Have you ever heard someone ask a preacher or perhaps asked one yourself, “are you the pastor”? This is a simple question that might be heard almost anywhere on a Sunday in this area as well as many other places. The question is seemingly so innocent that hardly anyone would think there could be anything wrong with it yet while the question itself is not malicious, anyone who asks this question has a problem.

Why, what problem you may ask? The problem is that anyone asking this question has a lack of knowledge which places their soul in jeopardy. Most people today are not aware of the Biblical use of the term “pastor”.

The word “pastor” is used only one time in the New Testament, Eph 4:11. It is listed along with the words, apostles, prophets, evangelists and teachers. It is interesting that a word used only once has become almost the universal term for addressing ministers of any kind. The Greek word for pastor is “poimen” and means shepherd or pastor. The word shepherd is found 17 times in the New Testament. A pastor or shepherd is literally one who watches over a flock of sheep.

The Bible uses this concept of caring for a flock to describe the position God has appointed as the spiritual leaders of His flock, the church. This position is referred to by several names in the New Testament but the office is always the same. It is called elders, overseers, bishops, presbyters, shepherds and pastors.

The New Testament reveals that there were always a plurality of qualified elders (pastors) in a congregation and that the office of the elders did not oversee more than the one congregation where they assembled.

What then were the qualifications of these men who were responsible for caring for God’s people. They are spelled out in two places, 1 Tim 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. These passages point out what one must be to hold this office. They include: husband of one wife, with believing children. Therefore, it is obvious that a pastor can be neither single, childless or female.

Who then can be properly called a ”pastor” in accordance to Bible teaching? Those elders-bishops who are charged to shepherd (pastor) the flock of God. Those who meet all the qualifications spelled out by Paul in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, who watch over a congregation not alone but with at least one other who is also fully qualified.

Be careful who you call “pastor”. If God does not recognize a person as a pastor then why should you? And, if you do while God does not, does that not put your soul under the guidance of someone unqualified to care for your most prized possession, your eternal soul. Think about it!

Send comments or questions to the Clintwood Church of Christ, POB 746, Clintwood, Va. 24228 or email me at bryan.renita@gmail.com

Check out our web page at clintwoodchurchofchrist.com