Is this really a big deal preacher? Is it a bad idea for pastors to be creative, have focus, and develop healthy, productive relationships? Sure it can't hurt but that is not the point. This is not presented as some helpful ideas but rather necessary pastoral traits. The very real thing that is overlooked is that the Bible already provides such a list for us and it is found in the key verses today.
For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach.
The requirements for the calling begins with reminding those that would take this mantle that they are in fact a steward of God. They are an undershepherd to the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Why is this important? Because so many forget it today in the seeker friendly church landscape. New pastors are taught they are a CEO, not a shepherd. Visionary-obsessed pastor Andy Stanley is quoted as saying the word shepherd is no longer culturally relevant! As if what the Bible says changes based upon what generation or culture we find ourselves in. I assure you it does not. Pastors must be stewards first and as such, they must be above reproach. Not "creative"; - but rather above reproach. The word reproach means finding disgrace or discredit. The pastor must be above being disgraced or discredited. Just one glance across Christendom and we see how far we have fallen in this regard with pastors falling every day from one indiscretion or another. The amazing thing is the reflexive way we run to protect the fallen instead of the sheep. We should always pray for restoration of the fallen's life and walk but our primary concern should be with the sheep of God. Continuing on:
He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain
There are no philosophical items listed here. Nothing to parse out like "fierce focus" or "tolerating messy." No beloved. These are straightforward and easy to understand. I may not know any drunkard pastors or violent pastors but I certainly can think of some unbelievably arrogant and quick tempered ones. Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill church has yet to even apologize for bragging about the pile of dead bodies he is leaving behind the Mars Hill bus. I remember Benny Hinn wishing he had a "Holy Ghost machine gun" so he could kill those pastors who were criticizing him. I have heard unknown pastors tell sheep to leave their church simply for disagreeing - something they will answer for when they stand before Christ to give account for all the sheep entrusted to them. Likewise, I can certainly think of a plethora of pastors who are greedy for gain. The obvious ones are the likes of Mike Murdoch and Kenneth Copeland but there are also the second tier players. The ones who have values in the tens of millions of dollars while their congregants wallow in poverty. TD Jakes (18 million) and Creflo Dollar (27 million) come to mind. Are people entitled to the fruit of their labor? Absolutely. It just seems to pass a level of unseemliness when you reside in million dollar mansions while preaching to the poor. Then there is the third tier who preach punitive tithing to the poor. All fall within the greedy for gain category which should disqualify them as pastors. Continuing:
but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
Now the key verses deal with some traits the pastor ought to have. Nothing about knowing when to push and when to back off. Nothing about making sure their call is settled. No beloved. Once again, straightforward, unambiguous and to the point. Pastors are supposed to be hospitable. Quite frankly in the age of mega pastors who view themselves as CEO, they have become far too distant from the sheep they are supposed to be tending to. Instead such assignments are delegated downward to an assistant pastor or even worse an untrained ministry worker. I have seen pastors be approached by wailing congregants in need of just a few minutes of their time and they were met with - call the office and make an appointment. I know people who had dying family members and could not get an appointment to see the shepherd. Any inhospitable shepherd who has no time for his sheep is not fit for the pulpit. I didn't say it - God does. They are also supposed to be a lover of good. I invite you to visit ilovemarshill.com and read the horrifying stories of abuse people suffered at the hands of Mark Driscoll at Mars Hill Church. When you follow the CEO model, you convince yourself that sacrificing a few sheep for the greater good is somehow acceptable. I assure you it is not to Christ. The last four things listed here all seem related to the management of the personal life of the pastor. He needs to be self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. To be holy means to be set apart for the work God has called you to. It goes back to being a steward of God. We see pastors fall every day it seems from one indiscretion or another. Sexual impropriety with congregants. Adultery. Embezzlement. Stealing from the sheep. How does this happen? Because the new pastors are too busy making sure they have fierce focus instead of making sure they have fierce self discipline. They are too busy settling their call instead of settling their uprightness. Beloved, these things are not optional. I have heard the argument that it is too demanding. It should be! You are called to shepherd the sheep of God and you are running around making sure you are creative enough? While all the while knowing you have no discipline when it comes to women outside your marriage? Dear Lord forgive us. We continue with the key verses:
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
