Church & Pastor
Good Morning,
Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”
vs. 12 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
The job of the pastor, teacher, or evangelist is to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry.
Paul did not say that the work of the pastor was to give everyone Bibles and have them study on their own. To be properly equipped for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ, one needs an instructor. It is unpopular to think that way, but it is biblical.
Revelation 1 pronounces a blessing on him that readeth and they that hear. Notice someone is reading and others are hearing and keeping.
Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
In the book of Hebrews chapter thirteen, in verses seven and seventeen, the Bible teaches the importance of considering the instruction that one receives from the pastor.
Paul told Timothy to take the things that he had been told by Paul and to pass them on to faithful men. The people learn the truths he had been told through him (or through the evangelist or elder) not through any written source; that truth was provided to pass along.
Paul made it clear that he was not a lord over God's heritage (1 Peter 5:3), but he also talked about instructors. (1 Corinthians 4:15)
Every man who has a Bible is instructed to read and to study It. Every saved person also has access to the Holy Spirit and to His instruction, but the Lord clearly provides men who are teachers, men with more time or spiritual anointing to teach the Bible and to "perfect" the saints.
Notice the requirements for pastor: "apt to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2) and one who labors in the Word and doctrine. (1 Timothy 5:17) The farmer does not have that kind of time any more than the pastor can grow the food he eats and fix the car he drives; God uses us to serve one another. One time, the New Testament speaks of the believer’s need to study (study to show himself approved), but depending on how strict you want to be about that passage, that instruction was actually directed to a pastor, Timothy, so he might instruct his members, most of whom had no access to a Bible.
I was out soul winning and met the nicest family. They were saved, a pleasure to talk to, and seemed to have a sincere love for the Lord. When I asked them what church they attended, they said they had church in their home. I am for family Bible and parents instructing their children, but a church is more than dad and mom teaching the Bible and praying with their children. A Bible church has a pastor, preaching, supports missionaries, and does the work of evangelism and church planting. A Bible church has a burden for the neighborhood, brings visitors to the church, baptizes converts and trains others in the Word of God. To sit around enjoying the Bible, prayer, and a good family without going farther condemns the world to Hell.
In the book of Psalms, we are told to meditate on the Word and to delight in the Word; Deuteronomy tells us that we are to talk about the Word of God, especially to our children.
Those who could make the Word plain and clear were very important to the ministry.
Leviticus 10:11 “And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.”
On the other hand, I am in favor of godly, proven Bible teachers and preachers; but I also say that even the pastor should be careful to whom he listens. Many heresies and church errors arise because pastors are listening to the wrong people. When we talk about having a pastor or teacher, we ought be very careful because they can surely cause us to stray – that pertains to pastors as much as any church member.
The book of Proverbs says with good advice make war; we certainly are at war with the wicked one, so we must secure GOOD ADVICE. Read much Bible, pray often, and listen to preaching; for (Romans 10:17) faith cometh by hearing… It does not say by reading but by hearing. May we be found sitting at the feet of wise and prudent Bible teachers, and be an active part of a New Testament church.
Pastor