In an era where churches wanted pastors to be leaders and managers, strategists and administrators, leaders of leaders even, churches lost interest in pastors being pastors.
It seemed all the more important that a pastor could raise up leaders, have people follow them, evangelise converts at will, cast vision as if he were Jesus, and preach superbly, and that his/her pastoral care was secondary, even tertiary... much less needed or desired as a pastoral competency.
Pastoral care was farmed out to the laity, and it was seen for the thing it had become. The care of the least of these considered least of all importance. Nowhere on a senior pastor’s job description form was pastoral care other than to oversee someone else doing it.
But we only need to go to the Bible to see how much God has been calling for pastors to “shepherd my people.”
In a day where charismatic preachers are lauded for their winsome words, the church chooses rhetoric over care. Is there anywhere in Scripture where God says, “You must preach compelling, highly rateable and shareable sermons”?
God expects shepherds of the church to care for the flock. Ezekiel 34 is a stinging indictment on the history of the religious elite. So exasperated was God that the Lord said, “I will be Israel’s Shepherd!”
In a day where church growth programs are foundational, and baptism key performance indicators have become fundamental, we have picked our priorities incorrectly. We have slapped the backs and applauded those who won vast numbers to the Lord. But how many were really won to the Lord?
In a day where we paid big bucks to speakers who could enthral at the altar call, we found we created converts, and millions of them, all the while forgetting that the Lord called us to “make disciples.” Is there any wonder pornography addiction and alcohol are as big a problem in the church as outside the church? You don’t think they are? There are millions of Christians who have never been discipled. These are lives that have never been transformed by the Holy Spirit of God.
In a day where the hard graft of shepherding made way for the sexier exercise of froth and bubble, where the look of things was the key indicator that they had efficacy, the church lost the plot and gave up its birthright for a pot of stew. And thousands upon thousands of lives have been traumatised as a result — the stats speak of the exodus of the dechurched, while those who were never discipled lead as the blind lead the blind.
Characteristics of a care that’s pastoral:
§ it’s a watching care, where the shepherd watches over the flock, keen to ward off danger from afar off, not the very visitation of danger itself
§ it’s a sacrificial care, where the shepherd lives the living word of God, so discipleship is incarnate in him or her, not a conveniently crafted fabrication in their ministry
§ it’s a faithful care, where the shepherd is reliable and safe, caring for the sheep, not devouring them
§ it’s a humble care, where the shepherd does humble, unimpressive work, satisfied to work quietly at their calling, not caught looking good and wearing fashion and bling
§ it’s an honest care, where the shepherd knows honesty will save them from temptation, just as honesty will save many relationships in conflict, not lying to cover sin issues or abuse
§ it’s a heart care, where the shepherd is inherently kind, gentle and patient, not abrasive, abrupt, and given to (private) outbursts of anger
§ it’s a healing care, where the shepherd provides sanctuary for all-comers, that healing could commence and continue and be completed, not a place where traumas are exacerbated
The whole world needs a church that is strong on care, trustworthy and safe, willing to serve the world and those who need sanctuary, sacrificially in every way. Whenever the church has been strong on care, trustworthy and safe for all, the world community has appreciated it.
One thing the world cannot stand is a hypocritical, judgemental church. A church that is not what it’s supposed to be.
Ours is the opportunity to be the church to shepherd Israel. We need shepherds.
Photo by Michelle Jimenez on Unsplash
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