If you have been part of a local church or among the leadership of a local church, then you have probably thought or said something about the quality of a pastor or pastors.
“I love my pastor because he showed great care for me when my daughter was in the hospital last year.”
“That pastor is not so great because he doesn’t seem to connect well with guests and first-time visitors each Sunday.”
“That pastor is awesome because he doesn’t seem like a typical pastor.”
Whatever you might think about your pastor, or pastors generally, I’d like to invite you to consider the reality that pastors do indeed have a tremendous impact on the local church. In fact, one way to know if a church family is healthy and if they will grow healthier over time is to learn about the pastor or pastors who lead them.
Biblically qualified pastors or elders or “undershepherds” is one mark or feature of a healthy church, and Christians are wise to think more about this subject. Learn more about building healthy churches by visiting 9marks.org.
What are the biblical qualifications of an undershepherd (i.e. pastor or elder)? When you think of a well-qualified pastor, what comes to mind? Do the qualifications you are thinking about have any Scriptural support or are they based on your life experience or your preferences? How would you know if a man was qualified to serve as a pastor? How would you know if a man should be removed pastoring your local church?
Thankfully, the Bible gives a thorough list of pastoral qualifications and the Bible provides examples of good pastors.
- A pastor or elder should have a clean reputation (1 Tim. 3:2, 7; Titus 1:6-7).
- If He is married, he should be a faithful husband and his wife should be godly and faithful as well (1 Tim. 3:2, 4; Titus 1:6).
- He should manage his household well (1 Tim. 3:4-5; Titus 1:6).
- He should be self-controlled and financially temperate (1 Tim. 3:2-3; Titus 1:7-8).
- He should be hospitable and mature in his Christian walk (1 Tim. 3:2, 6; Titus 1:8).
- He should be doctrinally sound and able to teach sound doctrine to others (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:9).
If you see men among your church family who meet these qualifications, then you should praise God for them. For such men are a gift from Christ to His people (Eph. 4:11-12), and they are a blessing to your soul (Heb. 13:17). If, however, you are sitting under the shepherding care of a man who fails to meet one or more of these qualifications, then you should have grave concerns.
We are warned in Scripture about false teachers (2 Pet. 2:1-3; 1 Jn. 4:1) and false gospels (Gal. 1:6-9). Furthermore, God blames congregations for listening to those who lead them astray (Gal. 1:6-9).
It is vitally important that every member of a local church understand these qualifications. If some church members measure the quality of pastoral leadership by some other standard, then an unqualified man may seem more valuable than he truly is, or a highly qualified man may seem less than desirable.
May God raise up more qualified pastors/elders and may He cause many churches to be healthier through the efforts of such men. May God also help church members to value and appreciate good pastors/elders by measuring them by biblical standards.
Holding the Line 