Pastors and Deacons
The Bible only names two “offices” in a local church. These are the offices of pastor and deacon. In Philippians 1:1, the apostle Paul says, “To all the saints (Christians) in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops (pastors) and deacons.” This doesn’t mean that having other offices (Sunday School Director, Youth Minister, W.M.U. Director, etc.) is necessarily wrong. It does mean, however, that the offices of pastor and deacon should be looked upon in a different light than all other offices.
The qualifications for a pastor are given in 1 Timothy 3:7 and Titus 1:5-9. It should be understood that the New Testament uses the words “pastor,” “elder,” and “bishop” interchangeably. The qualifications for a deacon are given in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. There are some who believe that Acts 6:1-6 also pertains to the qualifications for a deacon, but this interpretation is debated. The debate stems from the fact that it is a bit unclear whether or not the passage describes the first deacon election. At any rate, nothing in the list of qualifications from Acts 6:1-6 contradicts anything from 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
The word “deacon” is the English translation of the Greek word diakonos. This is a common Greek word that simply means “servant.” Therefore, to be a deacon is to be a servant. As 1 Timothy 3:13 puts it: “For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
The pastor is also to serve the church, but his service is different from that of a deacon. The Bible speaks of the pastor as “ruling,” whereas this word is never used of the deacon. Consider the following verses:
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13: “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.”
- 1 Timothy 5:17: “Let the elders (pastors) who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.”
- Hebrews 13:7: “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.”
- Hebrews 13:17: “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.”
- Hebrews 13:24: “Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints.”
Many Christians don’t know that such verses are in the Bible. Many others wish they weren’t! Still, they are there. The term that is often used to describe the pastor’s ruling is “pastoral authority.” Nowhere does the Bible hint at “deaconship authority.”
The pastor’s authority can even be seen in the word “pastor” itself. Just as “deacon” means “servant,” “pastor” means “shepherd.” Does a shepherd not lead his sheep and have authority over their starts, stops, and journeying? Certainly he does.
Of course, it should go without saying that the pastor is to use his authority in a godly, Christlike manner. The 1 Timothy and Titus lists of the qualifications of a pastor use descriptions such as: “blameless,” “of good behavior,” “hospitable,” “not violent,” “not greedy for money,” “gentle,” “not quarrelsome,” “not self-willed,” “not quick-tempered,” “a lover of what is good,” “sober-minded,” “just,” “holy,” and “self-controlled.” These descriptions surely don’t fit any pastor who is overbearing, manipulative, and dictatorial. The sad truth is that such pastors give pastoral authority a bad name and cause some Christians to cringe at the very mention of it.
1 Peter 5:1-4 is a wonderful passage that answers the question of how a pastor should rule. It says:
“The elders (pastors) who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”
Obviously, a pastor should handle his authority in a way that is pleasing to God. Putting it simply, there is a right way and a wrong way to rule.
Really, what the Bible says about pastoral authority isn’t all that hard to understand. The problems arise either from people not letting the pastor rule the church or from the pastor abusing his authority. Neither is pleasing to God. In God’s plan, pastoral authority is a good thing, but both pastor and church member must play their roles rightly. It isn’t the church member’s job to “keep the preacher in line,” just as it isn’t the pastor’s job to “rule with an iron fist.” The key is for the pastor and the church member to be the people God wants them to be. The end result of this will be the betterment of the church.