Rise and Fall of Pastors in the 21st Century

Chapter 1

GOD’S INTENT FOR PASTORS

Media reports of the immoral conduct of a prominent pastor, the suicide of a mega-church pastor, or a pastor’s lavish living at the expense of the church heightened awareness of pastoral successes, failures, or demises. Such attention is causing a division in the body of Christ and a negative response from society. Hence, there is a need to examine, more fully understand, and recalibrate to God’s original plan for shepherds.

Addressed in this book is the question of the rise and fall of pastors in the 21st century and the threats that cause a decline in leadership. Presented are biblical, theological, and practical principles to equip pastors with an awareness of the threats that cause a decline in leadership. Included is an assessment of society’s misunderstanding, misconception, and misinterpretation of the role of the pastor, as these concepts pertain to a pastor’s rise and fall.

Primary data stemmed from interviews and questionnaires to survey pastors and their family members, administrators, church members, and professional counselors who informed this research. Findings, derived from peer-reviewed literature, published articles, and statistics from 2000 to present, illustrate pastoral successes and failures. The results of this book equip pastors to embrace their shepherd’s call, to be aware of leadership threats, and to encourage pastoral soul care.

An exploration of God’s intent for pastors begins this book’s journey. There are various descriptions of a pastor, but God is the original human resource Person who designed the position. The heartbeat of God is the souls He created. He characterizes these souls as His sheep. Throughout Scripture, one would see God reference His people as sheep. The psalmist states, Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3). One can observe and assess that God is deliberate in the care of His sheep and that pastors are His shepherds. Additional pastoral assignments performed are added benefits to building God’s kingdom. For centuries, people viewed the role of the pastor as a servant caregiver. As the years and ministries progressed, the pastor’s role transformed and advanced from servant-leader to chief executive officer (CEO). In this chapter, there is an exploration of God’s intent for pastors, based on these various ideologies, leading to a discussion of the perspectives derived from the interviews of five senior pastors who are currently active in leading their ministries.

Pastors as Shepherds

God has created many animals and species. Why would He liken us to sheep? Sheep have many characteristics that are similar to mankind. Just to name a few, they display an arguable lack of intelligence. They are directionless, restless, needy, and sensitive.

Lack of Intelligence

Sheep are not known to be smart or cunning animals when it comes to safety. Rather, they are susceptible, and they tend to wander away from the protection of the shepherd. People are not inherently unintelligent, but they do tend to wander away from God, and from everything that is right and holy.¹

Directionless

Sheep get lost easily, and so it is with those outside of the Lord. There is simply no sense of spiritual direction in their lives. They cannot find their way to the Lord by themselves.²

Restless

Sheep become restless because of hunger. They become restless when food is scarce. An individual who hasn’t eaten after a period of time becomes anxious and oftentimes disgruntled; it is difficult and cumbersome to communicate with people who are unsettled because of hunger. Individuals become spiritually hungry when the word of God is lacking.³

Needy

Sheep need someone to protect them. They must stay close to the shepherd. People are spiritually weak, and they need THE Shepherd to care for them.⁴

Sensitive

Sheep respond to and follow the shepherd’s voice. The voice of the shepherd brings comfort and security to the sheep. Individuals may never have a complete understanding of their circumstances, but they will understand the love of God and the importance of following him.⁵

Collective Traits

One can identify with each of these traits. Some may think that children are the only ones who are needy, but the state of necessity is no respecter of person. Whether one is a Christian or not, people have the tendency to lack the understanding required to adapt to their environments or circumstances, and are generally in need of someone to instruct or give guidance in life. Everyone needs to be protected from outside dangers, as well as inside dangers (i.e. oneself ). Although some individuals may believe that they function well alone, mostly everyone appreciates the love and care shown towards them. Lastly, people are familiar with the voices of loved ones and friends. They will immediately react and respond to that which is familiar, and ignore a stranger who is vying for their attention.

Shepherding the Sheep

God has always protected and provided for His sheep. According to these human and spiritual attributes, His intent for pastors is to serve as shepherds and to tend to His sheep. However, there are 28 Bible verses about inadequate shepherding.⁶ Dr. Bruce Rosdahl noted from Psalm 23 and John 10 that God’s resolve for each inadequate shepherding was that He would rescue His people.⁷ He would search for them and bring them home. He would care and restore them. He would lead them to green pastures and give them rest. Holman Bible Dictionary defined a pastor as a shepherd or one who keeps animals, used figuratively for those called by God to feed, care for, and lead His people, who are His flock.⁸

Feed

God’s intent for shepherds was to feed the sheep or provide the sheep with knowledge and understanding of Him. And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:15). Additional Scriptures provide numerous examples of God’s intention for pastors to feed His sheep. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord (Jeremiah 23:4).

During this time period, the priests, rulers, and prophets had been negligent in their relationship with God. The rulers were referred to as shepherds.⁹ In their negligence, the sheep were feasting from the heathen nations and adapting to their culture of idol worship. Such conduct was an abomination to God. Therefore, God had to remind and redirect the leaders concerning their shepherding obligations—to feed the sheep. If a parishioner (a sheep) is lacking in the truths of God’s word, it is the pastor’s responsibility to teach (feed) it. According to Jesus, a pastor displays His love for Him by teaching (feeding) His sheep.

Care

One can observe and assess that God is deliberate in the care of His sheep. God’s intent for pastors is to care for His sheep with willing hearts and not for selfish gain. He never presented the shepherd’s role as a job with material benefits. God declared the role of caretaker as a representation of Him and His unfailing love. Scriptures provide numerous examples of God’s intention for pastors to care for His sheep:

But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine (John 10:12-14).

A hireling is someone with a mercenary interest in the job for which he has been hired.¹⁰

Jesus emphasized caring for the sheep wasn’t a job, but a desire. His care for God’s people was likened to a shepherd watching after His sheep. Jesus explained, when a shepherd sees trouble headed toward the sheep, he protects them, unlike a hireling, who would run and protect himself first. Jesus made known that a good shepherd would not allow harm, because it isn’t a job, but a love for the sheep.

The Apostle Peter charged the elders to feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind (1 Peter 5:2). Dr. Rosdahl stated, When our leadership does not exemplify Christ, we give people a distorted view of God. When the church has been a place of hurt, people leave to look elsewhere for hope.¹¹ The unfortunate outcome is sheep, in search of care, are turning to hirelings and away from the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

Lead

God’s intent for pastors as shepherds is to lead His sheep in the path of safety, provision, and wholeness. Sheep follow the guidance of their shepherd. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow (John 10:3-4). Additional scriptures provide numerous examples of God’s intention for pastors to care for and lead His sheep:

As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country (Ezekiel 34:12-13).

The role of the pastor is to keep the sheep from scattering into destructive areas, such as those areas that will spiritually deplete instead of spiritually add to their Christian lives. God’s intent for pastors is to lead by example. If the pastor has an intimate relationship with Christ, the sheep will learn to develop an intimate relationship with Him. Sheep are always totally dependent on their shepherd. The sheep hear, respond, and follow the shepherd’s voice. If the pastor is scattered, the sheep will scatter as well.

Servant Caregiver

There are various descriptions of a pastor, but God is the original human resource Person who designed the position. Any additional pastoral assignments performed are added benefits to building God’s kingdom. Joseph Kidder stated that throughout the centuries, people viewed the role of pastor as servant caregivers who engage in:

• Teaching/preaching of traditional doctrine;

• Caregiving (such as visitation, counseling, and taking care of people’s needs);

• Performing rites of passages (such as baptisms, wedding, and funerals);

• Administrating (such as meetings, bulletins, programs);

• Serving as ambassador of the church to the community. ¹²

In the Old Testament, due to the lack of faithful shepherds and spiritual leaders, God warned that He will set up one who will be committed to the care of His sheep. The one is Jesus, the Son of God:

And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:4-6).

Jesus is the true example of a shepherd. He had a servant’s heart. As the Son of God, He did not become human to be served, but to serve. He