Recently I’ve been seeing a series of posts about what they see are
the problems with full-time ministry. Part of his emphasis is the
importance of pastors building alternative streams of income so they
are not sole dependent on a fixed ministry income. Is this an overall
bad thing? No! I agree that for some it can be important to have
alternative sources of income, especially in contexts where a single
church is not able to provide fully for a pastor and their family.
And I do also see a trend where in certain contexts, more pastors
will need to be more dual-income just as Paul was with his tent
making.
That being said, I
do not take this reality as a wholesale rejection of full-time
pastoral ministry. To be honest, much of this brother’s concern is
not with the idea of a pastor being full-time as it is with the
culture of many churches that has been developed over the last 50
years. Many of the issues this brother highlights are because in many
cases the role of pastor has stepped outside of the primary role of
shepherd, and turned more into a spiritualized charismatic CEO of
industry.
In my seminary
studies one thing has become clear in regards to the role of a
pastor. The needs of the human soul have not changed since the
founding of the Church, and will not change. Sure, the specific
challenges and circumstances we has humanity face may look different,
but the core needs of our souls are still the same. Because of this,
the core role of a pastor has not changed either. But in the broader
evangelical non-denominational culture, we have forced a shift on
pastors. Instead of being the shepherd who lives and grows with the
flock, the pastor has become more of a business boss who is more
involved in keeping sure programs are running effectively.
As Richard Baxter
says in his classic work The Reformed Pastor,
“To be a bishop, or pastor,
is not to be set up as an idol for the people to bow to, or as idle
‘slow bellies,’ to live to our fleshly delight and ease; but it
is to be the guide of sinners to heaven.” The
primary role and goal of a pastor is to shepherd and love those in
the church to follow Christ. This does not mean we do the work of the
Holy Spirit (because we would muck it all up). But the pastor is to
be the encourager and one who through experience and knowledge, help
set up a framework on how the Gospel instructs our lives.
This is a stark
departure from the role of pastor as it has been know. Now, there is
nothing wrong with church programs and the like. They are apart of
how many conduct church, and need to be managed. However, the role of
pastor has morphed into the manager of these programs, rather than
being the shepherd of the people of the flock. I agree with many of
the surface criticisms that have been presented. They are problems
that need to be addressed. But I do not think the blanket solution
for this is getting rid of full-time ministry altogether.
Instead, we need to
look hard and long at the roles of our pastors. Are they engaged in
the building of the believer, focused on the health and faith of
those in the flock. Or, are they simply managing programs? If it is
the latter, then something needs to change.
Put simply and
finally. The issue is not with full-time pastoring as a whole. This
has been the norm for all of Christendom, and I believe in various
ways will continue to be. We need men & women who are dedicated
to not just the study of the Word and functioning of the church, but
also dedicated and focused on the growth of the believers in their
context. Can and should pastors also work other jobs. If there is the
need or calling, then yes! God utilizes believers in so many
different ways. For some it may be a bi-vocational role where they
work both in and outside the Church for need of income and/or
ministry opportunity. And, there are those that God calls to be
dedicated full-time to pastoral ministry, as there is great benefit
there as well.
But let us be sure
to diagnose the problem correctly. Not with the role itself, but
instead the unhealthy culture of what the role is supposed to be that
has become so prevalent in the last several generations.