Every believer is called into the full-time ministry. Every member of the Body of Christ serves full-time. But, no matter how much a Church member would desire, he cannot choose to assume the ministry of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers - the so-called five-fold ministry, without a clear and unique calling from God.
Such a ministry (pastor in particular) should not be undertaken unless one has been especially called for such a purpose. Pastors are ministers of the Lord and He alone does the choosing. Those whom He chooses, have the benefit of a personal encounter and experience resulting in "knowing" that they are called.
In his epistle to the Christians in Ephesus, Paul said: "And He (Christ) gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers, for the equiping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ..." (Eph. 4:11, 12, NKJV, emphasis added).
To be a Pastor, one must not presume that because hs is scholastically prepared or because he, or others, decided he should pursue such a ministry; qualifies himself for such a ministry. Before specialized training is pursued, one must have received a personal call.
The "impossible" demands a Pastor needs to face
I came across a message written by an unknown author to Christians telling them what "impossible" demands a Pastor needs to face:
"Have you ever tried to preach fifty-two sermons a year to the same congregation - sometimes to almost empty audience?
Have you ever tried to please all the members of your Church?
Have you ever tried to lead a prayer meeting week after week when 148 of the 150 members are absent?
Have you ever attempted to visit all newcomers in your community? And of your congregation, have you visit all the sick at home; all the aged and the home-bound; and all who are hospitalized? Have you seek after the lost in your neighourhood?
Have you ever tried to get up in the early hours of the morning and drive more than 30 km to pray for one of your sick or dying members?
Have you ever had to lead when no one would follow?
Have you ever tried to get a little man to do a big job, or a big man to do a small job?
Have you ever tried to carry the burden of a lost world, plus the burden of your own Church and community?
Have you ever tried to love when others hate, or praise when others condemn?
Have you ever tried to bind up broken hearts or re-establich broken homes?
Have you ever tried to sympathize with and help fallen men and women when others seem not to care and even mock?
Have you ever tried to smile upon empty collection bags and realize that the world is moving away from God?
Have you ever tried to pour out your very own soul to get men to give themselves to Christ and have no response?
If not, then you cannot know what it means to be the Pastor of a Local Church!"
Let me add to the last line: If yes, then you surely know that a Pastor is a supernaturally called leader to shepherd a God-given flock.
The above demands call for supernatural strength and ability, wisdom and gifts to carry out all the tasks demanded by the ministry of a Pastor.
Timothy's Pastoral Ministry
I believe the two Epistles that Paul wrote to Timothy give the "blue-print" for a perfect Church ministry. First Timothy is Paul's advice to Pastors and Second Timothy is Paul's final messge to the Church.
The practical significance of Paul's advice to Timothy goes beyond those who are Pastors. Every Christian is called to a life of ministry and is to follow the example of the Pastor as the sheep following the shepherd.
Paul said, "These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Tim. 4:11, 12, emphasis added).
Paul had personally guided Timothy, a young Pastor. But Timothy encountered severe trials when he was assigned the task of leading the Church at Ephesus out of sin and error. He struggled with fear and human weakness. He was evidently tempted to soften his preaching in the face of persecution. At times he seemed ashamed of the Gospel. Paul had to remind him to stand up for the faith with boldness, even if it meant suffering:
Paul said, "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the Gospel according to the powe of God, ..." (2 Tim. 1:8).
The two important and rich Epistles from Paul to Timothy outline a ministry philosophy that put to shame the worldly pragmatic philosophy prevailing in today's Churches!
Paul's admonitions and instructions to Timothy
With careful study of the two Epistles we are able to list out Paul's admonitions and instructions to Timothy. It is interesting to see if we can identify any "Timothy" in today's Local Churches. For the sake of clarity I am going to paraphrase the verses which are Paul's instructions to Timothy. The reader should read all the verses of Scripture concerned. I shall also give my personal comment based on the Scriptures and personal observation following each instruction from Paul.
First Epistle of Paul to Timothy
1. To correct those who teach false doctrine and encourage them to have a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sinsere faith (1 Tim. 1:3 - 5)
On the contrary, many teachers of the Word, or Pastors, or preachers of today are deceived themselves. Hence, they are not capable of correcting those who teach false doctrines.
2. To fight for divine truth and for God's purposes, keeping his own faith and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:18).
Because of unbelief and deception, many ministers do not love the truth and do not fear God. Their own faith suffered shipwreck. Some of them even reject divine truth because of pride.
3. To pray for all men, especially those who are in authority (kings and government leaders) and the lost, and lead the men of the Local Church to do likewise (1 Tim. 2:1 - 8).
If Pastors, elders and leaders are truly honest to themselves and to God, they seldom spend time in prayers, intercessions and supplications let alone leading Church members to pray.
4. To call women in the Local Church to fulfill their God-given role of submission and to raise up godly children, setting an example of fatih, love, and sanctity with self-restraint (1 Tim. 2:9 - 15)
Nowadays it is common to find ordained women Pastors and preachers. The Scripture clearly forbid women to teach and have authority over men. Pastors are shepherds and they lead and protect the sheep and so it is ridiculous to have women to lead and protect men Church members.
5. Carefully select spiritual leaders for the Local Church on the basis of their giftedness, godliness and virtue (1 Tim 3:1 - 13).
Many Pastors are unable to dicern the spiritual gifts of Church members. Even if they are able to discern, many of them will not let them use their gifts for reasons known only to themselves. I believe many Pastors fear their inaccurate teachings will be revealed and so feel embarrass about it.
6. Recognize the source of errors and those who teach it, and expose them publicly to the rest of the Church (1 Tim. 4:1 - 6).
In some Local Churches Pastors, leaders and members are so used to errors in spiritual things that, they are not able to recognize the source of errors even though they have the Scriptures to refer to.
7. To teach and preach principles of true godliness, helping believers to dicern between true godliness and mere hypocrisy (1 Tim. 5:24 - 6:6).
When you have Pastors and preachers who are not capable in discerning between true godliness and hypocricy, how do you expect them to teach Church members to discern?
8. To instruct the rich not to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God (1 Tim. 6:17 - 19).
Jesus said that it is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. Due to fear of losing the rich men as Church members many Pastors tend to avoid giving this instruction. It is not unusual to find the rich holding leadership positions in the Local Church, even if their lifestyle is worldly and questionable.
Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy
1. Not to be fearful or timid but minister in power, in love and with a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7).
Many Pastors and elders fear men and try to please men instead of trying to fear and please God. They compromise the truth of of God's Word. And so, their preaching is devoid of power.
2. Be a teacher of apostolic truth or the apostles' doctrine so that he may reproduce himself in faithful men (2 Tim. 2:2),
It is doubtful if we can find many Pastors or preachers whos teachings or doctrines follow strictly to the apostolic truth.
3. Be diligent to present himself approved to God, interpret and apply Scripture accurately (2 Tim. 2:15).
The actual verse says that if we "rightly dividing the word of truth" God is pleased and we need not be ashamed. This also means it is shameful if the word of truth is interpreted wrongly! If this instrution is followed strictly, the Church will not be deceived by false doctrines.
4. Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching (2 Tim. 4:1, 2).
I believe the simple command - "Preach the Word" is the centerpiece of every truly Biblical ministry philosophy. The Pastor's task is to proclaim the Scripture and give sense of it and nothing else. All other content is extraneous.
5. Do not compromise in difficult times (2 Tim. 4:3, 4).
The difficult times that Paul referred to is when "they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."
In my opinion we are going through the "difficult times' now. I believe when people will not tolerate the truth is the right time when courageous, outspoken preachers are most desperately needed to proclaim it.
Why are people unwilling to endure sound preaching and teaching? it is because they love sin. Sound preaching confronts ad rebukes sin, and people in love with sinful lifestyles will not tolerate such teaching.
6. Endure afflictions and hardship (2 Tim. 4:5).
Paul reminded Timothy that Pastors or ministers cannot be those who yearn for earthly applause. Neither can they be lovers of earthly comfort. Paul knew Timothy could not have the kind of ministry God desired of him unless he was willing to go through some suffering.
If the Lord calls someone to be Pastor, He will certainly enable him supernaturally to endure afflictions and hardship.
What Paul did not instruct Timothey to do?
It is interesting to consider what Paul did not instruct Timothy to do:
1. Paul said nothing to Timothy about how the congregation of believers may respond to his ministry method.
2. He did not instruct Timothy to attend a Bible Seminary or College for training before his is considered qualified to pastor a congregation.
3. He did not ask Timothy to build a Bible Seminary or College to train others how to endure as a Pastor.
4. He did not lecture Timothy on how to be successful in building mega-churches, and how to raise funds to expand existing Church premises.
5. He did not tell Timothy how much offering he needs to collect and how influential his Church needs to be to attract rich Christians.
6. He did not instruct Timothy to remember to celebrate Christmas and Easter in his Church so that inactive Church members have a reason to come to Church at least once or twice a year to be entertained.
When Pastors fail to lead the Church to seek for fruitful spiritual activities they have to look for external worldly substitutes. Otherwise the Church would be empty. But this is never the will of God!
Conclusion
Paul said nothing whatever about a "successful" Local Church. In Scripture external success is never a valid goal. The appropriate goal for the Church is not success, but excellence. Paul was encouraging Timothy to be all that God had called and gifted him to be. He was not advising Timothey to seek success; he was urging him to pursue excellence! After all this is what pleases the Lord who is waiting for His Glrious Bride, wonderfully prepared for Him. Timothy was expected to play his part to prepare the Lord's Bride. Shouldn't all Pastors also play their parts to prepare the Bride of Christ?
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