Last Sunday we confirmed a new lead pastor at our Church. My wife and I have been a part of this particular Body for quite a while and we were overjoyed that a long and painful chapter finally came to a close. We have a new pastor ! This is exciting news. He will for sure propel this Church to a new level, new initiatives, new heights. A new drive and vigor will permeate our Church and it will be the best thing ever ! After all, he is a great guy, caring, dynamic and an overall solid person. Or so I thought.
Now don’t get me wrong. This guy and I have a bit of a history. About this time of year 12 years ago, we would meet for breakfast every week. I was a non-believer at that time, but we had some things in common. And he took the time to help me understand what this Christian faith is all about. As I have an interest in history, we read through the early Church Fathers together. He patiently answered my questions. Was honest and open to admit he didn’t know all the answers either. Long story short, after about 8 months of regular breakfasts, reading, studying and discussing, I came to accept Christianity as true and accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior.
Over the decade since, we have gotten to know each other better. I would say we have become friends. We still share the same interests, get to spend some time on occasion, although not as much anymore due to the general busy-ness of life and my job situations. But I can vouch that he is overall a good guy. He’s dynamic and driven, has a caring heart, has formal theological training, had some great ideas. So the perfect guy to make this Church his own.. right ? Wrong!
I came to realize that this Church, or any Church, for that matter is not defined by the pastor that has the privilege of leading the congregation. This Church is not his church. It’s His Church. It’s Christ’s Church. So let us not put our pastors on unnecessary pedestals. We are in Church to worship Him, not our pastor.
After all the word “pastor” comes from the Latin word “pastorum”, meaning shepherd. Shepherds lead their flock faithfully and diligently. They guide their flock, not to disaster or draught, but to pastures and water. Not by popularity vote. Not by public approval. But because of what they know and what they have been taught. And with the Spirit’s guidance, so should your pastor lead your church.
After all, your pastor, no matter who he might be, is a sinner just like you and I. He may be hip, wear cool clothes, be on podcasts, vidcasts, blogs or the press. Or he may be shunning the limelight, be unknown and not have an aura of modern “hip-ness” to him.
But as long as he is faithful, as long as he preaches the word faithfully, as long as he has a caring heart for the body, I believe he is a true pastor.
And based on those criteria, even though my pastor is a sinner, I am glad we have who we have. I am convinced we have found a shepherd who has a love for the Lord and for the Word, who has a caring heart for the flock and who does the best he can to be faithful to what he knows. Is he perfect ? No. But is he shepherd enough to be our pastor ? Absolutely.
So join me in prayer, not just for our pastor, for all those pastors around the world that they may not follow worldly pursuits, but be faithful shepherds of the flocks entrusted to them.