The Work of the Pastor
With the invasion of American corporate culture into the church, there arises confusion about the church elder, who is often mislabeled “pastor,” or worse, “lead pastor.” There are two offices in the local church: elder and deacon (1 Tim 3; Titus 1). The men of God, appointed by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28) for these offices, are similar in their qualifications. They differ in their giftings and in the functional roles, as slaves of Christ (Eph 6:6), for the benefit of Christ’s body in a particular location (the local church).
The local church elder, set apart from the deacon, is apt to teach (1 Tim 3:2; 2 Tim 2:24). Still, Stephen was a deacon (Acts 6), and he preached at Jerusalem to the Sanhedrin (Acts 7). Thus, we see that men have many gifts given to them, in the measure apportioned by God (Eph 4:7). It is good for all Christians to employ their spiritual gifts, as they are led by the Spirit of Christ, for the building up of the body (Eph 4:12).
Elders are “called” men of God, who preach and teach the Bible. The Holy Spirit has created a desire in the man of God, who is impelled to study the Word of God (the Bible), as was put on the heart of Ezra, the priest and prophet (Ezra 7:10).
Preaching and teaching is the stewardship given to the elder (2 Tim 4:2). His ministry is the ministry of God’s Word (Acts 6:4; 1 Cor 9:17). No man is adequate in this work, but some are made adequate by the indwelling Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:5; Rom 8:9, 11). A Spirit-filled elder is compelled by the love of Christ (2 Cor 5:14), to fulfill His ministerial work, which is no easy task.
The man of God, entrusted with the Word of God, to do the work of an evangelist and to pastor the flock of God (2 Tim 4:5; 1 Pet 5:1–5), is known by His trust in the Bible. The hireling tells the people of God, “I love you, guys,” but the one who truly loves the flock of God is the elder with an open Bible (Jn 21:15–17).
Christians, as the sheep of God’s pasture (Ps 23; Jn 10), need two things from the teaching elder: food and protection. In this work, the elder will shepherd the flock of God (1 Pet 5:1–5). He also employs the Word in his ministry of reconciliation. He calls all men everywhere to repent and believe the Gospel (Acts 17:30), saying, “I beg you in Christ’s stead, be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:18–20).”
The false prophet poses as an angel of light, pretending to be the leader of the church, making him a false Christ (Mt 24:11, 24; 2 Pet 2:1). As a false Christ, his allusions to Jesus are few, and his persuasion is for men to follow him, not Christ, in his kinesthetic project of numerical church growth. His design is to gain recognition, notoriety, even fame for himself, saying, “Look what we have built together under my leadership.” He fleeces Christ’s sheep and grows fat in his burgeoning prosperity ministry (Ezek 34).
Life is difficult in this fallen world. It is not made any easier when one is born again of God by the Spirit (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3). The spiritual warfare (Eph 6:10–20), in the heart of each Christian (Rom 7), invites the help and comfort of the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:16). The Spirit’s instrument to help and comfort God’s people is the Bible, the Word of God (Ps 23:4). The elder is most pastoral, when he lives among and loves church members with the Word of God.
The work of the pastor is not to lead an organization, made in the image of a CEO and corporation. It is to serve the people the bread of life (Jn 6:35). He assures them that they can lie down by calm waters to rest in the goodness of the Great Shepherd of the sheep (Ps 23; Jn 10). The elder/pastor assures the flock, entrusted to his oversight, that they are safe in the Savior, Jesus Christ.
The cruel, success driven, slave master, posing as a church pastor — ambitious for success via church growth — imitates Satan. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, who is ready to have his name attached to the award-winning performance Christians, who are motivated “to do great things for God.” With this man-centered theology, he demands world-beating performance from Christ’s sheep, and threatens church members with the hell of insignificance (a.k.a. being a small church).
Christian, consider your pastor. If he is appointed by the Holy Spirit, called to be an elder, then you will know him, personally, not by his ability and commitment to lead an ever-growing organization. Rather, you will know Him by His love for the truth of God’s Word. He will not preach the musings of mere men; but he will preach verse by verse from the holy Scripture, every Sunday without fail. He is a man of God, an elder, who does the work of the pastor. His work is to minister the Word of God, in the power and demonstration of the Spirit, who fills him with adequacy as a true servant of the Lord, to fulfill his ministry.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
January 10, 2022
