One of Christ’s sustaining gifts to His church is God-called men to be “pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). These two words show the main functions of those who occupy the office of elder: shepherding people and learning God’s Word so as to teach others.
The order of Paul’s words, with shepherding placed first and teaching second, may be insignificant. However, it may hint at something worth noticing; namely, that the first task of pastors is the care of people. Preaching and teaching the Word of God are central to that priority, as the proclamation of God’s truth is the chief means to secure spiritual well-being. But the public ministry of the Word is not all the ministry that is needed (See Acts 20:20).
Some who preach well and teach ever so faithfully do not shepherd very well—at least not in those ways that require tender, understanding, personal involvement with God’s flock in their distress. And the Lord’s sheep have distresses in this world. As every shepherd knows; at times, sheep-care can be rather unpleasant business.
It seems that many dear men, intent on being faithful workmen in the Word, have virtually retired from hands-on, up-close-and-personal shepherding. That would require a man to be intimately involved with the sometimes messy lives of hurting, sometimes stupid, often smelly sheep. Studying, writing, preaching, enjoying fine coffee and even finer theological discussions with colleagues is so much cleaner work. Preference for quiet study over time spent with sheep may begin with a man’s sincere intention to faithfully proclaim the Word of God so that the Lord’s people don’t starve: there are starving sheep out there. Yet sometimes well-fed sheep feel very alone, forlorn, and weary. Well-fed sheep can get into real trouble.
Seldom is there an easy fix, but just occasionally a word of encouragement from our pastor can change our entire perception and encourage our obedience to Christ. Someone cares. When the scholar who preaches to us on the Lord’s Day shows a shepherd’s interest in our daily pains and stresses and needs, it means more than …, well. Saints do grow weary in well-doing; sheep can get stuck in a briar thicket. We need personal care. We need to be loved by someone who loves Jesus. We need help getting out of the mess we’re in. Nothing replaces heart-to-heart ministry. In fact, the absence of it can be devastating.
We must never begrudge God’s man the time and space and energy he needs in order to do his important work in the Word. The better he studies and learns and grows, the better our souls are nourished by the Scriptures. It is necessary that pastors be maturing scholars, growing students in God’s school; time in study and time in prayer are essential.
Ah, but is it possible that some excellent men in the pastorate think of themselves too much as scholars and not enough as shepherds? More comfortable with books than with people, they read and write and prepare sermons. Dealing with sick sheep and seemingly always needy saints is not exactly work for a refined academic. They imagine that if only they do well in the public preaching there will be little if any need for personal ministry; everything should be fine. But this is not always the case, as we well know.
Well taught sheep may disobey the Word. They may know the truth and not do it. What then, pastor? Is it back to the study to fashion a better sermon? Or do we get ourselves out from behind our desks and alongside that sinning or suffering believer and help him out of his jam? Or maybe just be there with him. He may have gotten himself into the mess. He may be a victim of pathetic judgment. He may be ruined through the treachery of others and through no fault of his own, although we tend to doubt it. Whatever the reason, whatever the excuse or explanation, God’s blood-bought sheep need real shepherds who really love them.
Some utterly fail as scholars, unable or unwilling to learn the Word of God and faithfully teach it. Because they cannot feed the flock of God they do not belong in the pastorate; they have not been called by the Holy Spirit, who equips God-called men for the work He calls them to do. Indeed, there are some men whose academic scholarship is simply astounding and they are devoted, superlative shepherds to their people. But those who sequester themselves in the study and only come out to preach or to present another scholarly “paper” will never truly shepherd God’s flock. Monastic isolation often makes men strange and many are strange enough already. Seclusion does little to make men ready to care for souls.
Pastors are bishops. Their work is to oversee, supervise, to watch over God’s flock. This oversight, shepherding, requires some measure of involvement in the lives of people. The pastor’s study must never be abandoned, for there is no substitute for the meat of the Word. But the people of God need their pastors to come out of the study occasionally and breathe the same air as they do. We need real men, men of God, shepherds who are scholars to serve the good of our souls.
Consider the encouragement and challenge of Paul’s admonitions. “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28 NKJV).
Brother, pay attention to the man you become. Love repentance. Pay attention to the flock, remembering that they are individuals, too. Be a true shepherd. Consider the work and Him who calls you to it. Be an eager scholar. Reflect on the ransom that Heaven demanded for our freedom. Let us meet together in worship at His feet. –TSA
