How can you tell when a pastor has gone astray? What does it look like when things aren’t as safe as they should be? How can we tell if a shepherd is inclined to turn on the sheep instead of turning to them? What if they aren’t really supposed to be a pastor in the first place?
This will be a response and extension to my wife’s previous post where she talked about her experiences with spiritual and pastoral abuse. If you haven’t had a chance to read it, I would advise that you start there.
The goal of the site or Jacqui’s post is not to simply dump on churches or pastors as some people choose to believe. It’s to give a voice to the voiceless and equip people to make biblical decisions. With that heart in mind, I’m not going to be sharing an additional perspective on her story. I want to answer two questions that would help us be better prepared to make wise choices when it comes to where we attend church and who we choose to follow.
What are the qualifications of a pastor, and what does he do?
If you know the answer to these two questions then you’ll have a greater chance of discerning when something is off. When you know what’s good, it’s that much easier to tell when something isn’t. Some of you might know that I was a pastor for 10 years. So I’m going to do my best to avoid going into “preacher mode” while tackling this topic, but I do want to help equip people. As a result, this will be a bit longer post than usual.
Before we can answer those two questions we probably should define the word pastor. And I’m going to do my best to explain all of this in a way that’s not too nerdy.
The word pastor is synonymous with the term meaning shepherd in Latin. It’s “one who has care of a flock or heard, a spiritual guide; one who leads, tends, guards, and protects.”
In the Bible, the word pastor comes from the Greek word, poimen, and it’s defined as a shepherd as well. Now this is where things start to get interesting. When we look at the qualifications of a pastor we are going to be looking at passages that refer to elders and overseers. Most commentators and biblical scholars seem to use these terms interchangeably. Some may try to make distinctions amongst those roles, but that generally leads to a bunch of other problems. A more natural and holistic approach would be to use the terms interchangeably.
While the focus of this post isn’t a giant word study, I do want to give you one example where you see these terms all being referenced together. In Acts 20, Paul calls the elders of Ephesus together. He then gives them this charge in verse 28.
Acts 10:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
So you’ll notice that all three of those terms/roles are being referenced here in Paul’s charge to these elders. You can find all kinds of articles online if you’d like more in-depth word studies on the topic.
Now that we’ve hashed out that a pastor is someone who feeds, leads, and protects the flock, we do have some glimpses into what they do, but we’ll dive into that a bit further later in the post.
Now let’s jump into the biblical qualifications of a pastor. What type of person should be considered for that role?
Qualifications
(I’m aware of the pastoral gender debate, and I don’t plan on diving into that here since it would require a lot more time and space in an already lengthy post. If you would like to dig into the topic more from an egalitarian and complementarian perspective, I feel that Mike Winger does a great job breaking down both sides in his seven-part series which can be found on YouTube.)
There are two specific passages in Scripture that give us the qualifications for this role. In the cases where they overlap, I will only mention them one time.
1 Timothy 3: 1-7 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
He has a healthy desire for the role. (v. 1) Scripture says those who aspire to be an overseer desire a noble task. The role of a pastor is one that is noble, moral, and upright. It comes with an enormous amount of responsibility as we’ve already seen in exploring the definition of a pastor.
One should have an understanding of what the role involves and have a legitimate desire to do it. It’s important that the desire is their own and not from other outside forces that might pressure someone into that role.
We should also note that the desire should be rooted in the proper motives. It should never be a result of selfish ambition but humility.
He lives in a way that is above reproach. (v. 2) Reproach is an expression of disapproval or disappointment. Therefore, a pastor should live and conduct themselves in a way that doesn’t give room for people to speak poorly of their character or Jesus. They should be men of integrity.
Now I want to make sure to point out that this doesn’t mean perfection. There is no perfect shepherd outside of the Good Shepherd, Jesus. However, someone who has a pattern of unrepentant sin in their lives would not meet these qualifications.
He’s the husband of one wife. (v. 2) Things get a little murky here depending on your interpretation. While there are many perspectives, two seem to rise to the top.
The first is that you can only be married once to a single woman. So this would mean that remarriage isn’t a possibility, including cases where the spouse has passed away. This view would also disqualify anyone who’s been divorced/remarried. There are some variations of this view, but you get the idea.
The second would be based on the Greek language of the text that gives the meaning of a “one woman kind of man.” The idea is that the man is above reproach in his relationship with his wife. He is fully committed to his bride and honors her and Jesus in the relationship. This is a man who loves his wife like Christ loves the church.
He’s sober-minded and self-controlled. (v. 2) This is an individual who doesn’t yield to his fleshly desires but rather wars against them. He conducts himself in a way that provides stability and surety to those who are around him. He’s able to think clearly when confronted with difficult and emotionally charged situations. There’s a great degree of emotional intelligence and discipline exhibited by the individual.
He’s respectable. (v. 2) He carries himself with dignity. He’s an easy man to respect because his character and virtues are clearly seen by those around him.
He’s a hospitable, welcoming person. (v. 2) A good pastoral candidate is someone open and loving to all people. He cares for his neighbor and attempts to make the most of each opportunity that they have with people. They are marked by their kind words and actions.
He’s able to teach and communicate the Bible effectively. (v. 2) Not only does he need to know the Scriptures, but he has to know how to communicate those truths to others. This knowledge will also allow him to protect the church from teachings that aren’t in agreement with biblical truths.
I would add that he is willing to teach all of the Bible. He doesn’t treat it like a cheap buffet where you can pick and choose what you want.
He’s not a drunk. (v. 3) We now shift to a few negative statements. The first is that a pastoral candidate should not be drunk. This ties in particularly well with being sober-minded. This man is going to avoid anything that would jeopardize his ability to think clearly and walk in a way that points people to Christ.
Combining this with the earlier requirements to be self-controlled and sober-minded also tells us that a pastor shouldn’t be partaking or involved in anything, substance or otherwise, that could compromise their ability to live above reproach.
He’s not marked by violence but gentleness. (v. 3) He doesn’t lose control of his emotions. He knows how to be angry and sin not. Being tough and stern is a last resort rather than the first.
This is someone who can handle the opinions of others well without flying off the handle. He isn’t blustery and full of threats.
He’s not quarrelsome. (v. 3) He doesn’t go looking for a fight. He doesn’t attempt to find or create conflict where there is none. He knows which hills are worth dying on because many of them aren’t. He’s a peacemaker.
He doesn’t love money. (v. 3) This is someone who knows it’s about Christ’s kingdom rather than his own. He’s not consumed with material gain. His decisions aren’t influenced by how much money he can accrue. He stewards his wealth well.
I do want to point out that this doesn’t mean a pastor should be expected to live in poverty nor should a local church desire that for their pastor and his family. Pastors should be well taken care of, if possible. However, a pastor should never be motivated by greed or selfish ambition.
He must manage his own household well. (v. 4-5) There is a lot going on with this qualification. The primary idea is that a man who can’t lead his home well isn’t going to be able to do any better in the church. His family life should be looked on admirably. He treats his wife and family well, pointing them to Jesus as he follows in his footsteps.
Now let’s talk about the phrase “keeping his children submissive.” This type of submission isn’t one that is forced with a heavy hand upon the children. This type of submission flows from a respect for the father and the way he leads rather than a fear of his iron fist. Nor does this verse lay the burden of perfection on the children. However, the children are generally a pretty good indicator of how the father leads.
He shouldn’t be a recent convert. (v. 6) This isn’t meant to discount what God can do through a person’s life, but it is meant to give some time for a believer to mature in their faith. He’s had the time to develop a pattern of Christ-likeness and integrity in his life. This will be important in combatting the prideful inclinations that many pastors face.
He needs to have a good reputation. (v. 7) It’s important that this man is well thought of by people inside and outside the church. A community shouldn’t be able to bring any sort of significant concerns against him or his character. He is an ambassador of Christ and should conduct himself as such every day. He realizes that he doesn’t just go to church, but he is the church. There are no off days when it comes to integrity.
Now I’d like to shift to Titus 1 for a few additional qualifications. Again, I won’t restate those that we’ve already discussed.
Titus 1:5-9 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
He’s a lover of good. (v. 8) He’s a man who not only loves to do good works but loves to see them cultivated and accomplished in the lives of others as well. His actions stand in stark contrast to the evils of the world.
He’s upright. (v. 8) This is a man who strives to live in a righteous and just way. He chooses to live counterculturally in a world that is far from God.
He’s holy. (v. 8) He lives in a way that is set apart for God’s purposes. He has a deep awareness and desire to grow in his relationship with Christ. He knows that every interaction, every decision, and every moment serves as an opportunity to glorify Jesus.
To summarize what should be considered as qualifications for a pastor, we should look at three areas:
1) Marriage and family life
2) Personality and character
3) Walk with Christ and ability to teach the Word
Now that we’ve discussed what the qualifications for a pastor are, let’s answer the next question. What does a pastor do beyond what’s implied in the qualifications?
What Does a Pastor Do?
Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
In short, a pastor’s role is to equip believers to do the work of the ministry. And what is the ministry? The passage reveals that it’s to have mature disciples of Christ who continue to grow in their knowledge of and relationship with Jesus primarily and one another secondarily.
A flock that is well-equipped will be marked by maturity, stability, wisdom, and unity. When each part of the body of Christ is equipped to grow in a healthy way, then the entire body will grow and build itself up in love.
A pastor is going to equip the body in two different ways. The first would be through the teaching of the Word. (1 Timothy 4:16) He should be studying and teaching the Word well on a regular basis as this is our primary way of learning more about the biblical Jesus.
I think it’s important to note that we need to differentiate between a man who is a good teacher and someone who is a good marketer or speaker. Too many in the American church desire a person with a lot of charisma and a smooth tongue who’s going to give a 20-minute pep talk every week. Even though we’ve been explicitly warned not to seek out the leaders that are going to tickle our ears. (2 Timothy 4:3)
I’m not saying that someone has to bring the hellfire and brimstone every week, but it is important to teach the whole book. Sometimes conviction is more necessary than encouragement, and in a healthy church, both can be found as the Holy Spirit speaks through the Word.
The second would be through the way they live their lives and the example they set. (1 Peter 5:3) I don’t have a lot to add to this one, but character absolutely matters. All believers should be a reflection of our Savior. How much more should a shepherd reflect the Good Shepherd. In James, we’re even told that teachers will be held to a higher standard due to the position they hold. That’s a scary thought with men who say one thing on a platform but live an entirely different way Monday through Saturday.
As you can see, the qualifications of a pastor are in place because these responsibilities would be difficult to handle for the average person. And make no mistake, being a biblical pastor is one of the most difficult jobs there is.
How to Apply It.
Whew, I know that was a long read, and I tried my very best to be brief, but now we have to ask ourselves what do we do with this information? My hope is that equipping people with this info will guard them against men who might have the job title of pastor but have no biblical basis for holding that position. It’s also worth acknowledging that just because a pastor was qualified initially, doesn’t mean he stays qualified.
Maybe your church is in the process of seeking a new pastor. Here are the criteria you want to be looking for. Don’t settle for less. The health and well-being of your people is too important to cut corners.
If you’re currently looking for a church for your family, use the Bible as the standard for pastors in that particular body. It’s all too common to see believers using the wrong measuring stick to evaluate churches and pastors when the Bible makes things pretty clear for us.
Wrapping It Up
If you managed to read through all of this, you’re a champion and legend. This is a topic that’s very important to me. I had the privilege of being a pastor for 10 years, and my wife, Jacqui, had been mislead and mistreated by pastors on numerous occasions throughout her life. So this can hit pretty close to home for both of us.
The theme of our site is to share our story to empower yours. Jacqui did a fantastic job sharing this aspect of her story with you, and I wanted to do my best to empower and equip you along those same lines.
We love the church and think it’s important for every believer to be plugged into a local body. However, we know that all pastors and churches are not created equally. While there isn’t a perfect church or pastor, we hope that each one of you will find your home in a church with leadership that’s pursuing Christ above all.
A great pastor isn’t marked by his number of degrees, average attendance, square footage of the building, number of services, size of staff, or total annual giving. A great pastor is someone who is faithful in leading, feeding, and protecting the church… no matter its size.