Tag: Leadership

Your Pastor is a Gift from God

Your Pastor is a Gift from God

Many churchgoers and individuals alike often hold a superficial understanding of what the church truly is and how it functions within their lives. This ignorance frequently extends to a profound misunderstanding of the roles of faith leaders. When we fail to grasp the essence and purpose of the church, cultivating a healthy, reciprocal relationship with its leadership becomes nearly impossible. While most acknowledge that the church and its pastors exist to “serve” or “minister,” the practical “how” remains largely undefined in their minds.

Faith leaders are often perceived as figures attached to a particular building—like gears in an institutional machine—rather than as integral members of a spiritual family. To many, their pastor is akin to a distant relative at a family gathering: present, but not intimately known, consulted only in moments of crisis or when an urgent need, like a wedding venue, arises.

This prevailing perception leads to a significant forfeiture of invaluable support. We unknowingly relinquish a wealth of guidance and care when we neglect to establish a genuine relationship with the faith leaders “given to us.” The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 4:11-13, illuminates this profound truth:

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

The New Living Translation’s opening—”Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church…”—underscores this revelation: pastors, alongside other spiritual guides, are not merely professionals or administrators but divine gifts from God Himself. The Lord Jesus Christ did not gift a structure or an organization; He gifted people as pastors. More profoundly, He gifted every believer a personal faith leader, both collectively within the body and individually.

Imagine the profound implications of this divine provision: we have the opportunity to unwrap a gift tailor-made for us. A curious exploration of the pastor’s role would reveal a treasure of knowledge, wisdom, care, understanding, and potent praying power. The realization that faith leaders possess the capacity to intercede on our behalf, approaching heaven with our concerns, is in itself a compelling reason to embrace and unravel this divine gift.

Once we embrace this incredible blessing, the true scope of its benefits, as outlined in Ephesians 4:11-13 and elaborated upon through further scriptural understanding, becomes clear:

  • Equipping God’s people for works of service: Pastors are entrusted with training and preparing believers for active ministry. Their role isn’t to shoulder all the work but to empower and enable the entire congregation to utilize their spiritual gifts, serving both within the church and the wider world.
  • Building up the body of Christ: Pastors equip, strengthen, and steer the church’s growth. Their focus encompasses both numerical increase and spiritual maturation.
  • Attaining unity in the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God: Through the faithful ministry of pastors, believers are guided toward a deeper, unified comprehension of Christian truth and a more profound, intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ. This unity defends against division and promotes doctrinal soundness.
  • Becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ: Pastors serve as spiritual guides, leading believers toward profound spiritual maturity, shaping them to increasingly reflect Christ’s character and conduct. This involves moving beyond spiritual infancy, becoming firmly established in faith, and not being easily swayed by deceptive teachings.

While Ephesians 4:11-13 directly articulates these core functions, the qualities of knowledge, wisdom, care, concern, mentorship, and intercessory prayer are inherently woven into the fabric of a pastor’s role and are indispensable for fulfilling the passage’s mandates. The ability to “equip God’s people” and lead them to “unity in the faith” necessitates a pastor’s knowledge of Scripture, enabling them to teach truth and safeguard the flock from error, as warned in verse 14.

Beyond knowledge, wisdom is essential for applying biblical truth to life, guiding individuals through challenges, and discerning God’s will. The very term “pastor,” derived from the Greek “poimenas” (shepherd), intrinsically implies profound care and concern for the flock—a vital nurturing aspect for “building up the body of Christ.” Mentorship is a natural outgrowth of equipping and leading to maturity, as pastors guide, train, and model Christ-like living. Furthermore, a pastor’s spiritual leadership and deep care for their flock inherently involve intercessory prayer, a fundamental aspect of pastoral care and a key way they “serve” and “build up” the body.

A Deeper Dive

Pastors offer critical protection from false teaching and cultivate spiritual discernment. Ephesians 4:14 explicitly states, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” Through sound teaching and unwavering commitment to biblical truth, pastors act as shields against errant doctrines.

The divine gift of leaders also establishes order and stability within the church. Pastors, as overseers, contribute to the healthy functioning of the community by providing spiritual guidance, resolving conflicts (Matthew 18:15-17), and ensuring smooth operations. Their role also encompasses encouragement and, when necessary, loving admonishment, both crucial for “building up the body of Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Titus 2:15).

Pastors bless the congregation by modeling Christ-like character, serving as living examples of integrity, humility, and faithfulness (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). By equipping saints for ministry, pastors actively cultivate a culture of service, transforming the church from a passive “consumer” entity into a vibrant, “contributing” body. Their primary means of equipping is through spiritual growth fostered by preaching and teaching—regular, clear, and challenging exposition of God’s Word that nourishes believers and prompts them to apply biblical truths. As shepherds, pastors offer vital pastoral care and support, providing comfort, guidance, and assistance during times of crisis, grief, and personal struggle. Finally, when pastors effectively lead and teach, they foster unity in purpose and mission within the congregation. They foster a shared vision for reaching the lost, serving the community, and glorifying God.

The prevalent disconnect between the average churchgoer and their understanding of church leadership isn’t merely a semantic oversight; it represents a profound missed opportunity for spiritual growth, support, and community. By failing to recognize faith leaders as divine gifts, specially appointed by Christ to equip, build up, and unify His body, we inadvertently limit our own access to the very resources necessary for a vibrant and mature faith.

Embracing the biblical truth that pastors are heaven-sent provisions unlocks a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, protection, and intercession designed to help us flourish personally and collectively. When we move beyond viewing faith leaders as mere institutional figures or emergency contacts and instead see them as cherished, God-given guides, we open ourselves to the transformative power of a healthy, Christ-centered relationship. This relationship propels us toward spiritual maturity and empowers us to fully participate in the glorious purpose of the church.

It’s time for the church to truly understand its leaders—not as employees of a building, but as integral, invaluable gifts, unwrapped and cherished for the building of God’s kingdom on earth.

Shoved Off the Throne

Shoved Off the Throne

In his book, Made for Goodness, Desmond Tutu talks about a time when he lead presumptuously until he made a simple decision that would serve to reveal the frailties in his ministry. In short, he put off visiting a sick parishioner and she died before he reached out to her. For Desmond Tutu this was a colossal failure. When he received the news that the lady had passed away he felt like he had been shoved off the throne of ethereal ascent. Suddenly, a sanctified, mighty and revered Desmond Tutu was made to feel low, inept, and undeserving. He had to sulk in the pain of failing the deceased woman, failing the community from which she came, failing self, and failing at the commitment he made to God. Perhaps, the latter was the most hurtful.

Desmond Tutu’s pitfall in this situation only serves to show that the best among us fail. We know that Desmond Tutu’s contributions to the world far exceed whatever mistakes he made along the way.  However, there is something we can glean from how he viewed his failure. He said he felt as though he had been shoved off the throne.  For our exploration there are four important questions. First, what throne was he speaking of?  Second, who put him on it? Third, who shoved him off?  Finally, why does it matter?

More than a large chair atop a flight of stairs, a throne is also an impalpable reality.  We don’t always see thrones, but we know they exist. A throne represents a euphoric position of power. On some level we all have a position of power. Thus, we all have a throne to marvel.  Our throne is what we use to display our power. Perhaps this is the reason we work so hard, and spend much of our lives constructing our throne; we want to put our power on display. Desmond Tutu’s throne displayed his ability to lead people in religious devotion.  Yes noble, but undoubtedly a dangerously powerful position.

We like to think that our throne is ordained by God.  This way of thinking helps suppress the guilt that stems from vanity. We would rather believe God desires for us to live elevated than accept that our throne is self-aggrandized.  So, we pray for our throne; we ask God to bless our throne.  We even plead God’s hand in building our throne.  The problem is we construct our throne regardless of what God says. We are determined to acquire our position(s) of power with, or without God’s consent. Thus, we don’t always know for whom, or by whom our throne is built. God and Desmond Tutu may have shared hands in building his throne.  Tutu may have formed, and mounted his throne all alone.  Nonetheless, Desmond Tutu found himself forced off.

Though it may not be clear who built his throne, Desmond Tutu uses language that would help us understand that he did not voluntarily step down. According to him he was shoved off the throne.  In other words, he was forced down.  Apart from himself there are only two other possibilities for who was responsible for his demotion. Either it was the people who acknowledged his throne, or it was God.  People can surely knock us off our pedestal.  They can dismantle our thrones with accusations, gossip, condemnation, or any other use of their power.  In this case witnesses would denote Desmond Tutu’s neglect to visit his parishioner as an understandable blunder.  After all, people witness worse indiscretions committed by leaders frequently.  The standard in which people have become accustomed to holding leaders accountable had been diminished greatly by the time of Tutu’s mistake.  So, the people whom recognized his throne had no impulse to dethrone him. However, God was fully aware of Desmond Tutu’s misstep; and God’s standards do not fluctuate.

Desmond Tutu was ever mindful of his humility under the sight of God.  He was aware that his throne was a privilege, and that he should honor God by being careful with it.   The standard set for governing his throne was far greater than what people would expect of him.  It was a Godly standard.  It was one that was established by him and God alone. No matter what anyone else thought, Tutu was well aware of how far he missed the mark. In the end it would be God, who pricked Desmond Tutu’s conscience, and God who shoved him off the throne.

Why does any of this matter? Heirs of God should be made aware that God reserves the right to bring us down from the noblest pedestals. So how much more should we expect to be dethroned from constructs of selfish ambition? It’s plausible that God only allows us to build thrones so that God can shove us off of them. This is the secret life of God’s chosen; a life of being lifted up and shoved down.  Does this personify God as a mean bully who takes pleasure in setting people up to fail?  No more than it does a teacher who looks forward to her/his students making mistakes.  If we are to grow, learn and be of effective use for God we have to endure the pain of occasionally being brought down.  Only after we are brought down we give proper attention to the flaws in our life’s design. We pick apart the places in our ascent where we worked to build ourselves up without God’s input. In the end, Desmond Tutu appreciated God’s rebuke. He learned that he did not have it all together. There were some areas in his ministry that needed some attention. He also learned that his throne was not completely a divine construct.  Some of it was made of self-glory. This acknowledgement served Desmond Tutu in becoming a better servant.  We should note that from time to time we will be shoved off our throne. It creates in us the humility necessary for the proper use of our power.

Read (Philippians 2:5-8)