The pastor is perhaps one of the most difficult topics in Christianity. Why did she become like this? Probably because this word is associated today with a certain power over people, respect, and a good salary. I propose to consider the topic of this church service without any dogmatic basis that you know. Only the Word.
A Christian pastor today is a person who is listened to, who can tell people what and how to do. Churches teach and constantly preach about obedience to the pastor. Sometimes this practically leads to the deification of the church pastor. Let's start exploring this issue. I want to warn you right away - some facts may not be what you were taught in your meetings.
To be obedient to the Word or people is your choice.
Pastor this
Let's start with the fact that in Russian this word has changed somewhat. The Bible uses the word SHEPHERD . And it means in Greek
Shepherd, mentor, leader
The definition of a shepherd as a shepherd is quite indicative of the images that are described to us in the Bible. The shepherds were Abel, Jacob, David, Moses, and the prophet Amos. Let's look at WHO the Bible represents with sheep and shepherds.
The Lord is my Shepherd
Wonderful Scriptures showing us our Lord as Shepherd.
Orthodox wedge
Author: Archpriest Boris BalashovGagarin G. G. “The Good Shepherd.” First floor XIX century
Assessing the spiritual leadership of the Jewish people by the Pharisees and learned scribes - Jewish theologians of the 1st century AD, Jesus Christ told the parable of the good shepherd (shepherd). The images are taken from the shepherd life well known to His listeners.
The condition of the sheep and the flock itself depends on the type of shepherd. At night, eastern shepherds gathered together the herds of different owners into a common paddock or yard. They took turns guarding these sheep in a fenced pen so that neither a wolf nor a thief could steal them. In the morning, the watchmen opened the doors of the corral, the shepherds called the sheep, and they, recognizing the voice of their shepherd, rushed after him. If someone climbed over the fence to the sheep, and did not enter through the door, it was clear that he was a thief. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in elsewhere (from without), is a thief and a robber; and he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The doorkeeper opens for him, and the sheep obey his voice, and he calls his sheep by name and leads them out (John 10:1-3).
Not only did the sheep know their shepherd, but the shepherd also knew each sheep of his flock by name. After all, the concern for protecting sheep from predators and thieves, finding good pasture for them, and much more, was aimed at ensuring that healthy and strong sheep bring maximum benefit to their owners, that is, feeding and clothing them, bringing wool and milk. And when he has brought out his sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. They don’t follow a stranger, but run from him, because they don’t know someone else’s voice. Jesus spoke this parable to them; but they did not understand what He was saying to them (John 10:4-6). It is surprising that the Pharisees, experts in the Holy Scriptures, did not understand this parable.
The psalmist David, placing all his trust in God, called Him his Shepherd: The Lord is my Shepherd; I will lack for nothing: He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters, He strengthens my soul, He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff - they calm me (Ps. 22: 1-4).
In these beautiful poetic words, David does not hesitate to compare himself to a sheep. After all, it is absolutely clear that comparing a person with an animal in this form does not humiliate a person, but expresses the personal relationship between a gracious soul and God.
The prophet Isaiah, in a messianic prophecy, announced the coming Savior of the world: As a shepherd He will feed His flock; He will take the lambs in His arms and carry them on His bosom, and lead the milking ones (Isa. 40:11). Hearing this prophecy about the Savior-Shepherd, the image of a loving, gentle father, lovingly holding his beloved child to his heart, involuntarily arises.
But in the same Old Testament there are also threatening words about unworthy shepherds. So the prophet Jeremiah, a witness to the fall of Judah, the destruction of Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian captivity, wrote about the leaders of the Jewish people: Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! says the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel to the shepherds who feed my people: Ye have scattered my sheep, and scattered them, and have not looked after them; Behold, I will punish you for your evil deeds, says the Lord (Jer. 23:1-2).
Thus, the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament repeatedly used the image of a shepherd and a flock of sheep. Sheep were clearly understood as people—members of God’s people and the Old Testament Church. The image of a shepherd could refer to the One Trinity God, to the Second Hypostasis of the Holy Trinity - the Son of God, the Messiah, Christ - and to the leaders of God's people, including the unworthy.
To the Pharisees, who did not understand the meaning of the parable and had forgotten the Old Testament prophecies about the shepherds, Jesus Christ, in full accordance with the Old Testament Scriptures, said: Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All, no matter how many of them came before Me, are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door: whoever enters by Me will be saved, and will go in and out, and will find pasture (pasture or all the essentials for life) (John 10:7-9).
The Lord calls Himself a door because He is the only true Mediator between God the Father and people, the only way into the Kingdom of God founded by Him - the sheepfold - both for shepherds and for the flock. It is impossible to enter this Kingdom of the Messiah without passing through Christ—to climb over the fence. This is what false shepherds have done and are doing, who, hiding behind beautiful words about the good of the people, pursue their own benefit. The fenced and guarded sheep yard is the Kingdom of God on earth, the Church of Christ. Pasture, good pastures - this, of course, is not only the earthly world, but also the Heavenly Kingdom.
Hirelings are worthless shepherds of all kinds, about whom the prophet Ezekiel angrily proclaimed: Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who fed themselves! Shouldn't shepherds feed the flock? (Ezek. 34:2).
The wolf that steals and destroys sheep is the devil and his minions of all times and peoples. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:10-11).
Christ gives life to everyone. He healed and is healing the sick in body and soul. It is through a personal meeting with Christ and through entering into the life of His Church that human souls are renewed. At the cost of His life, through the Cross and Resurrection, the Lord defeated the devil and destroyed his kingdom. The Savior will be together with His faithful disciples both in earthly life and after death: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
True shepherds of Christ follow the path of their Divine Teacher, not sparing their strength, and, if necessary, even life itself. For the sake of Christ's property - believing people - this truth was confirmed by many ancient martyrs and martyrs of modern times.
But a hireling, not a shepherd, whose sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and runs; and the wolf plunders the sheep and scatters them. But the hireling flees because he is a hireling, and does not care about the sheep (John 10:12-13).
The mercenaries are, firstly, the Jewish hierarchy contemporary with Christ: high priests, priests and other temple and synagogue ministers. Secondly, there are false shepherds of all times, performing their ministry formally, as a professional job, and not as a ministry for the sake of Christ. Having told the mercenaries about the Pharisees and scribes contemporary to the Savior, He assessed their destructive spiritual activity. The Lord calls them wolves and thieves, ruining God’s heritage and leading the Jewish people to a terrible catastrophe: the destruction of Jerusalem and the eviction of Jews from Palestine, as a result of betrayal of their Messiah and betrayal of their God.
What does the Lord say about Himself? I am the good shepherd; and I know Mine, and Mine know Me. As the Father knows Me, so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep (John 10:14-15).
The Savior personally knows each of His verbal and intelligent sheep. This mutual knowledge of each other - the shepherd and the sheep - should be similar to the mutual knowledge of God the Father and God the Son. By faith and heart, people feel and recognize their Savior, because it is in Him that they find satisfaction of all their spiritual needs and quests, peace to souls, true happiness.
The highest manifestation of love for the descendants of Adam is the voluntary giving of His life for them. But the Lord gives His life so that people would accept His priceless gift - Eternal Life - and become verbal sheep of His flock, members of His One Church, people moving towards salvation. It is those who respond to His love that Christ calls “His.” But these are not only His contemporaries - Jews who believed in Christ; I have other sheep which are not of this fold, and these I must bring: and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock and one Shepherd (John 10:16).
You can hear the voice of Christ through the Gospel word, church sermons, words and instructions from believing friends and relatives, through examples of the pious life of Christians. This voice of Christ still sounds today, calling people to respond to the love of the Savior of the world. The God-Man unites all His faithful children living on earth - members of His One Church - and all those who previously lived and are now in the world of eternity into a single living organism - the holy Orthodox Church of Christ. That is why prayers to the saints and prayers for the dead are possible, because we are all united into one Family through Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). The Resurrection of Christ gives the victory of life not only to the human nature of Jesus Christ, but also to the whole world, to everyone who wants to accept this victory.
Having ascended into the world of Heavenly Glory on the 40th day after the Resurrection, the Lord did not abandon His Shepherding in the One Holy Orthodox Church.
The Savior calls Christians to pastoral service at all times in the life of the Church of Christ on earth. Orthodox bishops are the successors of the ministry of Christ's shepherd, as were the apostles in the 1st century. Bishops are assisted in their pastoral ministry by priests. The model of shepherding is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
Many holy shepherds, both those who ended their earthly life peacefully and those who died as martyrs, glorify the Church. Here are just a few of these names: holy hierarchs Nicholas the Wonderworker, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, Philip, Hermogenes, Tikhon of Moscow and a great many others who are now praying for the Orthodox people in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Orthodox Church is alive! And let us pray to God that the Lord will call many worthy shepherds to serve people in our God-saved Fatherland.
The Gospel says that the Apostle Thomas did not believe the testimony of the other disciples that they had seen the Risen Lord. Why? Article by Archpriest Boris Balashov “My Lord and My God!”
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Pastor's ministry to people. And He appointed... shepherds
So, we see that in relation to people there is ONLY one place of Scripture that speaks of the ministry of the Pastor in the Church. We can talk about his responsibilities ONLY from the point of view of Jesus' ministry as a Shepherd. Paul and Peter do not mention this ministry in their letters.
There are no other instructions, conditions for ordination or appointment.
The only place that ONLY IN OUR BIBLES is written as the word “shepherd” in relation to a person is the letter of Peter. But in the original Greek this word sounds like “presbyter, elder.” It is this word that is mentioned in subsequent epistles, which talk about the ministry of the presbyter.
I don’t know why the word “presbyter, elder” used in further messages for us was translated EXACTLY IN THIS PLACE as “pastor”. This is not the topic for our discussion today. We talk about this in detail in the topic Elder. The most important thing is to understand who a pastor is in terms of the Word.
Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God - implies accepting that service that is sanctioned by God, and not by human rules and traditions. Read more about the ministry of a pastor here
Protestants
Similar conclusions about clergy were made in Protestantism. In this direction of faith, various titles were simply abolished and the very concept of the priesthood was nullified. It is worth noting that there are many Protestant denominations in which the concepts differ significantly. Anglicans, for example, are closer to Catholics, while Pentecostals, on the contrary, are very far from them. This also applies to the concepts of shepherding and the word of the pastor.
Protestants choose a layman to serve, who acts with the consent of the entire community; he is the shepherd here and brings the word to the believers. The main task of Protestants is preaching.
There is no vertical power structure or complex hierarchy here, like Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Preaching, however, is combined with administrative functions among Protestants. To put it simply, the pastor here is specifically the one who currently performs pastoral functions; there is no anointing. As soon as service ceases, this status is removed from the person.
Pastor Ordination
Today there are many conditions that arise when the question of ordaining a church pastor arises. Let's remember - is there at least one mention of this in the Bible? Any conditions or criteria? We talk about this in detail in the topic about serving in the church. There is no mention of the ordination of a prophet, teacher, evangelist, or pastor. There is a mention of how the Apostles were placed in the church. This is the personal election of Jesus, and the lot after the death of Judas, and the prophecy to the ministers.
But it is important for us that pastors are not ordained to the ministry anywhere in the Word. And there is not a single person called by this title.
From Protestants to Orthodoxy
On March 28 - 29, 2013, former Pentecostal pastors, and now Orthodox priests of the Irkutsk and Fraternal dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Oleg Zyryanov, Igor Zyryanov and Maxim Gaskov visited the Tomsk diocese. All of them are employees of the Information and Consulting Center in the name of St. John Chrysostom, which is engaged in the joining of Protestants and neo-Protestants to Orthodoxy.
They held apologetic seminars “Orthodoxy and Protestantism” in Tomsk at the Tomsk Theological Seminary, gave several interviews to journalists, and spoke on the Tomsk Orthodox radio “Blagovest”.
Graze
I would like to draw your attention to this command. In the original Greek it sounds like
become a shepherd, cherish and surround with care, take care
In other words, turning to the elders of the Church, the Holy Spirit tells them to perform the ministry of Shepherd of the Church. I believe that before a person is ordained to serve as a presbyter or bishop, he must have confidence from God that he has been ordained to serve as a Shepherd. In principle, it will be obvious to all people in the church that this or that person is a shepherd. According to his deeds, words, according to his life. Not everyone can take care of others, not everyone can endure and surround with care, carry in their arms.
But it is important to understand that the pastor's job is not to teach (although he may have a teaching ministry), not to evangelize, not to manage money or the construction of buildings. Namely, to graze, care, protect,
Old meaning of the word
Previously, shepherds were called ordinary shepherds who tended herds of animals. In different countries, representatives of this profession were called differently, but their functions remained the same.
What were the duties of a shepherd? He had to know where to lead his herd so that they would have enough food; if the grass ran out in one place, they would move the herd to richer pastures. Wandering with the animals from place to place, the shepherd spent days and nights with them. Being among the herd for quite a long time, the shepherd even recognized them and gave them names.
The shepherds adjusted to the rhythm of life of their charges, woke up with them and rested when they rested. They took care to find the safest places for them during the transition. The area was examined in advance for suitability for grazing and safety.
As a conclusion
Based on what we have seen in the Word, we can draw a very important conclusion. It concerns both those who wish to serve as pastors and those who are served by those who call themselves pastors.
One should not always be distrustful of ministers. Let us remember that they are under much greater attack from the devil. If you destroy the shepherd, the sheep will be scattered. That is why the shepherds themselves must be open and honest towards God and people. You are not just “ordinary believers like everyone else.” Jesus chose you and placed you in HIS CHURCH for a ministry that He has already outlined and defined.
I suggest that those who consider themselves a pastor and defend themselves by the fact that someone ordained them to this ministry examine themselves. Have you chosen the right basis for your defense? Will you stand in judgment based on the Word? How right are you to not consider and accept another as a pastor just because no one has ordained him to that ministry? What guides you? In the prophet Jeremiah, God repeatedly condemns those who act without the message of God, but hide behind His will.
And I would advise church members to see where they are leading you. Not exactly today or a month ago. General direction. Compare it with the Word. I will emphasize. There is a lot of negativity associated with ministers in the world today. And sometimes it’s their own fault. But see the big picture. A pastor is the person whom God has chosen to shepherd His Church. It is not for nothing that it is written in the Word that the younger ones should obey the elders. It is not for nothing that it is written that everyone should obey each other. Love conquers all.
Every day with the herd
The worker took all measures to prevent the animals from getting sick and treated the wounds. It is not for nothing that the word “shepherd” has begun to be used in our time in a different interpretation. All responsibility for feeding, care, watering, and protection rested entirely with the shepherd. He looked after both adults and children, the old and the sick. It was necessary to know the specifics and needs of each animal, but they also knew its voice and listened to it.
