I read an article today at bloggingtheologically.com having to do with the responsibility of the pastor. The article takes us to John 21:15-17 (and I wished the author used the KJV, unfortunately he does not) and emphasizes the work of the pastor to feed God's sheep. It is not the responsibility, he suggests, for the sheep to feed themselves; it is the pastor's duty.
I had a conversation with a pastor friend of mine just last week. He shared a portion of his own testimony and said that when he got saved it was almost immediate for him that he began reading the Bible regularly and studying it on his own. Upon entering the ministry, he was frustrated for some time because others would get saved but would not be so faithful and diligent. But then it struck him; he was led to study the Word of God because God had gifted him to become a pastor. Others are not so gifted. Pastors must study the Word of God so they are able to feed the sheep God places in his care. The sheep are not as moved to care for themselves. He said he learned from that to make it his responsibility to tell his congregation weekly what portions of Scripture they should read. He began to give them a reading plan, and then he gave the a plan for prayer.
Rather than chiding them or being frustrated with them for not doing what he now believes they are not called to do, he took the responsibility for their study of the Scripture and their personal time in prayer. He helps them feed by taking them to the pastures he wants them to feed upon that week.
Not bad!
