The Nature of Spiritual Gifts of Grace
All gifts of grace, including those of shepherds, are given by the glorified Christ as Head of the body, the assembly. They are not natural human abilities, but divine gifts. Human abilities can certainly be used in this (see Matthew 25:15). Gifts are not produced through special school training, but are due to the sovereign working of the Spirit of God. It is not people who can authorize or even ordain someone for a spiritual service, but only the one Lord, who stands above all His servants. He alone calls His servants, and all spiritual Christians will acknowledge this sooner or later. When gifts of grace are exercised to God’s glory and for the blessing and spiritual edification of believers, that is “service.” This should take place among all servants under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Both the exercise of service and its results are “effects” from God, for He alone is the source of all blessing. It is not the servant who is at the center, but God, “who works all things in all persons” (see 1 Corinthians 12:4–6).
Nowhere in the New Testament are all gifts of grace listed in full (cf. Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:8–11; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10–11). Only in Ephesians 4 are the “pastors” expressly mentioned—and they are mentioned before the teachers. In Romans 12:8 the service of “exhortation” is named, and in 1 Corinthians 12:8 “the word of wisdom” (before the “word of knowledge”).
These passages make it clear that the gift of pastors has precedence over teachers. The “pastors” are named before the “teachers,” and the “word of wisdom” before the “word of knowledge.” The “word of wisdom” means an understandable explanation of spiritual things as God sees them; the “word of knowledge” presents His revealed thoughts paired with insight. The first is the hallmark of pastors, the second more of teachers. A true pastor can also reach the heart of a believer who has strayed inward; a teacher, by contrast, is more likely to reach those who already have some understanding and want to learn more.
What Is Pastoral Service?
It is no accident that the New Testament presents pastoral service on three levels. First is the Lord Jesus, who says of Himself, “I am the good shepherd” (see John 10). He was not only that on earth, but is so now and in the future as the “great Shepherd of the sheep” as well as as “Chief Shepherd” or chief shepherd (Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:4). Second, He gives pastors as gifts for the whole body, the whole assembly on earth. Third, the elders or overseers carry out a locally limited pastoral service (Acts 20:28f; 1 Peter 5:2f). Does this not show us something of the importance and seriousness of the service of pastors?
As the word “pastors” indicates, this service is primarily concerned with dealing with the souls of believers, who are figuratively viewed as sheep or as a flock—really not flattering expressions, but they are true (see Acts 2028.29; 1 Peter 5:8–9; cf. John 10:16). The Lord Jesus calls the two main activities of pastoral service “tend My lambs/sheep” and “shepherd My sheep” (John 21:15–17). The pastor’s first activity is therefore feeding the sheep and providing the right spiritual food. By lambs, we understand young believers, who above all need good spiritual nourishment. Shepherding the sheep is something different. It includes watchfulness, assistance, and, if necessary, correction. If the lambs and the adult sheep are well fed, shepherding is often unnecessary. Shepherding, on the one hand, protects from outside attacks, but on the other hand also from straying and self-willed actions, and, if necessary, restores souls.
While the teaching ministry takes place more in public, pastoral service usually happens in the personal sphere. The second missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas is introduced with the words: “After some days Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let’s return and visit the brothers and sisters in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are’” (Acts 15:36). This “see how they are” cannot be realized in the public setting of the meetings. It requires a personal sphere, which should primarily be found in the homes of believers. Later Paul once spoke to the elders or overseers of Ephesus about his service, which had taken place “publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20).
Practice
Since pastoral service is primarily individual, it almost follows that it is exercised in the small circle of the family, of married couples, or with reference to an individual person. Of the pastor, love, kindness, and patience are expected first. In this way, trust is created, which forms the basis for further service.
When dealing with a spiritual problem, a basic principle is to start with the teaching of the Word of God. The pastor must therefore know and base himself on the “standard of sound words” (2 Timothy 1:13). The teaching itself is “sound” and can help spiritually ailing brothers and sisters. An elder or overseer, who after all carries out a locally limited pastoral service, should “hold firmly to the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9).
The first “task” of pastors is to be an example (see Philippians 3:17; 1 Peter 5:3). In Holy Scripture, the shepherd goes ahead of the flock, which follows him (John 10:4). He leads the lambs and sheep to pasture, where they find satisfaction. This means believers receive sound spiritual nourishment, with the truth held fast in love. Philemon seems to have been a true pastor, as the apostle Paul writes: “For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother” (Philemon 7). This verse is one of the finest “compliments” we find in the New Testament.
A step further, 1 Thessalonians 5:14 exhorts pastoral service: “We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” Although these admonitions primarily relate to local service, they are generally applicable to pastoral service.
No one should despise this pastoral service. Unfortunately, today we can see that brothers who want to do pastoral service are rejected. This development can lead to the condition the Lord Jesus describes: “like sheep without a shepherd.” He felt “compassion” for them (Mark 6:34). His heart attitude should be the example of every pastor who keeps the spiritual well-being of Christ’s flock at heart.
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