The Pastor’s Heart
3 minute read
When a Pastor is considered to be relational, friendly and helpful, we often hear them referred to as having a ‘Pastor’s heart’. But what does this really mean, when the Bible tells us that the heart is deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9)?
Claiming a man has a ‘pastor’s heart’ is largely an empty cliche based on emotional warm fuzzies. Why? Because when the Pastor has to exercise biblical spiritual authority over someone or a situation, it’s very rare that people like what they hear. Think about it, how often do you like to be told what to do…especially as an adult?
In certain circumstances many Christians find that their warm, caring, friendly Pastor turns into someone that simply wants to avoid conflict or may even resort to control and manipulation. Either way the sin or issue which needs to be addressed often remains unresolved, due to the Pastor’s unwillingness or inability to lead…maybe even due to a fear of losing popularity. But, when genuinely led by the Lord, a Pastor must exercise and speak Biblical wisdom and discernment into often very tense and difficult situations. As the pastor of our church observes: whilst many may love the teaching, not all like it when God requires the Pastor to step out from behind the pulpit and into someones life. Ouch!
So, what are the characteristics of a faithful Pastor? Have a read of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and take some time to ponder just how much is required of a man called to be a Pastor and faithfully shepherd the flock entrusted to him by Christ, the Chief Shepherd. A Pastor genuinely serving the Lord will know when it’s totally fine to laugh along with us and when it’s time to bring correction. How then can we resolve to help our faithful shepherds to their job well (Hebrews 13:17)?
It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1 Timothy 3:1-7
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