Thoughts on Young Pastors FOR CHURCH MEMBERS (3)

I Timothy 3:1-7

I believe that pastors are to be called by the Holy Spirit. It is a distinct calling on one's life much like Moses being called in the desert. I'm not saying there is a burning bush, but I do believe that it often comes as just as big a shock and interruption to the man's life. Just as Moses was overwhelmed by the enormity of his calling, and he felt utterly inadequate for the work, so has almost every preacher I have ever met. Pastoring one of the Lord's churches, leading His sheep, and caring for the souls of the saints is a far cry from flipping burgers or even teaching in a classroom.

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This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

I Timothy 3:1-7

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This is an intimidating text. It is known as the qualifications of a pastor and frankly, we none measure up. If there was no grace given and perfection was demanded, no honest man would even pastor a church. We would all step away from the role of pastor because we know that we have failed miserably. Think about verse 1 by itself. Do you know how many pastors have quit on Sunday night and then turned around and went back to work on Monday morning? I would venture to say most. In that moment, and perhaps even for extended seasons, we have felt like Peter when he said, "I am going fishing" (John 21:3) and wanted to return to our old profession.

Look at this list of qualifications and then put your profession in the place of bishop. Suppose instead of bishop it said teacher, mechanic, nurse, carpenter, banker, dad, etc. On the one hand, it would make a huge difference in the workplace and homes if people tried to live up to these standards. On the other hand, many people would give up because they were unwilling to try. Unfortunately, this happens in the ministry as well.

Please do not misunderstand. I am not asking for the bar to be lowered. This is God's standard for those men who are called to pastor churches. I am not asking for churches to overlook moral failures. I do believe there are a few things churches should do for their pastor when it comes to these standards.

First, make sure you understand what each of these means. If a teenage child talks back to his/her father who is a pastor, this does not disqualify him from pastoring because he doesn't have "his children in submission". "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).

Second, come along side your pastor and walk with him in the ministry. I do not mean go into full time ministry yourself. I mean be a helper to him. In Exodus, Moses was working himself to death by spending all day judging the peoples' issues. His father-in-law told him that he was not doing good by being the only one seeing to these matters. He told him that he should call people to help in the smaller matters. Moses also had Joshua as an aid and close friends in Aaron and Hur. All of this, along with a close relationship with God, allowed Moses to have a successful 40 year ministry.

Third, pray for your pastor. This will do two things. First, when God answers your prayers for wisdom, guidance, and productivity in the ministry, your pastor will prosper in his calling. Secondly, it will turn your heart to love your pastor more. Instead of being discontent with his shortcomings and feeling like you need someone better, you will love him and want to help him where you can. If you cannot help, you will ask God to send someone who can. Regardless, there will be a closeness and a love for him that cannot be possible without praying for him.

Again, this is not about making excuses for bad behavior or laziness. Those things should be addressed in a Biblical way. If you understand what the qualifications of a pastor are, you walk with your pastor in this Christian life, and you pray for him diligently, you will help to make him a better pastor. You will help to add longevity to his ministry. You will find that the church is more successful in reaching the lost and growing the saints because you are helping to create a unity in the church through the example you are setting by being a good church member.

Father, we need more men, especially young men to surrender their lives to the gospel ministry. I pray that You call more men. I pray that those men understand the importance of the work, the gravity of the work, and the need to walk worthy of their calling. I also pray that church members would come alongside these men and encourage them, pray for them, and walk with them in the ministry of Your church.