There are basically two ways to read the Bible — as a book of law, or as a book of promise. Our natural religious psychology wants to read the Bible as law: “God is explaining here how I can win his favor.” A law-hermeneutic is the pre-understanding we naturally bring to our Bible reading, every page. But in Galatians 3 Paul explains that he reads the Bible as a book of promise, and he wants us to as well. He sees every page of the Bible as gracious promise from God to undeserving sinners. Is there law in the Bible? Yes. But it was “added” (v. 19). Law was inserted after the promises to Abraham were established. It is promise that comes first (Genesis 12), then law comes later (Exodus 20). It is promise, therefore, that defines the all-encompassing framework within which we are to read everything else in the Bible... Every page [in the Bible], most deeply understood, shines forth as a promise of grace to sinners in Christ.
Ray Ortlund

Who is your Pastor? – by Ken R. Anderson

Who is your Pastor? – by Ken R. Anderson

Who Is Your “Pastor”

Who Is Your “Pastor”?

Ken R. Anderson
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/j/JustThinking/

Ken R. Anderson [-a former pastor].

Every once in a while I get to thinking . . .

….and lately I have been thinking about that most curious of all questions, “Who is your pastor?”.

How interesting it is that we who claim to be so biblical about our beliefs should be so unBiblical about some of our behaviour. 1Timothy 3:15 “so that
if I can’t come for a while, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the
pillar and support of the truth. (NLT) Paul was not talking about proper manners in church, but about the qualifications for leadership. He was discussing
the qualifications for Elders and Deacons. How amazed he would be to see how things are done today.

The “Pastor”

Not only do we have churches led by one person, who we call (in tones of both reverence and respect) “pastor,” but beneath this esteemed person we have
various and sundry subordinate versions of the same. We have assistant-pastors, associate-pastors, pastors in charge of evangelism and outreach (now there
is an oxymoron if I ever heard one), pastors of administration, pastors in charge of hospital visitation. If all that were not silly enough, any visiting
minister, be they a Teacher, Prophet, Pastor, or Apostle, is usually referred to as an Evangelist! In years gone by when on occasion I would travel in
ministry, teaching and prophesying, I would invariably be introduced as “our visiting evangelist.” In truth, for every bucket of teaching and prophetic
anointing I may have, I have but one drop of evangelism in me.

This may seem normal today, but the New Testament church of the book of Acts would no more recognize these practices than they would some of the unbiblical
beliefs that are presently popular in the church of Jesus Christ. I am sure that if a first century Christian were to visit one of our “Bible Believing
Churches,” they would be confused enough to ask why we have so many “pastors,” and so few of everything else.

If we claim to be scriptural, we need to at least see what the Book says about styles of leadership. We need to come to a clear understanding of leadership
and ministry offices. It might even help to confine ourselves to using only Biblical terms. (Now, there is a dangerous thought!)

Just what words were ordinarily used to refer to those who led the church?

Overseers and Elders

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
(KJV)

Timothy 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had
appointed thee: (KJV)

1Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. (KJV)

Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. (KJV)

Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. (KJV)

Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
(KJV)

Acts 11:30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. (KJV)

Five Fold Offices

Time and time again the leaders of the church were referred to as elders. Now, to make this really interesting, let’s see how many times the word Pastor
is used in scripture, especially in comparison with the other ministry offices of Teacher Evangelist, Prophet, and Apostle. We might be surprised at what
we find.

I looked it up in my Cruden’s Complete Concordance, and even I was shocked. The word Pastor is used only once in the entire New Testament! Once!!! Ephesians
4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” (KJV)

Well, let’s look at how often the other ministry offices are mentioned: Teachers, 9; Apostle(s), 35; Evangelist(s), 3: Prophet(s) 12. That is a ratio of
59 to 1!

Ready for some other startling facts?

• No where and at no time is it ever recorded in scripture someone being referred to as “the Pastor” of a church. There were Elders, and Overseers.

• No where do we find that the word Pastor is used to designate “the person who leads the church.”

In fact, there are two things wrong with that definition. First, not only is it not what “Pastor” means, but no where do we find a single individual leading
any New Testament church. (Wow, are we ever far from the practice of scripture!) Do not take my word for it. Look at the Word. Examine the evidence.

• Of no one was it ever said, “This is my Pastor.”

Some declared they were disciples of this or that Apostle, but this was condemned, not commended. 1Corinthians 3:3-6 “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas
there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos;
are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos
watered; but God gave the increase.” (KJV)

• You cannot find the question, “Who is your pastor?”

This question is on the registration forms for most Charismatic (and other) style conferences. “Please get your Pastor’s signature.” We want to make sure
you are in proper relationship, proper order, properly submitted to “those that have the rule over you.” You know the verses: Hebrews 13:7 “Remember them
which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” (KJV) Hebrews13:17
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with
joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” (KJV) Hebrews13:24 “Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of
Italy salute you.” (KJV) Wait now! Do you see what I see? Not only is there no mention of the word Pastor (especially as used in its present form), but
each verse uses the plural. I think our present form of church government is really in trouble!

The word Pastor, that word found only once in the entire New Testament, means shepherd. It means someone who loves sheep. Loves to be among them, loves
to care for them, loves to fix them up, loves to see them healed, loves to spend time with them. It is a Psalm 23 kind of person. It certainly is not a
person who conducts church services. It is not the one who stands before people several times a week and speaks, preaching or teaching for however long.
Those persons who “lead” in public settings do have their place. They usually are among “them which have the rule over you,”but most of the time they are
not the Pastors of the Flock!

The “Pastor” Must Go

Since the word Pastor is used only once in the New Testament, and since it is never used to denote the person called of God to lead the congregation, and
since it was always persons who led congregations anyway, perhaps it is time we stopped using the word unBiblically. We need to discover what the Word
of God has to say about leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ.

Some may say, but Ken, why not just keep the term “pastor,” and change the system. There are several reasons why this is a bad idea.
• First, the term has
long been associated with the present unBiblical and ungodly system of church government. (If something is unBiblical, is it not automatically ungodly?)
• Second, it is inaccurate. Biblically speaking a pastor is one who cares for the sheep, not one who leads the congregation. Why would an electrician call
himself a plumber, or a truck driver call himself an astronaut? If they knew better, would it not be lying?
• Third, the term “the pastor” is singular.
There were no singular “pastors” in the New Testament church. There were Elders. Plural.

Who Are the Elders?

The time is coming when it will be more the common practice to ask “Who are the Elders at such and such a church” rather than the present question “Who
is the pastor?” At most the question may be asked, “Who is the presiding elder?” or the “set person” among them.

As long as there is confusion as to the role of the Pastor, we will not see a full restoration and release of the full Five Fold Ministry/Leadership offices
of the church of Jesus Christ. I believe that if the church could clear up the confusion surrounding this one issue, it would open the door to further
revelation concerning church government, and we could experience a fresh move of God’s Spirit, worldwide.

“Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”

***End of Ken’s article***

*Note: I do not agree with Brother Ken on the issue of “presiding elder” or “set person”, since I do not see this in any of the epistles. The writers never addressed the set person or presiding elder. They treated the elders and overseers as a group and made no distinction between them. Paul never admonished a “set person” for allowing the sin or false teachings that Paul had to write about in order to bring about correction in the local church. If there was a “set person”, would not have Paul held him responsible for false teaching and blatant sin?
– Curtis L. Hall*

***
You can read more from this CD on this subject by reading the chapter called ‘Exhortation’ found in the small booklet by Norman P. Grubb called ‘Continuous Revival’.

Norman P. Grubb worked with C. T. Studd and wrote the booklet ‘Continuous Revival’ while experiencing continuous revival in east central Africa for 16 years!