Church Governments

Lesson 6

The Office Of Pastor

Part 1: Introduction And The Natural Allegory

As we have thus far endeavored to prove, the executive form of church polity and governance is the most biblical in application. By executive polity, we are referring to ruling and decision- making power being given to a sole individual or executive. This is in contrast to committees, boards, or congregations possessing the ruling and decision-making power. (As a brief reminder, the Bible does not contain one single example of a board, committee, or congregation wielding the authority to make the major decisions or steer a ministry or body.) This is not to say the executive should not be without checks and balances. In this lesson, we will only deal with the executive of the local church—the pastor. We do acknowledge that there are many synonyms that different streams of Christianity have adopted for pastor, such as rector, parson, bishop, and reverend.

These lessons will show, from the Bible, what a pastor is authorized to do and not do. These lessons will also teach us the proper way to view, relate to, and honor the local church executive—the pastor.

Though the Bible teaches the deep importance and value of a pastor, our current church culture seeks to disarm and equalize the local pastor, emasculating him spiritually and authoritatively. The next three lessons are designed to help the Christian understand, honor, and receive the most from their pastor.

THE LOCAL CHURCH EXECUTIVE

Executive—a person having administrative or supervisory authority in an organization

The executive over a New Testament local church is the pastor. Even though he might be called bishop, rector, the preacher, “Brother,” or reverend, the office anointed by God to shepherd the local flock is biblically called pastor. A closer look at the office of pastor will reveal just how fitting that title really is. Consider the following:

Jeremiah calls the pastor the “principal of the flock” (Jeremiah 25:34).
Old Testament pastors include Moses, Joshua, the Judges, David, Jeremiah, and many others. (See Lesson 7 for more details.)
New Testament pastors include Jesus Christ, James, Timothy, and Titus.
A pastor is one of the five ministry gifts given unto men to perfect the saints, according to Ephesians 4:11-12.
Our English word “pastor” comes from the Latin verb pascere, meaning to shepherd.
The terms pastor and shepherd are interchangeable.
Why is the office called a shepherd? Because God’s people are called sheep and the Bible calls the local congregation a flock.

The local church executive is a shepherd, or one who cares for the sheep. Sheep follow a shepherd. A shepherd does not submit to sheep, though their needs certainly dictate what he does, how he does it, and when he does it. Sheep without a shepherd go astray, and a shepherd without sheep is a lonely and purposeless man standing in a pasture.

THE BIBLICAL ALLEGORY

A shepherd in the biblical context was a singular man assigned to care for a flock of sheep. Typically, the flock was not his own but belonged to his father or another man much greater than himself. A shepherd would be responsible for the following duties:

Living with the fold. His life revolved around them (Exodus 3:1; Psalms 78:70-71).
Feeding the flock (Psalm 231-2, 5; Jeremiah 3:15; Ezekiel 34:23; 1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28).
Leading the flock in its comings and goings (Exodus 3:1; Psalm 23:2-3).
Keeping watch for enemies, wolves, hazards, etc. Providing general safety (Luke 2:8; 1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:29-31).
Providing a resting place for the flock (Psalm 23:2; Jeremiah 33:12; Ezekiel 34:15).
Providing adequate water (Psalm 23:2; Exodus 2:16).
Healing the injured and sick sheep (Ezekiel 34:4; cf. Zechariah 11:15-17).
Pursuing the sheep that have wandered out of the way (by accident, not intentionally) (Ezekiel 34:4).
Caring for all other needs, e.g., grooming, sheering, insecticide, etc. (Psalm 23:5b).

DEFINITIONS

The Hebrew word for pastor (râ’âh) means:

To tend—pastors tend to the flock. They live with them, and they live for them.
To feed—pastors make sure the flock is properly fed and nourished.
To teach—pastors feed by teaching doctrine, not just always preaching.
To care for—pastors take care of the sheep and their needs.
To guard—pastors guard the sheep from thieves, wolves, and dangers.
To rule—pastors are to rule over the sheep. The pastor calls the shots.
To govern—by defining “govern,” we can understand that pastors are to preside over, reign over, control, be in charge of, command, lead, dominate, run, head, administer, manage, regulate, oversee, supervise, and be in the driver’s seat.

The Greek word for pastor (poimḗn) as used in the Bible means:

Shepherd—pastors care for the sheep.
Presiding officer—pastors are the chief officer over a local church.
Manager—pastors manage or oversees the local flock.
Director of any assembly—pastors direct the goings-on of the local assembly.
Of Christ, the Head of the Church—Jesus Christ Himself is the Good Shepherd.

DOCTRINAL IGNORANCE

Below is a list of observations that are unbiblical and demonstrate a lack of understanding and reverence for the office of pastor. Each of these mindsets fail to recognize the tremendous importance and the spiritual significance of a pastor as a God-ordained leader and ruler over the local flock.

Many churches call their pastor by their first name, e.g., “Bob,” “Chuck,” “Michael.” This is dishonorable.
- - Even heathen call their coach, “Coach”; their doctor, “Doctor,” their professor, “Professor” or “Doctor”; the policeman, “Officer.”
  - Yet in the church we call God’s authorized man, “Jim.” This is regrettable.
  - There should be some term of honor, recognizing that the shepherd stands several feet taller than sheep and lays down his life for the flock’s betterment.
Many churches hire/fire their pastor by voting.
Many churches expect their Rev. Bro. Preacher to do all the work that they, the sheep, dictate. This violates Ephesians 4:11-12.
Many churches/flocks see their pastor as their equal—or worse—one who is subordinate to the congregation’s whims.
Many churches/flocks/committees see their pastor as an employee. Though he is employed by the church, his paycheck comes from God’s tithes, not the congregation’s generosity.
Many pastors have become merely administrative preachers, running the church as a business and preaching canned sermons. This is not the same as shepherding a flock.
Many pastors are controlled by boards and committees, who vote on the direction of the church.
As one denominational pastor begrudgingly told me, “My denomination wants to be pastor fed but people led.” You cannot have it both ways.

The next lesson will look at examples of Old Testament pastors. Studying these examples will help us understand God’s heart and plan for the “principal of the flock.”

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Church Governments

Lesson 6

The Office Of Pastor

Part 1: Introduction And The Natural Allegory

These lessons will show, from the Bible, what a pastor is authorized to do and not do. These lessons will also teach us the proper way to view, relate to, and honor the local church executive—the pastor.

THE LOCAL CHURCH EXECUTIVE

Executive—a person having administrative or supervisory authority in an organization

Jeremiah calls the pastor the “principal of the flock” (Jeremiah 25:34).

Old Testament pastors include Moses, Joshua, the Judges, David, Jeremiah, and many others. (See Lesson 7 for more details.)

New Testament pastors include Jesus Christ, James, Timothy, and Titus.

A pastor is one of the five ministry gifts given unto men to perfect the saints, according to Ephesians 4:11-12.

Our English word “pastor” comes from the Latin verb pascere, meaning to shepherd.

The terms pastor and shepherd are interchangeable.

Why is the office called a shepherd? Because God’s people are called sheep and the Bible calls the local congregation a flock.

THE BIBLICAL ALLEGORY

A shepherd in the biblical context was a singular man assigned to care for a flock of sheep. Typically, the flock was not his own but belonged to his father or another man much greater than himself. A shepherd would be responsible for the following duties:

Living with the fold. His life revolved around them (Exodus 3:1; Psalms 78:70-71).

Feeding the flock (Psalm 231-2, 5; Jeremiah 3:15; Ezekiel 34:23; 1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28).

Leading the flock in its comings and goings (Exodus 3:1; Psalm 23:2-3).

Keeping watch for enemies, wolves, hazards, etc. Providing general safety (Luke 2:8; 1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:29-31).

Providing a resting place for the flock (Psalm 23:2; Jeremiah 33:12; Ezekiel 34:15).

Providing adequate water (Psalm 23:2; Exodus 2:16).

Healing the injured and sick sheep (Ezekiel 34:4; cf. Zechariah 11:15-17).

Pursuing the sheep that have wandered out of the way (by accident, not intentionally) (Ezekiel 34:4).

Caring for all other needs, e.g., grooming, sheering, insecticide, etc. (Psalm 23:5b).

DEFINITIONS

The Hebrew word for pastor (râ’âh) means:

To tend—pastors tend to the flock. They live with them, and they live for them.

To feed—pastors make sure the flock is properly fed and nourished.

To teach—pastors feed by teaching doctrine, not just always preaching.

To care for—pastors take care of the sheep and their needs.

To guard—pastors guard the sheep from thieves, wolves, and dangers.

To rule—pastors are to rule over the sheep. The pastor calls the shots.

To govern—by defining “govern,” we can understand that pastors are to preside over, reign over, control, be in charge of, command, lead, dominate, run, head, administer, manage, regulate, oversee, supervise, and be in the driver’s seat.

The Greek word for pastor (poimḗn) as used in the Bible means:

Shepherd—pastors care for the sheep.

Presiding officer—pastors are the chief officer over a local church.

Manager—pastors manage or oversees the local flock.

Director of any assembly—pastors direct the goings-on of the local assembly.

Of Christ, the Head of the Church—Jesus Christ Himself is the Good Shepherd.

DOCTRINAL IGNORANCE

Below is a list of observations that are unbiblical and demonstrate a lack of understanding and reverence for the office of pastor. Each of these mindsets fail to recognize the tremendous importance and the spiritual significance of a pastor as a God-ordained leader and ruler over the local flock.

Many churches call their pastor by their first name, e.g., “Bob,” “Chuck,” “Michael.” This is dishonorable.

Even heathen call their coach, “Coach”; their doctor, “Doctor,” their professor, “Professor” or “Doctor”; the policeman, “Officer.”

Yet in the church we call God’s authorized man, “Jim.” This is regrettable.

There should be some term of honor, recognizing that the shepherd stands several feet taller than sheep and lays down his life for the flock’s betterment.

Many churches hire/fire their pastor by voting.

Many churches expect their Rev. Bro. Preacher to do all the work that they, the sheep, dictate. This violates Ephesians 4:11-12.

Many churches/flocks see their pastor as their equal—or worse—one who is subordinate to the congregation’s whims.

Many churches/flocks/committees see their pastor as an employee. Though he is employed by the church, his paycheck comes from God’s tithes, not the congregation’s generosity.

Many pastors have become merely administrative preachers, running the church as a business and preaching canned sermons. This is not the same as shepherding a flock.

Many pastors are controlled by boards and committees, who vote on the direction of the church.

As one denominational pastor begrudgingly told me, “My denomination wants to be pastor fed but people led.” You cannot have it both ways.

The next lesson will look at examples of Old Testament pastors. Studying these examples will help us understand God’s heart and plan for the “principal of the flock.”

Listen Along: