In our study of the equipping ministries listed in Ephesians 4:11, our next ministry is the pastor.

Last week we discussed that there were over twenty people in the New Testament who are referred to as apostles, only a couple who are referred to as prophets, and only one who is called an evangelist—Philip. We do not have a single person in the New Testament who is called a pastor. This verse, Ephesians 4:11, is the only place in the New Testament where this ministry is even mentioned. This leads us to a very important question. How did this ministry, which is listed only one time with no definition, and not a single New Testament example of it given, come to so dominate the ministry of the church?

First, we should not immediately conclude that this is wrong or at least entirely wrong. Even though we do not have an explicit example of this ministry in the New Testament, we have an implicit one in the Lord Himself, just as we do all of the ministries. Leading and guiding the flock is basic to how the Lord shepherds His flock, which He does primarily through those He has given this ministry to.

The Greek word translated “pastor” here is poimen, which is defined as “a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks,” not merely one who feeds them. Tending speaks of protecting them from predators, keeping them healthy, examining their pastures for any noxious vegetation, as well as providing them with pure water to drink. All of these are likewise the responsibility of this ministry in the church.

It should also be noted that the elders were instructed to shepherd the flock of God, as we see in Acts 20:28-30:

This instruction is given to the “elders,” plural. Not once in the New Testament do we see just one person being called “the pastor.” It seems obvious that this was always intended to be a team effort. This should not be construed as meaning that elders or pastors are supposed to be co-equal in authority or leadership. In fact, the New Testament pattern for leadership is that one normally leads the team, such as Peter, and then as James did in Jerusalem. Even so, there is nonetheless a team of elders and apostles in every case. No one man can be everything to the flock of God that shepherding requires. Those who are under a single person who tries to be all things to everyone are inevitably poorly cared for sheep.

Nevertheless, pastors are constantly bombarded by such foolish notions as “my life, (my children or my ministry...) would not be in such bad shape if we had a better pastor!” The unrealistic expectations put on pastors can be not only unrealistic, but sadistic and cruel. Even the greatest pastor is not God, and no pastor is here to take God’s place in our life.

Even so, the Lord gave us the metaphor of sheep and shepherds because the characteristics of them are similar. A good shepherd, like the Lord, is not a hireling who is just doing a job, but is one who so loves the sheep that they will lay down their own lives for them. They will also want them to always have the best pastures, the best water, and be vigilant to ensure their protection.

One of the most basic requirements for a healthy flock is cross breeding with other flocks. Any flock that does not cross breed with other flocks will get weaker with each succeeding generation. The same is true in the church. If we do not have fellowship and interchange with other believers and churches that are different from ours, we will become continually weaker instead of stronger. Therefore shepherds that are possessive or fearful of other churches and ministries will probably do more long-term damage to their own flock than any problems that they could have encountered by interchange with others.

We also see in the New Testament that apostles called themselves elders. However, this should not be construed that they considered themselves elders of the local churches, but were in a broader sphere of authority in the church. There are spheres of authority and levels of authority in the church that we need to recognize and stay within from both directions.

What I mean by staying within our spheres of authority from both directions is that even if you are an apostle over a whole movement, and therefore have shepherding responsibilities over it, what is delegated to elders or other leaders on the local level should not be interfered with unless it is by their request. That is why such a large number of the epistles in the New Testament were actually letters written in response to letters with questions from the churches.

I Corinthians 11:3 states that “...Christ is the head of every man...” If I were an apostle, there are some things in a man’s life that are his business and I would not interfere with. I would not interfere in his marriage or family unless there were serious transgressions that were affecting others in the church, etc. In that case I would not hesitate to use my authority for the sake of the man, his family, or the church. Even so, as much as possible all spiritual authority should be exercised with the utmost respect for each other.

True authority releases others into greater authority by giving them more responsibility. True spiritual authority is always trying to bring those under authority to the place of maturity and wisdom so that they no longer need our authority, but have their own. Even the King of kings said that it was expedient for Him to go away for His disciples so the Spirit could come directly to them. This was the best way for them to grow up into Him. There is a point at which spiritual shepherding breaks down the metaphor of sheep and shepherds. The fact is we should that be seeking to turn all of our sheep into shepherds. That is why this is an “equipping” ministry.

As we also discussed in relation to the other equipping ministries, they are all called to equip the saints who are to do the work of the ministry. A prophet’s job is not just to prophesy, but also to equip the saints to know the Lord’s voice for themselves, and to be used by Him to prophesy. An evangelist does not just preach the gospel himself, but they equip the church to preach the gospel and to have a burden for the lost. The same is true of the pastor ministry—it is given to help all believers carry the shepherding heart of the Lord to at least some degree. We should all be able to discern when a brother or sister is in trouble, and to know how to help them.

Another basic element that we must keep in mind in relation to the pastor is that the most basic foundation of this ministry is not love for the sheep, but rather love for the Lord. We must love the sheep of course, but we will love them wrongly if we do not love the Lord even more. That is what the Lord tried to impart to Peter in John 21:15-17:

Here we see Peter being told that if he loved the Lord he would 1) tend His lambs, 2) shepherd His sheep, and 3) tend His sheep. It begins with the young ones, and emphasizes both shepherding and tending the sheep. We will do all of this if we love Him.