So You Want To Be A Pastor?

I Timothy 3:1-7

In order to be qualified to work as a plumber, I was required to demonstrate that I had at least two years training at the job. Once I had proven that I was required to take a test demonstrating my knowledge of the legal requirements for doing plumbing, and a test demonstrating my ability to do the actual physical techniques required. Until I had demonstrated the necessary training, skills, and understanding of the obligations required, I could not legally work as a plumber. The most I could do was assist a plumber.

There are similar laws for teachers, electricians, lawyers doctors, real estate agents, truck drivers, airline pilots and many other occupations. The standards have been adopted to protect the public from harmful and dangerous practices by people who do know what is required. An airline pilot who doesn’t have proper skills may cause an accident killing hundreds of people. A plumber may cause an explosion which kills people, or contamination of a water supply that results in thousands becoming sick or dying. The teacher may cause severe emotional damage or teach the student to do things wrongly, so that he is unable to provide for himself. The requirements protect society from such dangers. Those who persist in ignoring safe standards can have their licenses taken away.

The stringency of the requirements is closely related to the level of danger resulting from unsafe practices. A driver’s license demands far less stringent standards than a commercial driver’s license, and the truck drivers license requirements are far less stringent than those for an airline pilot. The standards are the minimum required to be sure one is capable of properly doing the job.

God has established a similar minimum standard for church leaders. I was asked, “do we really have the right to demand such a standard of pastors?” We demand that other occupations meet a standard, why not pastors. How strict the standard should be is determined by how important properly performing the job is. If we believe the pastor’s job is just a social or moral tradition, we may settle for these standards as merely recommendations. If we believe that he is actually affecting the eternal destiny of souls, on the other hand, the standards become crucial because the pastor will have a direct effect on whether people go to heaven or hell. Once again, we find that the nature of our faith in God is demonstrated by our actions.

The majority of people I have talked to seemed unaware of any requirement except that he must be the husband of one wife, and even that was usually used to prove that a woman wasn’t qualified as pastor. As a result many are pastoring who do not qualify. We will look at other scriptures to obtain a better understanding of what each of the standards given entail. I hope that this will stimulate you to pursue a more thorough study of the subject. Let’s start by reading the entire standard, then examining what the office is and what is entailed.

“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” (I Timothy 3:1-7)”

The first thing needing to be addressed is “what is a Bishop?” The word translated bishop is from the Greek word “episcopes”, meaning an overseer or superintendent. He is charged with overseeing the church. The term is not used when Paul describes the offices God has placed in the church in I Corinthians 12:28. “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” .” Ephesians 4:11-12 describes it similarly. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” In Corinthians, Paul appears to lump evangelists, pastors and teachers all into the category of teachers.

Many believe that a bishop is a higher office than a pastor, and as such must meet a higher standard. Jesus forbade such an hierarchy when James and John’s mother wanted him to set them in places of higher authority in Matthew 20:25-28. “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” He set himself as the example, as not placing himself above the people.

Theo word “pastor” means shepherd, and Jesus is called both shepherd and bishop in I Peter 2:25. In other passages the terms bishop, pastor and elder are used almost interchangeably, and clearly the jobs of overseer and shepherd have much in common. It would appear that they are merely other descriptions of the same office. A careful examination of the job descriptions will reinforce the conclusion. The bishop is the same as the pastor and is subject to the same standards.

Just as I was required to meet certain standards before I could work as a plumber, a man who wishes to be a pastor or bishop must be willing to meet the standards. Those who would not meet those standards and obtain their license were breaking the law and subject to arrest, fines and imprisonment. Those who refuse to meet the standards for pastors are in similar violation if they take the job. While it is a good work, there is great responsibility.

In the next lesson, we will look at the specific standards.