Monday
Oct272003
The Real Business of Clergy
Monday, October 27, 2003 at 5:17PM This post is from the defunct blog "Dying Church"
If all you desire in a pastor is someone who entertains and provides people with good, happy, relaxed, cheerful feelings, then what you want is someone who's been out in the world and who knows how to provide customers with what they ask for. But the real business of clergy is to train people in worship and service of God, and we must learn that from the Scriptures. We need more than tips and techniques, which is our modern way. We need Bible study, and real learning of God's truth. -J.I. Packer, from an interview with Peter Moore in Seed and Harvest
Reader Comments (7)
Whether you like it or not Pastors are responsible for the shepherding of our souls, they are to teach us sound doctrine and protect us from bad doctrine. This is a tremendous responsibility and they will be judged accordingly. The problem today is that Pastors get away from this primary responsibility and tend to act more like business managers or CEO's.
"The problem today is that Pastors get away from this primary responsibility and tend to act more like business managers or CEO's." My question would therefore be, what do pastors have to do with clergy? Pastors care for people - it's a facet of character, which may be formally recognised as a gifting from God to serve the body. Pastors are not clergy, but are individuals gifted to serve. "Pastors are responsible for the shepherding of our souls" This is kind of true, but actually WE are responsible for the wellbeing of our souls. A person with pastoral gifting may have a role in encouraging us to move forward. I think you mean people that lead the church, which is quite seperate. However they are only able to lead according to the grace given them. They do not have some imposed responsibility to manage your life for you. They will (like all of us) be held accountable for their actions, and the effect their actions has on us in relation to God's grace toward us. And BTW I would suggest it is the role of those with a teaching ability to help instill sound doctrine. It may be that someone has both a pastoral and a teaching gift, but it isn't too common either. All I really want to point out is that there isn't a mystical elite force of Christians that have to come before God on behalf of the people. We all have a direct line, straight to the throne. Priests and priesthoods are those that intercede on behalf of others. Thats why Jesus was called the 'great high priest'. To recognise a priesthood that comes to God for Christians is to suggest that Jesus work on the cross wasn't enough, and did not cleanse us. That's why I cannot accept a clergy and laity.
Hi Toni, I'd love to carry on with this discussion a little bit. In order to help me, maybe you could define what you mean by "Clergy". I was initially assuming you meant the "Pastor/Elder/Overseer" position but I'm not sure this is what you are referring to. Thanks.
Amen!
IMHO the purpose of clergy is clergy. I completely abhor the idea that there is a 'clergy' and a 'laity'. As if people are made 'special' by a few years study and a bishop laying on hands. Or is the 'preisthood of all believers' just an idea that died in the first couple of centuries AD? Sorry for the hideous over-generalisation. I appreciate that many who enter the priesthood of which ever stream do so because they believe in a vocation and calling. I just really hate the way it seems to take the responsibility for church and life away from the body and puts it in the hands of the organisation.
Sorry, no. I was thinking of ordained priests that are called 'father'. Those that believe they represent God to the people, or worse, that the people believe represent God to them. BTW I looked up the responsibility scripture this morning. James 3v1. It's teachers that are referred to as being responsible.
Thanks, that clears up a lot. In terms of the RC Priest type of Clergy, I basically agree with you. In Protestant circles, the Pastor/Elder/Overseer is much different than a Priest. He is completely equal within the body but with a Teaching/Pastoring, governing role.