http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2009/07/whats-a-pastor-to-do-a-look-at.html
What's a Pastor to Do? The Office of Pastor
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Revmitchell, Jul 27, 2009.
-
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
-
John 21:17... Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
HankD -
The fundamental thing a pastor must do is to make disciples providing an example to the flock. There is a problem when the "pastor" is nothing more than a preacher and counselor.
-
What I find strange is that this message was preached the week before the church was going to hear their candidate. It seems that it would have been a more appropriate message fairly early in the process when the search committee was just beginning to look at resumes.
Tim Reynolds -
You missed the question.
It should be "What is an ELDER to do?"
Then the answer would be "In a small sense, he should pastor/shepherd"
Pastor is a part of the job description of an Elder. The word pastor is used only once in the entire NT and it is a gift of leadership given by Jesus to His Bride.
So as an Elder, I pastor. I teach. I expound the Word. I pray. I minister the Word. I visit the widows and orphans. I defend the faith with an answer to any critic. I earnestly contend for the faith. I lead a small body of the Church that is in Casper.
Elders do a LOT of things! -
Too many people speak of "elders and pastors" as if they are two different things. They are not. To ask "What's a pastor to do" is to ask "What's an elder to do." They do the same things because they are the same person. -
Since 1953, the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada, have recognized two offices in the local church; pastors and deacons. We believe that the titles in the NT are all the same. As an elder, I retired.
I fear there is a lot of rhubarb around the foolish fighting over titles. Just get the job done!
Cheers,
Jim -
-
"I remember that when Andrew Fuller had a very severe lecture from some Scotch Baptist brethren about the discipline of the church [the Scotch Baptists had "elders" rather than a pastor and let everyone know it---sound familiar?], he made the reply," You say that your discipline is so much better than ours. Very well, but discipline is meant to make good soldiers. Now, my soldiers fight better than yours, and I think therefore that you ought not to say much about my discipline." So the real thing is not to be for ever calculating about modes of church government, and methods of management and plans to be adopted and rules to be laid down, which it shall be accounted a serious breach to violate. All well in their place, for order is good in its way. But come, now, let us go to work. Let us have something done." ---Charles Spurgeon
-
A prominent signer of the 1689 London Baptist Confession explains that what they meant by "bishops or elders" was pastors:
Benjamin Keach, Glory of a True Church, 1697
“Query, Are there no ruling Elders besides the Pastor?
Answ. There might be such in the Primitive Apostolical Church, but we see no ground to believe it an abiding Office to continue in the Church, but was only temporary.
1. Because we have none of the Qualifications of such Elders mention’d, or how to be chosen.
2. Because we read not particularly what their Work and Business is, or how distinct from preaching Elders; tho we see not but the Church may (if she sees meet) choose some able and discreet Brethren to be Helps in Government. We have the Qualifications of Bishops and Deacons directly laid down, and how to be chosen, and their Work declared, but of no other Office or Officers in the Church, but these only.”
Benjamin Keach, Gospel Mysteries Unveil'd, 1701:
“others think there were men ordained Elders, that were not gifted to preach, but to be helpful in Discipline, or in the Governement of the Church : but we reading neither of their Qualifications, or how to be chosen (nor of their peculiar Work, distinct from Pastors, nor any such elders chosen in any particular. church in the Apostles days) can see no ground for any such an Office, or Officers in the Church” -
The pastor who isn't fulfilling the expectations of the elder/pastor and hires an assisstant pastor to "help" him while he goes off preaching other meetings and heading up fellowships and in the office of president on a missions board is NOT doing what a pastor/elder is supposed to be doing!
All he is doing is leading a corportation as a ceo and raping the flockinstead of doing what they need him to do; PASTOR! -