Our Pastor, Our Elder Brother

Posted by Andrew Loginow  

          I first want to thank Alex for allowing me the freedom to post on his Blog, and by his allowance, his assumption that I have something to say that is worthy of using his stage. There are many things that many people desire to write upon; some profitable to their readers, some disparaging, and some at various points between the former and the latter. This, of which I desire write, is intended as profitable, I pray. As one who is in Christ and a member of a local church (Heritage Baptist Church), I strongly believe, based upon the evidence found in Scripture, that a love and service towards the local church is necessary for those who claim to love and serve Christ (Ephesians 5:25 is a powerful example). Therefore, as a believer one must know, understand, and treasure the Biblically based components of the Church. I, particularly, aim to discuss the role of the Pastor from the perspective of a church member (i.e. from my perspective).

            "They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading" (Nehemiah 8:8, ESV). This verse in Nehemiah is a great definition for the role of the Pastor. The authority is not stemming from the Pastor's conception of what is truth, but from the "Law of God." It is the duty of the Pastor to read from, and to teach God's Word, to give understanding to the Saints in their local assembly. It is the duty of the church member to learn ardently, submit to, and encourage their Pastor.

            When speaking of the Kingdom of God, the Bible, at many points, uses familial terminology. When Jesus teaches his disciples to pray he begins, "Our Father" (Matthew 6:9, ESV); the Apostle Paul writes, "... in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith" (Galatians 3:26); "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12, ESV); "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him" (Romans 8:16-17, ESV). So, if those in Christ are sons of God, and God is their great Father, then which familial term shall we give our Pastor, our Shepard? Our Pastor is liken unto our elder brother.

            For myself, this happens to be quite literal, that is, my elder brother is actually one of my Pastors. Yet, the lone fact of having an elder brother is a wonderful experience in itself. My elder brother has come before me, and has already experienced many things in life that I have yet to experience. There are those who dislike coming behind, and being unable to "test the waters," but thanks to my elder brother, I have received that valuable information of whether the bottom is rocky of sandy, where the various points of depths lie, what type of beauties are living below the surface, and what type of horrors. His going before me has caused me to be sure-footed. His is a voice that I can trust, he teaches me in both his successes and mistakes, so that I might savor the victories and avoid the tragedies. His authority stems from his knowledge, and yet, his authority came under our fathers. My father has imparted unto my elder brother both wisdom and comfort; my father and my elder brother have imparted unto myself wisdom and comfort.

            Our Pastor, our elder brother praises the authority of God, our Father. He searches the depths of truth in God's Word to bless and teach God's children with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Pastor explains the scriptures to give understanding to his brothers under his authority. He guides the ones he loves across the waters of life, and is driven by the power of the Cross to the bountiful lands of Canaan. His congregation must learn eagerly from him, they must encourage him in his labors, and they must pay close attention that he is invariably leading them in truth. Then can the gospel thrive in the church that Christ loved so much that he gave up his own life for her.