Pastor

“The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly” (1 Peter 5:1-2).

Have you ever wondered why we use the title “pastor” to refer to the one that God has called to lead the church? The New Testament uses four different titles for the same position: elder, bishop, overseer and pastor. However, elder, bishop and overseer are used more than 15 times and the title “pastors” is used only once (Ephesians 4:11). In that verse it says, “And He Himself [Christ] gave some to be…pastors and teachers.” Everywhere else in the New Testament, when the spiritual leaders of the church are mentioned, they are called elders, bishops or overseers.

So, why has “pastor” become the most commonly used title in the church today? Well, I think we use this title with good reason because it so beautifully captures the fullness of the calling of one who has been appointed by God to be an elder/overseer of His flock. First Peter 5:1-2 (quoted above) is Peter’s reminder to the elders of the church what their calling truly is. It is not merely to be a business administrator, though administration is certain a part of pastoral ministry. After all, the church is not a business or merely an organization; it is a living organism; it is the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). Nor is he called only to preach, though preaching the Word of God is of central importance (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

The Apostle Peter calls on the elders to “shepherd the flock of God.” What does he mean by “shepherd”? Well, the Greek word translated “shepherd” in this passage is derived from the word that is translated “pastors” in Ephesians 4:11. This is a personal ministry. A shepherd loves the sheep. The sheep are more than just a commodity to the shepherd. He knows each one and he strives to care for each one according to their particular needs. In the church, this means more than just preaching to the whole congregation on Sunday mornings. It means being available to the individual members and striving to encourage and edify through the ministry of personal relationship. Although this ministry takes place in many settings (homes, hospitals, etc.), the one place that represents the overall ministry of a Pastor is his office which is often referred to as the “Pastor’s Study.” I have a sign on the window of my office that was given to me by one of our members a while back and I think that it states very well the reason that we prefer to use the title “pastor”.

“The Pastor’s Study is a symbol of the calling of the Christian Minister to be the shepherd of a flock of God. Here, sermons are prepared to feed the congregation on God’s Holy Word. Here, the work of the Church is planned so that the congregation may grow in grace and bear fruit in fellowship, teaching and witnessing. Here, you will always find a friend and counselor in time of need. He will not be surprised at your sins, nor will he judge you in them, but, he always invites you to share with him, the wisdom and love of God, the knowledge of forgiveness of sins, and the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. You Are Always Welcome.”