As we look to affirm a particular man in our church to become one of the pastors, this is a most helpful question to be asked and consider. Not just for us, but for all those who claim to be a pastor. With all the demands and expectations upon a pastor’s life and ministry, it becomes a temptation for a pastor to lose his identity in the midst of them. Are we simply to visit them, make small talk, spend time with them, and move on with our day? What makes a pastor different from others that may spend time with the people of the church and invest in them?
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones draws clear distinctions with these words:
A pastor is a man who is given charge of souls. He is not merely a nice, pleasant man who visits people and has an afternoon cup of tea with them, or passes the time of day with them. He is the guardian, the custodian, the protector, the organizer, the director, the ruler of the flock.
Pastors, as you process all the comments, conversations, and even confusing signals from your people yesterday, do not lose sight of your task before God. Your identity is not in crisis. You are a man given charge over souls. This week, spend time with you people, be pleasant, even have tea with your people, but do so not as the friendly neighbor, but as the guardian of their souls.
Just getting to this now…a little late, but thank you for the encouragement and reminder. In Portuguese the word pastor and shepherd are the same word. Since there are so few non-Catholic churches in the country, I often have to clarify that I’m a pastor – but not of sheep, or at least that kind of sheep. It makes for interesting conversations. Someone once said that you can tell a man is a pastor (or shepherd) because he smells like the sheep. Good post and thanks again.