I value the pastor as theologian model. I am thankful that there are several guys in training for pastoral ministry around me who value this model. However, I would like to hear more of an emphasis from scholarly-pastors in training on the shepherding element of pastoring, ala Richard Baxter’s “Reformed Pastor.”
In the zeal for robust theology, we must not trample upon the priority of counseling for the lead pastor. Not that the lead pastor has to do the bulk of the counseling…though in a small church he probably will.
I mean more that the lead pastor creates and leads in an atmosphere where biblical counseling is in the air, in the water, in the blood. Where the Bible oozes from the elders and congregation and they have utmost confidence in it.
Ray Van Neste, Associate Professor of Christian Studies at Union University, presented a message on such pastoral care at Union University’s Southern Baptists, Evangelicals and the Future of Denominationalism conference Oct. 7.
Titled “Oversight of Souls – Pastoral Ministry in Southern Baptist and Evangelical Life,” Van Neste made several good points regarding the priority of pastoral care for pastors. A few highlights from Trevin Wax’s live blog of Van Neste’s presentation:
- Oversight of souls includes both public and private ministry. (Acts 20)
- The goal of pastoral ministry is to present everyone mature in Christ. (Col. 1:24-29)
- We do not guard souls in order to preach; we preach in order to guard souls.
I commend the remainder of Wax’s live blog for more of Van Neste’s valuable presentation.
In an interview I did with Greg Thornbury today, he noted that if people aren’t applying theology then they aren’t really doing theology. I agree heartily.
So let’s do theology. Let’s know it well. Let’s study the inns and outs of God’s providence, ecclesiology, the person and work of Christ, the role of the Holy Spirit and even some eschatology.
But let’s also have pastoral ministries where people are helped: where the divorced are ministered to, the abused are comforted and helped in working through their own idols. Where a pastoral staff walks through life w/ its people, caring for them and truly shepherding them.
Let’s have strong pulpit ministries: the strongest in the land. But let’s focus them on the people in our congregation, not the podcasting/YouTubing crowd outside our church walls.
Let’s be theologians. But let’s be pastors, too.
Good post. I completely agree, I finally read the Reformed Pastor over the summer and loved it.
I agree with this. Shepherding requires a heart and concern for people. Perhaps if the congregation notices that the pastor has a shepherd’s heart, it will inspire them to encourage one another and build one another up.
Mary,
Thanks for the comment. Teaching people to disciple one another is a key responsibility for pastors.
Patrick,
Baxter is solid: pretty intense system of visitation. I think where we should be with churches is: “Baxter’s system was good: we tweak it a little bit and do this.” Instead, I think in many churches, Baxter’s ideas are pretty foreign.
Garrett,
Stumbled upon your blog. This is an important post. Gwen & I have tried to implement Baxter’s visitation program by having our flock regularly over to our house (following a systematic pattern of when to invite whom), since pastoral home visits seem to be uncomfortable in this culture. We have only just started this system and can see great benefit, but also realize its limitation: it will take quite awhile to meet with everyone because it is only possible for us to do it once per week.
I also agree that the pastor must create an atmosphere where biblical counseling is in the air. People need to see how a deep knowledge of Christ is not some esoteric theology, but is the very thing that will transform their practical, daily lives.