THE CHRISTIAN PASTOR

By Gary Ray Branscome

Christ’s words, “You are not to be called Master: for one is your Master, even Christ; and you are all brethren. And do not call anyone on earth father: for you have one Father, who is in heaven,” tell us that all believers are equal before God (Matthew 23:8-9).

“Self-exaltation is a moral offence in the Christian Church. It has produced the great pope, a large number of little popes, and men and women ‘bosses’ in congregations. But all self-exalted men ‘shall be humbled.’ There is no question about it.” (R.C.H. Lenski’s commentary on Matthew, Page 902.)

For that reason, those whom the congregation calls to positions of responsibility are not to act like “lords over those in” their care, but are to be “examples to the flock” (1Peter 5:3). And, “he who is greatest” should think of himself “as one who serves” (Luke 22:26). That being said, the role of a pastor, elder or deacon is distinct from the priesthood of all believers, in that men called to those positions carry out certain aspects of the great commission on behalf of the congregation.

The words, “I left you in Crete… to set right what was left undone, and to ordain elders in every city,” tell us that Titus, working as an assistant to Paul, ordained elders in each of the congregations that they had started. And, the words, “A bishop must be blameless,” refer to those elders as bishops [overseers] (Titus 1:5,7). That fact tells us that the terms “elder” and “overseer” are synonyms, and that their job was to oversee the affairs of the congregation.

The words, “After they had ordained elders… in every congregation, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust,” tell us that only those who trust in Christ are to be elders (Acts 14:23). The words, “If a man does not know how to lead his own house, how can he take care of God’s church?” tell us that the role of elders is to care for God’s people [the people are the church] (1Timothy 3:5). And, the words, “Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, that He has purchased with His own blood,” tell us three things (Acts 20:28). 1- The Holy Ghost made those men overseers, 2- their job included spiritually feeding the flock, and 3- the flock consisted of those whom God purchased with His own blood.

Finally, the words, “Not as lords over those in your care, but as examples to the flock,” remind us again that those who have positions of responsibility are not to abuse their position by a carnal display of self-exaltation (1Peter 5:3).