Pastor

The word pastor has been taken captive and redefined by the elite to bolster their position. Once we complete our investigation, it should be clear that in the true sense, every Christian should be a pastor.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ^{Ephesians 4:11}

Most people will be surprised this is the only reference to pastor in the New Testament. There are a few in the Old Testament, none of which gives a clear understanding of the criteria for being a pastor. This should concern us as to how this has become such a preeminent position along with many other words taken hostage to bolster ecclesiastical elitism such as ordination, preaching, shepherding, etc.

Pastor (Webster 1828)
A shepherd; one that has the care of flocks and herds. A minister of the gospel who has the charge of a church and congregation, whose duty is to watch over the people of his charge, and instruct them in the sacred doctrines of the Christian religion.

Webster’s definition for pastor was made in 1828 when the cultural solidification of preeminence in the pastoral position was engrained for over 1,300 years. Nowhere in the Bible does it refer to a pastor as being a shepherd. The shepherd has always been Jesus and only Jesus. The sheep hear his voice and not the voice of some imposter trying to get into the sheepfold by a different way than the gate, whose gatekeeper is also Jesus.

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. ^{Jeremiah 3:15}

As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee. ^{Jeremiah 17:16}

There are only two references in the Old Testament concerning good pastors. Neither of them provides a definitive understanding of their “credentials”. These references have no indication that a pastor was in a position of preeminence over others. A good pastor like the prophet Jeremiah was one who followed God, not one who sought for the people to follow him. Rather, they were facilitators, communicating to the Jews the truth that would guide them to God and onto a path of righteousness. Throughout the Old Testament you see the Jews going the right way if led by God and the wrong way when led by man. Unfortunately, most pastors of today hasten to have others follow them and suppress the people from truly following the Lord.

How a pastor is to be selected is made clear when God tells us they are given according to his heart, not the hearts of men. Today’s pastors are selected according to man’s criteria. Many must go through extensive education, such as going through a seminary. Then there are other hoops to jump through. Finally, a church official commissions the candidate to pastor a church, or other church organizations have a candidate go through a selection process and are then voted upon. The result is a man-selected preeminent pastor and not a true servant pastor.

The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. ^{Jeremiah 2:8}

For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. ^{Jeremiah 10:21}

Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. ^{Jeremiah 12:10}

The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness. ^{Jeremiah 22:22}

Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. ^{Jeremiah 23:1-2}

The above verses are the only ones in the Old Testament concerning bad pastors. They seem to give a clear picture of preeminence. These were false messengers able to get the Jews to follow them rather than God. These supposed messengers of God led the Jews onto a path of falsehood, a path of wickedness, transgression, brutishness, barrenness, evil, and the lack of true unselfish compassion.

For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? ^{Malachi 2:7-10,17}

Malachi reveals a parallel in the Old Testament between bad pastors and bad priests. Whenever you are not following God, in his way, then there will be distortions and compromises.

I will often refer to how simple God has made it for us to walk in his way. That is how it is with being a pastor. In the true sense of the word, both men and women can be facilitators within the assembly of believers: speaking the truth, watching out for falsehoods, having compassion, finding ways to bring understanding and knowledge to young and old. In the true sense, every believer should be a pastor; no special certificate or education required; no “ordination”, no special garments to wear; just being a child of God and looking out for one’s fellow believers is all it takes.

If you facilitate within the body of believers, then you are a good pastor. If not, then you are a detriment, like the scripture portrayal of bad priests and bad pastors. No one should be a pastor in the preeminent sense; this is a fake pastor, an elitist fabrication for the purpose of usurping the preeminence of Jesus Christ.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. ^{Matthew 18:20}

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. ^{Jeremiah 3:15}

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. ^{Acts 20:29-30}

When believers are gathered in Jesus’ name and where the assembly is controlled by Jesus, then it is Jesus who selects the pastors according to his heart, not some ecclesiastical authority. These pastors will facilitate the believers, look out for them, and try to protect them from ravaging sheep stealing wolves. They do not try to usurp the preeminency of Jesus by morphing into wolves to steal his sheep.

Ralph Wendt