A true church pastor is a gift from the Lord. His services to the church are intended to edify and build up the believers. All ministers of the gospel may not adequately perform this service. For according to Ephesians 4:11, 12 some" only are invested with the fitness to carry on the unique duties that are the pastor's.
Good pastors are sent from God's heart to His church. They enjoy a unique closeness with the Lord. "And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jen 3:15). Pastors who live close to God bring from Him to the church such spiritual nourishment as is best suited to the growth and development of the believer. Only when they daily come fresh from the heart of God will they feed the church with "knowledge and understanding" imparted by the Holy Spirit and warm with the love of heaven. Then the body of believers will be "lacking" in nothing. (See Jer. 23:4.)
Like the work of the simple shepherds of the East, the work of the pastor in earlier times was relatively simple. He fed, guided, and protected the flock. He fed them with "knowledge" as preacher and teacher; he fed them with "understanding" as counselor and guide; he fed them according to the heart of God as defender of the true faith.
Time and organizational changes within the church, however, have greatly intensified and complicated the duties of the modern pastor. According to recent surveys appearing in the religious and secular press, the pastor is expected to show some expertness in an ever-widening area of both clerical and secular functions. More and more this unique man is thought of as an administrator, organizer, preacher, priest, teacher, counselor, and public relations man, par excellence.
As administrator he is expected to know how to supervise the church plant and its maintenance. He must give direction to the church's business and finances, through boards and committees.
As an organizer he must be ,able to develop and supervise the operation of the numerous departments and auxiliaries of the church. He must supply the spark for the Sabbath school, the home missionary and welfare organizations, the youth and junior Missionary Volunteer Societies, the Dorcas, the temperance, and religious liberty groups. Moreover, he must be a specialist in the important art of fund raising. Not only must he know where the monies are, he must lead the way in getting them. He must take the "pain" out of In-gathering, building campaigns, church expense, and various other financial drives.
As pastor he gives direction to the spiritual, social, and often even the domestic welfare of his flock. He visits and counsels with the sick and shut-ins, with the unruly and delinquents, with all those in sundry troubles, and with the newcomers to his community. He is expected to have the answers to all spiritual problems, social questions, marital difficulties, and general domestic affairs.
If the number of his parishioners exceeds more than five hundred, his problems in these areas alone are beyond the capacity of one man. As his congregation increases he becomes decreasingly effective in the personal shepherding of his flock.
As a preacher this many-sided man plans, builds, and delivers his messages to guide the believer in his relationships with his God and his fellow men, in his church doctrines and practices, in organizational procedures, and in the best behavior patterns of community life.
As a priest he administers the sacraments and ordinances of the church, conducts funerals, dedicates children, performs baptisms, counsels couples on marriage, and solemnizes their weddings.
As a teacher he directs the supervision of the educational features of his church. Often he is chairman of the parochial school board. He is teacher of classes of religious instruction. He must initiate classes in Bible training, in baptismal instruction, sponsor youth and junior activities, MV Classes, and Dorcas and welfare instruction, and then provide the push for all other church-related instructional enterprises.
Finally, as public relations director he becomes liaison officer between his church and the community in civic affairs. He is not expected to behave as a politician, yet he may not stand aloof from civic or community betterment. He is expected to lend a legitimate hand to civic, social, health, welfare, and research agencies. One tactless move, an indifferent or antagonistic attitude in any of these directions, and his effective leadership in the community is seriously imparied.
Pray for Your Pastor
Much indeed is expected of this unique and many-sided man, your pastor. He needs your prayers. His congregation expects him to be a good preacher, administrator, organizer, friend, and adviser. The community expects him to be an exemplary citizen, and to spark community betterment. His conference expects him to be an expert goal getter, in both soul winning and finance. He himself wants to be a topflight preacher, teacher, and counselor. His Lord expects him to feed and shepherd the flock, and seek for the lost, to visit the sick and fatherless, and to liberate prisoners of sin.
In short, this overworked man must have the faith of an Abraham, leaving kindred and country—and often his family—as he moves from conference to conference. He must exhibit the sacrificial spirit of Isaac, even when he is the only "ram" in the "thicket." He must bear his load gracefully with the patience of Job. He must preside over his church with the astuteness of David. He must have the vision of Daniel on his boards and committees. He needs the wisdom of Solomon in solving his numerous church problems. He needs the love and understanding of the apostle John when counseling his flock. He must preach like Jeremiah. He must gather and manage church monies like the seven deacons of the early church. He must contend for "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" like Paul, even if he is beaten forty times save one. He must win converts like Peter and the other apostles at Pentecost.
If he survives, he will have a prosperous church, a crown of life with many stars, and a place with the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles high on the throne of his Lord.
Don't pity your pastor—pray for him!
