ï» back to title page Understanding A Pastor 1 Corinthians 4:14-21 I once came across an article entitled, "How Much Is That Preacher?" I share it with you: "Good morning, madam. May I help you?" "Yes, please, I'd like to buy a minister." "For yourself or your church?" "Oh, for my church, of course. I'm already married." "Did you have a particular model in mind?" "Yes, I've got a description from the Pastor Search Committee right here." "We want a man about 30, well-educated, with some experience. Good preacher and teacher. Balanced personality. Serious, but with a sense of humor. Efficient, but not rigid. Good health. Able to identify with all age groups. And, if possible, sings tenor." "Sings tenor?" "We're short of tenors in the choir." "I see. Well, that's quite a list. How much money do you want to spend?" "The committee says $9,000, $9,500 tops." "Hmmm. Well, perhaps we'd better start in the bargain basement." "Tell me, how much is that model in the window?" "You mean the one in the Pendleton plaid suit and the gray suede dune boots?" "Yes, that one. He's a real dream." "That's our Princeton #467, has a Ph.D., and AKC papers." "AKC?" "American Koinonia Council. He sells for $16,000 plus house." "Wow! That's too rich for our blood. What about that model over there?" "Ah, yes. An exceptional buy. Faith #502. He's a little older than 30, but has excellent experience. Aggressive. Good heart. Has a backing of sermons, two of which have been printed in Christian Leaders." "He's not too bad. Can you do something about his bald head? Mrs. Penner especially insists that our minister have some hair." "Madam, all our ministers come in a variety of hair styles. Keep him in mind. Now let me show you Olympia #222. Four years of varsity sports at Brass Ring College. Plays football, basketball, volleyball, and Ping-Pong. Comes complete with sports equipment." "What a physique! He must weight 200 pounds!" "Yes, indeed. You get a lot for your money with this one. And think of what he can do for young people." "Great, but how is he at preaching?" "I must admit he's not St. Peter. But you cannot expect good sermons and a church wide athletic program too!"
"I suppose not. Still " "Let me show you our Fresno #801. Now here's a preacher. All of his sermons are superb, well researched, copious anecdotes, and they always have three points. And, he comes with a full set of the Religious Encyclopedia at no extra charge. You get the whole package for $8,300." "He's wearing awfully thick glasses." "For $220 more we will put in contact lenses." "I don't know. He might study too much. We don't want a man who is in his office all the time." "Of course. How about this minister over here? Comes from a management background. Trained in business operations at Beatitude College. Adept with committees. Get his work done by 11:30 every morning." "His tag says he an IBM 400." "Madam, you have a discerning eye. Innovative Biblical Methods. This man will positively revitalize your church." "I am not sure our church wants to be revitalized. Haven't you got something less revolutionary?" "Well, would you like something of the social worker type? We have this Ghetto #130." "The man with a beard? Good gracious no. Mrs. Penner would never go for that." "How about Empathy #41C? His forte is counseling. Very sympathetic. Patient. Good with people who have problems." "Everyone in our church has problems. But he might not get out and visit new people. We really need a man who does a lot of visitation. You see, all of our people are very busy and." "Yes, yes, I understand. You want a minister who can do everything well." "That's it. Haven't you got somebody like that?" "I'm thinking. In our back room we have a minister who was traded in last week. Excellent man, but he broke down after 3 years. If you don't mind a used model, we can sell him at a reduced price." "Well, we had hoped for someone brand new. We just redecorated the sanctuary, and we wanted a new minister to go with it." "Of course, but with a little exterior work, and a fresh suit, this man will look like he just came out of the box. No one will ever know. Let me bring him out and you can look him over." "All right. Honestly, this minister shopping is exhausting. It's so hard to get your money's worth. Tell me, do you also give green stamps with the contract?" The story reminds me that people's idea of a pastor often varies from person to person. The reason there are a variety of ideals about a pastor is often due to a misunderstanding of the pastor, his role and responsibilities from a Biblical point of view. Because the pastor is so often misunderstood, it is no wonder that so many ministers are weary with the ministry. According to a 1991 survey of pastors by the Fuller Institute of Church Growth: 80% believe the ministry negatively affects their family life. 33% say being a minister is an outright hazard to their family. 75% reported a significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry. 50% feel unable to meet the needs of their job. 90% feel that no matter what their training, it is inadequate to cope with the demands of the ministry. 70% says they have a lower self-image now than when they started. 40% report a serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month. 70% do not have someone they consider a close friend. Why do so many ministers feel the way they do about the ministry? In my opinion it is because the minister and his ministry is so often misunderstood by people.
In the passage before us we are given insight into a pastor's heart. Paul is speaking as a pastor and as he does so, he gives us truths that helps us to understand a pastor. Let's look at the passage and seek to glean truth that will be helpful to us all. 1. THE PURSUIT OF A PASTOR! Paul says in verse 14, "I write not these things to shame you, but as beloved sons I warn you." Paul's words about what he has written refers to everything he has said thus far in 1 Corinthians. He has been very straightforward with them. He pulled no punches or soft-stepped around the issues. He makes it clear that he was not trying to be hard on them but helpful to them. There was something he wanted for them and in them. What he had written and how he had written it was due to something he deeply desired for them. Paul explains a pastor by first helping the people to understand what drives and motivates as pastor. He speaks of that a pastor pursues. A. A PASTOR SEEKS TO BRING PEOPLE TO CHRIST. He calls them his "beloved sons" in verse 14 and speaks of himself as a "father" in verse 15. These believers were Paul's sons in the faith. He was their spiritual father. He was the one that had introduced them to Christ and led them to Christ. He says in verse 15, "For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers." The word "instructors" is a word that speaks of a tutor. The word spoke a slave that had been entrusted by the master with the responsibility of rearing the master's children. He accompanied them to and from school and acted as a tutor in their studies. Paul was saying that the believers at Corinth had many that had taught and instructed them, but he was the one that had the privilege of bringing them to Christ. He was the one, as he said in verse 15, that had "begotten" them "through the gospel." One of the honors of being a pastor is to tell the wonderful story of God's saving grace and the Saviour, Who died that men might be saved. With that honor is the joy of seeing people come to Christ. There is no greater joy for a pastor than to see people saved under his ministry. Being a spiritual father is not a privilege limited to pastors. Every believer can be a spiritual father. Just as a pastor brings people to Christ, each believer can bring people to Christ and thereby become spiritual fathers. B. A PASTOR SEEK TO BUILD PEOPLE IN CHRIST. As I stated earlier, Paul had been very straightforward with the Corinthian believers in what he had written. His purpose had not been, as he said in verse 14, to "shame" them. He had to speak frankly. He could not and would not be silent about what was going on. His objective was not to embarrass them, but "warn" them. The word "warn" is translated "admonition" in Ephesians 6:4. He did not want to shame them but admonish them. The word means, "to put into mind." He wanted to put certain truths into their mind that would bring about a change in their behavior. Just as every physical father warns and admonishes his children about certain dangers, things that are wrong and hurtful, a pastor has the task of warning his people. There are times that a pastor must confront people, correct people, as well as challenge people. If people, such as the Corinthian believers, are not living right, the pastor has the task of admonishing and warning. Some people get upset when a pastor admonishes them over certain sins and warns them of certain dangers. But the same people would be the first to
chide and condemn a father for not disciplining and correcting his children. One should not be upset when a pastor admonishes his people, for he is acting as a spiritual father over his people. Behind this warning is the pursuit of building people, maturing people, and to make them strong in the Lord. Just like an earthly father warns his children to protect them, the pastor is doing the same. Just like an earthly father warns his children that they may grow into good and responsible adults, the pastor's pursuit in warning is to help his people grow and mature into fine Christians. When you understand that this is the pursuit of the pastor, it helps you to understand him better. It helps you to realize that he is not seeking to shame his people, but warn his people. Secondly, Paul speaks of: 2. THE PRACTICE OF A PASTOR! Paul says in verse 16, "Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me." The word "follower" speaks of a mimic. Paul was telling them to mimic his life, to be imitators of his life. It was not just a case of telling them to do what he said, but also do what he did. In verse 17 we see that the reason he sent Timothy to them was so he could remind them of how he lived. He wanted them to be very familiar with his ways so that they could mimic his ways and lifestyle. He instructs them concerning: A. A LIFE THAT DISPLEASED THE LORD. Notice verses 18-20, "Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." There were those within the church that resisted Paul's authority. They were claiming that since Paul had not come back, he was afraid of them. It caused them to be puffed up with an inflated ego. But Paul tells them that in God's will and time he would return and when he does so, he would confront the dissidents. He would not judge them by their words but by their power which is the evidence of a life pleasing to God. Paul knew that one could talk the talk and not walk the walk. Paul declared that the kingdom of God, believers who are submitted to the Lordship of Christ, is not proven by words but by a powerful life. It is one thing to profess to live as a Christian and another thing to live as one. A life that is pleasing to God is one that is powerful and impacts others for the kingdom of God. The fact their Christian life was mostly words rather than walk was what disturbed Paul. Many of the Corinthian believers were living lives that were displeasing to God. B. PAUL SPEAKS OF A LIFE THAT DISPLAYED THE LORD. Paul points to himself as a model of Christian living. He encourages the believers at Corinth to imitate his life. He knew that he was displaying the Lord in his life and if the Corinthian believers imitated him, they would be doing the same. Every pastor ought to be a model to his people of what it means to live a Christian life. An article revealed some very disturbing facts about ministers at large. In "Emerging Trends, Signs of the Times, August 1993," it stated that the public's image of the clergy had hit an all time low. Only 15% rated ministers "very high" and only 39% rated ministers "high" in honesty and ethical standards. One person in three (33%) considered clergy ethics to be just "average," while 7% say they are "low" and 2% consider them to be "very low." Those are disturbing statistics when one considers the fact that if anyone should live an exemplary life, it should be a minister. A pastor should live the
kind of life that others can follow and mimic. Robert Murry McCheyne wrote to Dan Edwards after his ordination: "In great measure, according to the purity and perfection's of the instrument, will be success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God." Paul realized that the kingdom of God is not just words; do as I say, but in power; do as I do. Only a holy pastor can make holy people. Only a minister that lives a holy life can develop members that live a holy life. Paul declared himself a model. Every pastor ought to be a model. Why? Pastor should be models so the believer may see in someone what the Christian life is all about so they can live such a life. Paul wanted them live like him so they could display Christ in their life to others. Not only is the minister to live right, but the members are as well. A third truth members should understand is: 3. THE PREACHING OF THE PASTOR! I suppose that if there is any area in which a pastor takes the hardest licks, it is in his preaching. Someone has said that some pastors preach "longhorn sermons," a point here, a point there, and a lot of bull in between." A visitor entered a church during the middle of the sermon and seated himself on the back row. After a few minutes he leaned over and asked the person beside him, "How long has the pastor been preaching?" The member said, "I think around 30 years." The visitor responded, "I'll stay then, he must be nearly done." I heard about one minister that surprised his congregation by preaching a 10-minute sermon rather than his usual 30-minute sermon. He concluded by saying, "I regret to inform you, brethren, that my dog this morning ate the portion of my sermon which I have not delivered." After the service, a visitor walked up to the preacher and said, "Preacher, please let me know if your dog has pups. If it does, I want to buy one for my pastor." Needless to say, preachers take the licks when it come to their preaching, yet preaching is an important part of being a pastor. When I think of the preaching of the pastor I think first of all: A. WHAT DEMANDS THE PREACHING OF THE PASTOR? Notice again verse 17. Paul speaks of Timothy bringing the Corinthian believers "into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ." How did Timothy bring them into such remembrance? By preaching. Also in verse 17 Paul speaks of his manner of his life "as I teach everywhere in every church." How did he teach them? By preaching. The declaring of truth by a pastor, the teaching of truth by a pastor, and the warning by truth by a pastor, demands his preaching. In Paul's words we also see: B. WHAT DETERMINES THE PREACHING OF A PASTOR? Notice verse 21, "What will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?" To put it simply, Paul was saying to the Corinthian believers, "It is up to you what kind of sermon I will preach when I get there." Paul asked, "Do you want me to come unto you with a rod?" The rod that he spoke of was the rod of chastisement. We would say switch. Paul asked, "Do you want me to take the switch to you," or do you want me preach in love and a meek spirit? In essence, Paul was saying that the spiritual condition of the Corinthian believers would determine what he preached and how he preached. If a church is living like the devil a pastor ought to take the rod to them. He ought to take them to the woodshed and tan their hide. Amen! You say, "I don't
like that kind of preaching." Well, it depends on you. How you live will determine what kind of message you will hear. In closing, let me say, it would be encouraging to many pastors if his people understood him better. It would be helpful if they understood his motives and ministry. He wants to mature his people and sometimes that requires him to admonish his people. He is not out to hurt, but help his people. It would be helpful if they understood the tremendous task that is on him to live an exemplary and model life. If this were understood it would encourage members to lift their pastor up in prayer and hold his hands up to God. It would be helpful if they understood why he has to preach the way he does at times. There are times that he must use the rod when he preaches. If this was understood people would not be so quick to criticize and judge him for the way he preaches and what he preaches. People often say, "The pastor don't understand us." The question is, "Do you understand your pastor?"