Do I Need a Pastor?

Person 1: Hello, can I meet you?

Person 2: Yes, my name is Pastor Lagbaja.

Person 1: Oh, so you’re a pastor. I’d rather have nothing to do with you.

Person 2: Why is that?

Person 1: I hate pastors. My life would have been better than it is, but for some so-called pastors.

This is a brief of some conversations that occur on some corridors (business, workplace or recreation centres). Some people even bear these grudging thoughts in their hearts, act by it but never vocalise it.

We hear sorry tales of how some pastors have (nearly) ruined some people’s lives and faith and we worry for the church. Some people have left the faith because of a sad experience with a pastor, while some others keep the faith but pick whom or what to trust. There are still others who have left congregation but chose to seek God on their own.

When the purpose of a thing is not known its abuse is inevitable. This statement swings both ways:

First, the pastor, in ignorance of the purpose of the congregation takes advantage of them. Second, the congregation, in ignorance of the purpose of the pastor either despises or idolizes him.

So, this begs these questions: what is the purpose of a pastor? Do I even need a pastor in my life? Is the man I call my pastor really pastoring me? Is it possible that someone else is pastoring me, yet I don’t realise it?

These questions and more will be answered in this article and subsequent ones. Follow along.

Let me start by sharing 6 simple purposes of a pastor:

1. Take on the role of an elder in leading a congregation
2. Care for the people with a shepherd’s diligence
3. Make their lives an example worth emulating
4. Give the word of God & demonstrates consistency in faithfulness and truthfulness
5. Responsible for urging and guiding others in obedience (not always the nice guy)
6. Serves the saints

Ok. Let me drop the pen here. In the next article, we will explore requirements for becoming a pastor, who needs a pastor and who the best pastor on earth is.

Stay glued!