The Bible doesn’t contain the word “pastor.” Therefore, we must examine what the Bible says about spiritual leadership in the church from a wider perspective. Paul tells Titus, “The reason I left you in Crete was so that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town,” which makes it very evident that a church without established leadership is an incomplete church (Titus 1:5).
Shepherd and teacher
The Bible has a lot to say about what an elder should be able to do and shouldn’t do. Additionally, it is evident that certain elders have a unique calling to teach and preach (1 Timothy 5:17). It is appropriate that the church provide them with assistance (1 Timothy 5:18).
These particular elders are what we now refer to as “pastors.” Ephesians 4:11 characterizes this calling as “shepherd and teacher.” These two terms sum up a pastor’s two primary responsibilities: providing the church’s members with individual spiritual care (shepherd) and educating the public about the Bible and how it applies to their lives (teacher).
Building up the body of Christ
The goal of having a shepherd-teacher is then stated in the Bible immediately after: “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). A pastor’s job is to strengthen the spiritual foundation of the body of Christ, which is the church. Simultaneously, he must make sure that he is not taking on the entirety of the task alone, but rather that he equips and empowers every member to use their spiritual gifts for ministry, both within the church and to those who have not yet accepted Christ.
Most important things for a pastor
Paul explained his reasons for having to carry out these actions in a letter to Timothy, his fellow worker and spiritual son, in 1 Timothy. It outlines the top priorities for a pastor:
- A pastor is responsible for upholding the correct theology: according to 1 Timothy 1:3, “remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine.”
- According to the statement, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith,” a pastor should demonstrate love and foster love in the lives of the churchgoers. (1 Timothy 1:5)
- “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,” (1 Timothy 2:1) states that a pastor has to pray a lot.
- A pastor should organize the church (1 Timothy 3).
- A pastor should train himself in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7).
- A pastor ought to read passages from the Bible aloud to the congregation, discuss how the passages relate to their own lives, and explain what the passages mean. As one of Timothy 4:13 says, “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.”
- In addition to assisting churchgoers with their spiritual needs, a pastor should also provide them with practical life support (1 Timothy 5).
- “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in front of all, so that the rest may stand in fear,” says 1 Timothy 5:20, describing the role of a pastor in upholding church discipline.
Full-time or not?
Although Paul makes it very evident in 1 Timothy 5:17–18 that the church should assist those who lead it spiritually, this does not imply that all pastors should work for the church full-time. Teaching elders, shepherd-teachers, pastors, or whatever title you want to give them, frequently work a second job to supplement their income while simultaneously receiving partial funding from the church as a token of appreciation for the spiritual gifts they bestow.
It is crucial for the church to demonstrate the idea that “the laborer deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18). The pastor has a responsibility to demonstrate to the congregation that he values spiritual rather than worldly blessings and that, as Paul stated to Timothy, “But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” (1 Timothy 6:8).
