The Dilution of "Pastor"

2010 August 09

by Tyler

It is amazing to me how people refer to many pastors as their own pastor. Certainly this is a benefit of the 21st century. We have an amazing amount of access to some exceptional Christian speakers and leaders.

However, podcasts, webcasts, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, conferences, and books all have changed how too many of us think of what a pastor is and does.

I loved this quote from one of my favorite blogs, Missions Misunderstood:

“A pastor knows you well enough to preach the gospel into your community of faith. He holds you accountable for your missteps and encourages you through the rough patches. A pastor is more than just a presenter of gospel teaching, he’s a shepherd who supervises your spiritual formation. The conference stage, book, (and, in many cases, the megachurch pulpit) serve as two-way mirrors; allowing us to be taught without being seen, to be preached to without being cared for…Believers need more than just sound instruction. Every Christian everywhere needs a pastor who knows them and speaks into their lives personally.”

Many of the big name pastors are just merely teachers who keep minimal hours at their own local church. Instead they travel the country speaking at conferences and retreats and use their time at home to write talks and books.

We are blessed to live during a time when so much incredible and Godly teaching is at our fingertips every moment, but the danger is that we often consume these teachings for the sake of a feeling or an emotion. I’ve been guilty of this, I know that.

I believe sustainable life change happens through accountability and relationships with others. What we need today is not more internet Bible preachers, we need more men and women who are willing to truly be pastors.

Being a pastor is a high calling, far beyond that of giving a weekly sermon.

Filed under: church

http://www.aworshipfulheart.typepad.com Jan Owen

I love that quote. I think the availability of great teaching to all of us can be a positive thing but it can also make it harder for the local church. I mean, who can compare to the “big names”?, the “rock stars”?. So when the humble servant of God in the small local church (remember that a vast majority of churches in America are under 200 people – over 95% I believe) preaches, and speaks into the life of his or her congregation it is harder to be heard.

I felt this a little bit as a worship pastor. “You don’t sing this song like Kari Jobe or Darlene Zsech!”. No I didn’t. I’m not them. And they don’t know or love you. I’ll bet some pastors feel the same way.

For those who attend, it’s important to remember that the role of pastor/shepherd is so much more than the sermon. Or music. Or student event. A true pastor walks with you to encourage you to grow in Christ. That is a gift!
http://www.contentunderpressure.net Josh

I agree, man.

Sometimes I wonder if we ever defend the name of Jesus in the same way we do some of the big-name pastors whom we have no relationship with. I think I’ve been guilty of this on at least one occasion. I’d say it’s proof that we often put our emphasis of worship on the things we can see, and less on the unseen.
Ben

I guess I would almost expand your title to “The Dilution of the “Five Fold.”" Pastors are meant to shepherd a congregation but teachers are meant to teach. There can be overlap there but some pastors simply are great at shepherding and holding people to account while being horrible teachers. Whereas, teachers are great at teaching the Word of God while not really having the compassion to shepherd people through their lives. We also have the other three, apostle, prophet, evangelist that need to fill their roles in the church also.

I think one of the problems is we dissolved all these other roles and combined them into a pastor which isn’t Biblical nor accurate. So you have a pastor who may really be called a teacher trying to deal with things that they simply aren’t gifted to do. How sad is this?

Just some thoughts there.
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Laura

Nice..totally agree. It’s amazing how we can feel “connected” to people in this culture of social networking and can feel how someone is pastoring us when they are merely teaching. Great post!
http://www.outsideisbetter.net Chad

I was having a conversation about this yesterday with my pastor. We are a congregation that has worshipped among a population of urban poverty for around 20 years. He mentioned all of the crazy calls he has gotten for funerals and hospital visits by people he barely remembers meeting. Somehow a connection was made by handing out fresh vegetables, holding a door open at the corner store, or welcoming their children to his house to play with his kids.

It is these tiny day to day instances of life that pastors really earn the title. Glad someone is talking about this.