The Word, Pastor
The word pastor is an endearing, loving, protecting, guiding, leading and familial type of word. What pastors have not been accepted and integrated into the personal lives and families of those they serve? The very presence of a pastor offers protection and safety from a chaotic world. A pastor offers the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit as as a consistent source of comfort, help and healing. Typically, physicians are not invited to dinner to parishioners homes but pastors are. A pastor is invited into the most sensitive places of an individual's life and expected to keep all things in confidence.
It is amazing that God calls people to minister in this way. What a dynamic responsibility and call to action a pastor responds to. Jesus Christ places confidence in you to lead his followers to the Living Waters and to be that living representation of his Spirit in the most sensitive places of the human heart and spirit.
The Ministry of Pastoring
This ministry of pastoring has the weight of eternal accountability and to foul up is disastrous carrying eternal consequences. Jesus Christ was firmest in teaching the disciples as they were his personal ministers that would pave and provide the foundations and blueprints of spiritual leadership to the newly called Christians. Jesus Christ called these twelve to accountability and action. A variety of responses came as a result of this calling ranging from acceptance not really fully understanding what would be involved, to rejection and complete betrayal resulting from adherence to natural human inclinations and denial for reasons of fear and self will.
Pastors Are Human, Who Cares?
Pastors are human and are in need of being pastored. Who cares for the pastor? Often times no one! This is not what Jesus Christ intended. He personally ministered to his disciples and never left them unattended. He sent the Holy Spirit after the resurrection. He affirmed that he was going to be with them always. The Holy Spirit personally ministers to the pastor in different ways on all occasions of ministry. These upcoming posts will provide a new schema of Pastoring to Pastors!
