The Pastor's Special Crown

Dear Pastor, Great honor is given you!
His sheep in your flock attend to your word;
They trust each message you speak to be true,
That scripture does ever rightly undergird!
Yours is the one fount of which they partake;
In guiless faith, their every guard down;
Your voice is the key to their inmost gate,
Its message robed as if in God's own gown!
If you speak amiss, some soul could be lost,
Not rejecting, but accepting the call!
Preach the gospel with care, counting the cost;
Add to your flock, and help sanctify all!
Hold fast to His word, whenever you teach,
Earn His crown of righteousess as you preach!

Typically, a church has a pastor. Christ Jesus is considered the head of the church, and the Bible portrays Him as the shepherd of the members, who are pictured as sheep. The pastor is called Jesus' under-shepherd. His is an awesome and dangerous responsibility.

We learn most about the duties of a pastor from the two letters Paul wrote to Timothy, his young protege, in the Bible. Space here does not permit a detailed discussion of them, but here is Paul's description of what is undoubtedly his biggest responsibility.

"Do your best to present yourself to God [and at the same time, your flock] as one approved, a workman [or scholar] who does not need to be ashamed, and who correctly handles the word of truth [the Bible]. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly." (2 Timothy 2:15-16) [Brackets added]

"Godless chatter" is the non-Biblical man-made characteristics of God that some celebrities promote, most of which lead sincere Christians away from truths in the Bible. For example, Oprah Winfrey sponsors a lady named Marie Williamson, who promotes, "God loves you, and He dwells within your being; if you meditate deep within yourself, you will find God, and then you can do anything your feelings say is right for you, and a miracle will happen. There is no sin; there is no guilt." The first clause is true: God does indeed love you; He loves every human being, no matter what they may have done. But the rest of it is man-made; or should I say, straight from the lips of Satan? God does not dwell within everyone; not for anything will God dwell within a person who has ignored Him. What such a person discovers in deep interior meditation is exactly what Satan wants him to believe, and if you follow your feelings and instincts, you're going nowhere but hell. It is possible, though, for a dedicated pastor to get some man-made or Satan-made claptrap in his head and preach it from the pulpit. Then he is in danger, and so is his flock.

Now, for the good news. Many and many men and women have served as under-shepherds or pastors to flocks very carefully and righteously. As Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, for them is laid up in heaven a "crown of righteousness", and God will gladly p;ace it on their heads. There is no tougher job on earth.