The roles of pastors

[Uber Genius]

Seems straight-forward, build disciples that operate the way Jesus thought and acted and his disciples also thought and acted as found in Acts and elsewhere in scripture.

Must be able to teach sound doctrine.

Must be able to administer others with various spiritual and natural gifts. 

If people have been sitting in your church for years and can't tell you the basics about God's nature or, Jesus' nature, or salvation or assurance of salvation, have knowledge of how to study the Bible in line with the rules for interpreting any ancient literature, can't give an account of the hope that is in them, then you should step down immediately as pastor. 

If I'm a tennis coach and my team can't serve overhand, I should resign.

if I am a basketball coach and my team can't dribble and take the ball the distance of the court, I should resign. 

I am constantly running into Christians who don't know what Christianity teaches much less why. In fact the Christian Pastors that can tell me four views on providence or name the four views on say assurance are less than one in 50. Even in the weightier matters of Jesus' nature I hear things like he is "half God and half man" or "JEsus emptied himselve of his divine nature to become man." I'm serious. Heresy taught from the pulpit of mega churches. 

I vote that we reverse the 150-yr trend of dumbing down Christian practice and make it a requirement that every leader have at least a master's in Biblical studies degree from an accredited college. 

All those pastors currently practicing without that background could demonstrate effort to achieve that degree within 3 years. 

The centuries of feeling called and being a natural public speaker as tests to determine pastorship should end. Let's raise the bar to that of a k-6 teacher.

[Dennis1209]

Personal view:

A pastor is a Shepard of the flock and leads by example. The qualifications of a pastor are outlined in 1 Timothy 3:, and it's a calling from God. A good pastor is physically and emotionally vested in his church and congregation. A pastor appointed by the Lord cares deeply about the individuals in the church and all people. Imagine the feelings and pressure he must get performing burial services time and again, for people and families he has grown close to? Imagine getting those phone calls at 1:00 A.M. that someone had a major heart attack or head on collision and wasn't expected to live. Immediately getting dressed and rushing to the hospital and family and trying to console them? Or the shocking things he discover's maybe during a marriage counseling session? Their task and responsibility is awe inspiring. Again, I'm speaking about dedicated pastor's called for the vocation and service to God. 

Pastor's are 100% human and are exposed to much more heartache and responsibilities than most of us. It takes a special man appointed by and supported by the Lord to do the job assigned to him by the Almighty. He too requires adequate time with family alone and vacations and time away, leaving his cell phone at home. 

If a pastor is talking the talk and walking the walk, preaching the everlasting Gospel, trying to plant the seed to save souls; has the correct biblical doctrine and a passion to preach, communicate and save souls... Is that too much influence? 

Of course there are bad and very bad pastor's and preachers, preaching the doctrine of devils, prosperity gospel and tickling ears to fill pews. We're seeing more and more ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing these days; living an extravagant lifestyle. But that's another subject.

Edited March 2, 2020 by Dennis1209

[P Jay]

I enjoyed reading your post, and agree wholeheartedly.  With everything you said.  

 

[creativemechanic]

6 hours ago, Neighbor said:

May I add; - Whatever -.

you can. but .... why bother?

[BeauJangles]

8 hours ago, DustyRoad said:

I recall Jim Bakker serving time in federal prison for his misdeeds... now he's peddling "tribulation food." I suppose that's a step up from what he was doing previously?   

Yeah, apparently he is. You see, at one time he and his wife Tammy Faye co-joined with Pat Robertson and his ministry. That lasted a couple of years or so in the early 1970's, then they went separate ways for a reason I can't recall now. The Bakkers were old roots Pentecostal, Robertson was a neo-Pentecostal, bringing about the Charismatic Age. The Bakkers got their own television program, and Robertson still has the 700 Club. 

Jim and Tammy Faye were divorced while Jim was serving time and she remarried the co-producer of Bakker's former show. Tammy tragically died of stage IV cancer, and Jim took to making a socio-Christian program on the air again. No worship, and no musical guests anymore, just a talk show where he peddles his wares. I've watched a few moments of it and it's tremendously boring. How he funds himself to stay on the air is astounding. 

Edited March 3, 2020 by BeauJangles

[appy]

A lot of people in general speaking put too much expectation on the shoulder's of the head pastor's of individual church's forgetting that the pastor's too are human. They are looked upon and thought of as having immunity to temptations, but in reality they too are vulnerable to temptations just like the rest of us because they are human. People in general speaking are quick to criticize and run over a pastor if he slips.  

As a result, members of church's in general speaking follow a human instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to do the leading and Jesus to do the healing of their own lives. There is the expectation for pastor's to do it all for everyone else. He's expected to solve their problems and shoulder their burdens. He is human, he can't do all that. Only Jesus can carry our burdens perfectly for us.

They too have personal lives and families to tend too. With everyone expecting a pastor to carry them, it is no wonder that pastor's become weary and worn out. Some of the load needs to be carried by other well thought of, and well spoken of members in a given church. Not necessarily elders, but others who are mature in the Lord. It is too much for one person by themselves. And the very reason Moses listened to the advice along these lines from his father in law.

When the pastor needs help, who is ready to stand with him to pray with him and for him? Helping him out with his burdens? Who is available to help him out with his physical needs or his family's physical needs. They need just as much prayers from us, as we need from them. Pray for their spiritual protection from the world, the flesh, and satan. From the physical attacks. Pray that they might have a spirit of wisdom and understanding. Pray and treat them, as you would another fellow believer in Christ.

[creativemechanic]

4 hours ago, appy said:

A lot of people in general speaking put too much expectation on the shoulder's of the head pastor's of individual church's forgetting that the pastor's too are human. They are looked upon and thought of as having immunity to temptations, but in reality they too are vulnerable to temptations just like the rest of us because they are human. People in general speaking are quick to criticize and run over a pastor if he slips.  

As a result, members of church's in general speaking follow a human instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to do the leading and Jesus to do the healing of their own lives. There is the expectation for pastor's to do it all for everyone else. He's expected to solve their problems and shoulder their burdens. He is human, he can't do all that. Only Jesus can carry our burdens perfectly for us.

They too have personal lives and families to tend too. With everyone expecting a pastor to carry them, it is no wonder that pastor's become weary and worn out. Some of the load needs to be carried by other well thought of, and well spoken of members in a given church. Not necessarily elders, but others who are mature in the Lord. It is too much for one person by themselves. And the very reason Moses listened to the advice along these lines from his father in law.

When the pastor needs help, who is ready to stand with him to pray with him and for him? Helping him out with his burdens? Who is available to help him out with his physical needs or his family's physical needs. They need just as much prayers from us, as we need from him. Pray for their spiritual protection from the world, the flesh, and satan. From the physical attacks. Pray that they might have a spirit of wisdom and understanding. Pray and treat them, as you would another fellow believer in Christ.

my point exactly