The Office of “Pastor”

By Lee Underwood (Source)

In almost every local assembly within the institutional church there is a person called a “pastor” (some prefer the term “shepherd”). For the most part, the entire congregation ultimately looks to this person for leadership and guidance. In many instances he is the final authority on all matters. Many local assemblies have a whole staff of ‘pastors’. Inadvertently, this person is placed on the same level of authority as Yeshua; sometimes even above. Most people are not even aware that they are placing this person in this lofty position but their actions show differently. Sometimes it’s due to a conscious effort by the ‘pastor’; other times it’s not.

Because this person plays such an important part in the Institutional Church, it’s necessary to understand the basis for the existence of this position in accordance with Scripture. (This position plays such an extremely important role in Christianity that without ‘pastors’, mainstream Christianity as we know it would cease to exist.) So who is really the head of the local assembly? Did Yeshua assign a ‘pastor’ to stand in His place here on earth and lead each local assembly? From where does the ‘pastor’ derive his authority? What exactly does the Bible say about the office of ‘pastor’?

A Little Background

The word pastor is a Latin word derived from the Old English. It’s translated from the Greek word poimen, meaning “shepherd”. The word poimen appears only 18 times in the entire Bible, all in the writings of Paul, John, Mark, and others. The only passage where it’s translated as pastor is Ephesians 4.11:

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers …” (Ephesians 4:11)

We’ll come back to this passage a little later. For now, let’s look at how this position has been elevated to the highest position in the local assembly after being mentioned only once in all of Scripture. (Keep in mind that Scripture says to let a thing be established on the basis of two or three witnesses: Deuteronomy 19.15; Matthew 18.16; 2 Corinthians 13:1.)

Leadership in the Local Assembly

Let’s look at some of the Scriptures that show that Yeshua is the head of the body of Messiah, including the local assembly.

“He [Yeshua] is also head of the body, the assembly; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” (Colossians 1:18)

“For the husband is the head of the wife, as Messiah also is the head of the assembly, He [Yeshua] Himself being the Savior of the body.” (Ephesians 5:23)

“[B]ut speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Messiah …” (Ephesians 4:15)

It seems pretty clear from Scripture that Yeshua is the head of the body of Messiah.

Did Yeshua Appoint a Stand-In on Earth?

As Yeshua was eating His last Passover meal, He began explaining to His disciples what was going to happen to Him later that evening. In the course of the conversation, Yeshua told them that one of the disciples sitting at the table was going to betray Him (Luke 22:22). The disciples began discussing which one of them it might be. As they were discussing this, evidently the argument got heated and “there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest” (Luke 22.24). Perhaps in denying that they would be the one to betray their leader they became arrogant and started to boast about what they had done or how Yeshua had treated this one better than the other one. Nevertheless, it seems that their discussion must have gotten out of hand. Yeshua rebuked them and said, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.” (Luke 22.25-26; see also Matthew 20.25-27 and Mark 10.42-44).

The reading of this passage is very important. I feel its usually misinterpreted. Generally the line, “lord it over them” is thought to refer to Gentile leaders who rule with an iron fist, keeping the people under their thumb, so to speak. However, the text does not bear this out. The phrase “lord it over” is the Greek word kurieuo, which means “has jurisdiction over”. There is no indication that Yeshua meant it in a brutal or dictatorial manner. He even said that those who have authority over others are called “benefactors”, i.e., doers of good. No, Yeshua was not talking about those in authority who abuse their positions. He was speaking of those who rule over others, including those who do it in a beneficial manner, e.g., a benefactor. And He was saying that it shall not be so in the body of Messiah. There is to be only one leader: Yeshua Himself. This applies to the body of Messiah as a whole as well as to each local assembly.

The original word that is translated as “greatest” in the Scripture above (Luke 22.25-26) is the Greek word megas, which is interpreted as “abundant, arrogant, fierce, large, severe, and terribly”, among others. So the interpretation then could be “whoever is the most arrogant among you”. Remember, they had just had an argument about who was the greatest among themselves. There must have been quite a bit of boasting going on.

In another instance, Yeshua speaking to His disciples said, “Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Messiah” (Matthew 23:10). The words “leaders” and “Leader” are derived from the Greek word kathegetes, which is interpreted as “teacher”. However, it’s derived from the root word hegeomai, which means “to lead”.

The ‘Five-Fold Ministry’

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Messiah; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Messiah.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)

This is an interesting passage of Scripture. It refutes the very basis of the office of ‘pastor’ as it is within the institutional church. It also shows that within the body of Messiah all members are equal and no one has authority over another. Let’s look at the passage more closely and delve into its actual meaning.

In Ephesians 4.8, Paul writes, “… and He [Yeshua] gave gifts to men.” Paul then goes on to explain those gifts. They are what has become known as the “five fold ministry”. (That term, by the way, is not biblical; I’m not sure where it came from.) This “five fold ministry” is made up of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Let’s look at the meaning of each of these terms:

• Apostle: “a messenger, one sent on a mission“
• Prophet: “an interpreter or forth-teller of the divine will“
• Evangelist: “a bringer of good news“
• Pastor: “a shepherd“
• Teacher: “an instructor“

Notice that no where in the definition of any of these positions is any authority either implied or directly stated. Paul goes on to state that their purpose — their only purpose — is “for the equipping of the saints“. They are to instruct, encourage, and shepherd the local assembly until “we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Messiah.” Once the local assembly comes to that point, there is no need for the “five fold ministry”. Their job is finished; their function ceases to exist in relation to that particular local assembly. They are either sent to another local assembly or their ministry is completed and they become just another member of that local assembly. In the book of Acts, we see that they generally moved on to another local assembly that had just begin or needed help.

In Acts 13.1, Luke writes, “Now there were at Antioch, in the assembly that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.” Notice that these prophets and teachers were not in a position of authority. In fact, one of them was sent out to another location. In Acts 21.8, we see Philip the evangelist. Again, no mention of a position of authority.

The “five fold ministry” has been the source of much spiritual abuse by those who teach that these positions have authority over others when, in fact, the Scriptures do not say that at all. These gifts that Yeshua gives to the local assembly are functions (e.g., a messenger, an interpreter of the divine will, a bringer of good news) not titles (e.g., Apostle Paul, Pastor Bob). Those who have these gifts are not elevated above others. They have no authority over another person. They do not represent Yeshua or stand in His place. They are, in fact, servants. They simply have a special purpose. These five gifts were not given to do the work of the ministry but to enable God’s people to do the work of the ministry.

The Elevation of the Office of ‘Pastor’

When we look at how Paul lists these gifts in Ephesians 4.11, notice that he does not elevate a pastor above the others. Yet, within the institutional church it is the pastor who is considered the leader — the authority — in the local assembly. How did that come about?

In the book of Revelation, Yeshua says to the local assembly in Ephesus that He hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2.6). There are a few theories on who the Nicolaitans were but this much is true. The word means “destruction (or conquerer) of the people”. It is derived from two words: nikos, which means “to conquer or utterly vanquish” and laos, which means “the people” or “laity”. This sounds very much like those who would “lord it over” the local assembly. It is believed that John wrote this letter around 95 ce, almost 60 years after the death and resurrection of Messiah Yeshua, a little more than one generation.

As the body of Messiah was spreading throughout the world, and many Gentiles were being added to it, many pagan practices were also adopted. One of them was the addition of a head priest.

Man has always sought someone to intercede to God for him. We even see it in Israel when the people asked Moses to speak to God for them. That was not God’s original plan. He wanted to speak directly to the people. In fact, God had intended for Him alone to be the sole ruler over Israel. He did not plan for any man to lead Israel; only Himself. It was Israel’s idea for a king, not God’s (1 Samuel 8.7).

So it was within the body of Messiah. Yeshua never appointed leaders when He was on earth. Nor did He ever instruct the disciples on how to choose leaders. They were not to have any. He would be their only leader. (I am not speaking of elders, whose ministry is to act as examples to the local assembly, not to rule over them.) Evidently, early followers of Yeshua looked around and saw the system used by the pagan religions and also by the world. “Christianity … learnt from the example of pagan religions that most men find it difficult to understand or approach God without the aid of a man who in some sense stands for God, represents Him, and feels called to devote himself to this representative ministry” (Christian Priesthood Examined, Guildford and London, Lutterford Press, 1979). Instead of being satisfied with Yeshua being the leader, certain men crept into the Church and wanted a man to stand in Yeshua’s place on the earth. It’s not just the Catholic Church who has installed a man who acts as Yeshua’ representative here on earth. So it is also with the institutional Protestant church. However, as we have seen, this is not biblical. It is not the Lord’s choice.

Yeshua is calling the body of Messiah to stand and be His vessel. Scripture says the bride has made herself ready (Revelation 19.7). Let’s turn back to the leadership and guidance of our Lord and Master, Yeshua.

I know that it sounds strange, not having a physical leader. But I do personally know this: it works. In a local assembly, with brothers and sisters who are wholly dedicated to the Lord and not concerned with personal agendas, it works. And it’s glorious. It is somewhat strange at first. But as you seek the Holy Spirit and trust the Lord, He will respond. He Himself said, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” (Matthew 18:20). The Greek word for gathered is in the passive tense, which means that those who are gathered are brought together by someone other than themselves. In this case it is Yeshua who is doing the gathering. It is He who brings together the local assembly, not some man or organization. And it is He who leads that local assembly, He is literally in their midst.

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