Churches that have a true shepherd will be set up well to grow. They will see that their pastor has a hunger for the Scriptures, and this will encourage his congregants to have a hunger for the Scriptures as well. They will see a pastor who truly loves people, and this will encourage them to also love the people in their lives. Pastors need to be those who people want to follow as they follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Pastors should aim to live an inspiring life that inspires others to be soldiers of the cross.
A successful pastor, like a farmer, is a jack of all trades. He needs to be knowledgeable in the Bible and theology. He needs to have public speaking skills. He needs to have the ability to counsel. He needs to have administrative skills. He needs to be a man of prayer. He needs to have leadership skills. Lastly, he needs to work well with people.
Here is a concern I have.
I am concerned that seminaries are producing theologians who are hired by churches, and once they arrive there is a profound disconnect between the pastor and the ordinary Christian in the pew. This disconnect is not something unique in young pastors alone, but some stay in this place their entire ministries, thinking this is what pastoral ministry is. This is not a new problem, but it might be more prevalent now than ever given the lust for knowledge to elevate one’s status in the broader evangelical movement, thinking that academic proficiency above all else is a measure of spiritual maturity.
The Greatest Model Of A Shepherd
Obviously, it’s not a bad thing to undergo rigorous academic training – good shepherds should also be sharp thinkers, able to effectively preach, teach, and defend the truth from false teaching (Titus 1:9). But in most seminaries, there is far less emphasis on what it means to be a true biblical shepherd and more on the latest theological novelty.
The greatest model of a shepherd is Jesus Christ. He described what every shepherd should strive to be in John 10. There Jesus says,
He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. (John 10:2-5)
Jesus says later on in the chapter,
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).
What is clear is that Jesus, the chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), knows the sheep. They are drawn to his voice. There is an intimate relationship between the chief shepherd and the sheep. All undershepherds are to follow this example. The people feel safe with the shepherd who knows his people. They are wary of strangers but trust the true shepherd to lead them in the example of the chief shepherd (Psalm 23:1-4).
Access To The Shepherd
This raises the question. How many shepherds in the American church know their people well?