If you’ve ever asked the question “What does my pastor do all day?”, this is what he’s doing (or should be). If you’re a Christian, and not a pastor, this may may help you to pray for, encourage, and have healthy expectations for your pastors.
If you are a pastor and you’ve ever asked the question “What did I do all day?”, this may help you at least answer as to what you (we) should be doing all day.
According to the German Reformation pastor Martin Bucer (1491-1551), the task of a pastor is the true care of souls. He finds this stated throughout Scripture, and draws a brief, helpful summary from Ezekiel 34:16, which says “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will watch over and shepherd with justice.” Within this passage, he finds the five main tasks required of pastors. The following is quoted from Bucer’s book “Concerning the True Care of Souls”.
The Five Main tasks of the care of souls.
First: to lead to Christ our Lord and into his communion those who are still estranged from him, whether through carnal excess or false worship.
Secondly: to restore those who had once been brought to Christ and into his church, but have been drawn away again through the affairs of the flesh or false doctrine
Thirdly: to assist in the true reformation of those who while remaining in the church of Christ have grievously fallen and sinned.
Fourthly: to re-establish in true Christian strength and health those who, while persevering in the fellowship of Christ and not doing anything particularly or grossly wrong, have become somewhat feeble and sick in the Christian life.
Fifthly: to protect from all offence and falling away and and continually encouraging in all good things those who stay with the flock and in Christ’s sheep-pen without grievously sinning or becoming weak and sick in their Christian walk.
End quote.
May God adjust our expectations for pastoral ministry according to His Word, not according to cultural norms and expectations!
Great quote/explanation. I pray those of us who fall in the 5th category are mindful of the expectations of our pastors and leaders and encourage them, pray for them, and are quick to be patient and kind to them.
With much love and encouragement……