach the Word.
On the negative, some people place pastors on pedestals. There is
a very thin line between holding a pastor in high esteem and idolizing
him. There’s a big difference between the two. One glorifies
God by showing the proper respect towards the men He has placed in
the office of a pastor. The other glorifies man by placing the improper
emphasis upon the pastor’s abilities and personality. The office
of a pastor should be honored and respected, but when that honor and
respect turns into idolatry of the person, then God is not pleased.
No matter how many times pastors discourage people from putting them
on pedestals, people still do it anyway. The pastor who allows himself
to be placed on a pedestal through flattery, special favors, and the
like, will also allow himself to be manipulated by these people. The
only One authorized to pull a pastors strings is God. Give honor to
whom honor is due. Be sure to follow the biblical commands to love
and encourage your pastors (e.g. I Timothy
5:17-18), but please do not place them in a position where God
does not place them. Placing a pastor on a pedestal doesn’t honor
the pastor, and it certainly doesn’t honor God.
To
those holy men of God who have been chosen to shepherd the saints,
I encourage you to proclaim all of God’s Word as if your life
depended upon it, and because:
