Pastor’s Job Description: Four Essential Responsibilities of a Shepherd - by Joshua Chatman

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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The author wants to teach his doctrine and tradition, not the Bible. He writes a little over 900 words, only six of which are words quoted from the Bible. 

For the author, the pastor is the CEO leader of a church, with everyone else below him. Whenever he references verses about church leadership, they're reinterpreted to conform to this preconception.  

But the Bible is quite clear, despite centuries of unbiblical church leadership, that a plurality of elders lead the church:

1 Ti. 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

1 Pe. 5:1-2 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow-elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers...

The author will reference these and other Scriptures in defense of his view of pastors, but he will not quote them. No wonder, since they contradict his doctrine. 

Now, we should note that we have no idea who this fellow is. He might be a great guy and an effective church leader. Who knows? Nevertheless, we must deem this Bad Bible Teaching.

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Joshua Chatman is a co-lead pastor of Midtown Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee.

Abstract: Pastor Joshua Chatman outlines four essential responsibilities of pastors based on Scripture’s teaching in passages such as John 21:15–18 and 1 Peter 5:1–3. As shepherds of Christ’s flock, pastors have the privilege and responsibility to lead, feed, protect, and care for the people Christ has put under their oversight. (This is the author's premise. Let's see if he demonstrates it. From the Bible.)

If you click on a job posting at ziprecruiter.com, you’ll find the job overview, the specific responsibilities, and the required qualifications. This information clarifies what the job entails. But when it comes to the work of a pastor, it’s Scripture that lays out the job.1 If you’re a pastor, your work can be summed up in one biblical word: shepherding (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1–3). (Let's quote:

Ac. 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

The author wants this verse to be about pastors, but he's either ignorant or being deceptive because Paul did not send for the pastors of the Ephesian church, he sent for the elders [Ac. 20:17].) 

It's the same with 1 Peter: 

1 Pe. 5:1-2 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow-elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers...

We hope the author's presentation improves.)

And, I would argue, shepherding includes four main responsibilities: leading the flock, feeding the flock, protecting the flock, and caring for the flock. (This is all correct, regarding elders of course.)

I hope this short article helps you, pastor, to evaluate how you’re doing in each of these areas.

Leading the Flock

Sheep need shepherds to lead them precisely because they are prone to wander. (Eww. This is how the author regards his congregation: Helpless, clueless, and easily deceived? So naturally he gravitates towards the pedestalled CEO pastor position, because his sheep will never grow into maturity of faith and ministry. In fact, this "pastor" is happy to keep them sitting quietly in their pews, nodding their heads in appreciation as he pontificates, and writing their tithe checks.)

Pastor, you have the privilege and responsibility to lead the flock (1 Thes. 5:12–13), (Let's quote:

12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.

This is about three kinds of people

• Those who work hard in the church
• Those who are in authority in the church 
• Those who teach/exhort in the church

No mention of pastors.)

and the primary way you lead is through the public ministry of the Word. (No Bible reference supplied)

You speak Christ’s words to the flock, guiding and directing them as they follow him. (No Bible reference supplied)

Without your leadership, the church may be ill-equipped to understand and fulfill its mission. (No Bible reference supplied)

For example, your members may affirm that the church’s mission is to make disciples but remain unsure about how to carry it out. (Da sheeeep so stoopid.)

They may reduce the mission to inviting friends to church or doing mercy ministry in their city. (Da sheeeep so stoopid.)

But as you patiently and intentionally instruct them through the Word, you can guide and equip them to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18–20). (There's nothing worse than an arrogant, supercilious pastor.)

Feeding the Flock

Sheep need to be fed, which is also the pastor’s job (John 21:15–17).  (Let's quote: 

Jn. 21:15-17 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Was Jesus telling Peter about church leadership duties here? Of course not.)

The primary way a shepherd feeds is through his teaching and preaching God’s Word. (No Bible reference supplied)

In feeding from God’s Word, God’s people remember and are reinforced in truths such as that they are loved by Christ, forgiven of all their sins, commanded to live according to his precepts, helped by his Spirit to do so, and promised life in the world to come.

Pastors may neglect their duty to feed in at least two ways: by refusing to feed or by replacing the healthy food the sheep need with something that lacks substance. Assuming you’re not outright refusing to feed your flock (which would look like a pastoral strike!), consider the latter kind of neglect.

Substituting Christ with anything—moralism, life-coaching, political agendas—is a failure on the shepherd’s part and detrimental to the flock. It’s worse than giving your children Cheetos and Skittles as their main meal for the day. Your church needs heavenly food. That is, they need Christ himself, the bread of life, who alone nourishes and satisfies the soul (John 6:35). So as you preach and teach Christ from the Scriptures, you invite the flock to feast on him. He is sweeter than honey and more satisfying than a medium-rare steak. Week after week, you have the privilege of helping your church taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8). (Certainly those elders who are gifted and tasked with teaching [1 Ti. 3:2] have this responsibility [the author's flowery language aside]. However, we undertake to lay our finger on any Bible verse that tells us that pastors teach.)

Protecting the Flock

Sheep are defenseless and vulnerable. (The author again condescends to his stupid sheep. In his church he must be insufferable.)

They are not predators but prey. Therefore, they need shepherds to protect them, particularly when it comes to false teachers who prey on the flock (Acts 20:29; Eph. 4:14). (Let's quote: 

Ac. 20:29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 

This is another portion from Paul's exhortation of the Ephesian elders. 

Ep. 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

This result [interestingly at odds with the author's opinion of his sheep], is the product of the effective ministry of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers [verse 11] in the church. Apparently the author wants all five jobs.)

These teachers make lies sound like truth; they make slavery look like freedom; they offer poison as candy. They present the pathway to destruction as if it’s the road to a full life. And your church members are susceptible to these forms of deception. (Is the pastor susceptible to anything?) 

Christ doesn’t want any of his blood-bought sheep to be deceived or devoured. That’s why your head must remain on a swivel and your shepherd’s staff must remain at hand. Your weapon for protection is Scripture, and the primary way you wield it is through upholding sound doctrine. As you rightly divide the Word, you expose deception, refute heresies, and present the pure gospel. This helps protect the flock from being captured by empty philosophies (Col. 2:8–9). (Sigh. Let's quote: 

Col. 2:8 See to it that no-one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Paul's counsel is not to the pastors or church leaders, it is addressed to the brothers [Col. 1:2]. We are beginning to question the author's competence.)

Caring for the Flock

Sheep require oversight and care. The Chief Shepherd knows and cares for his flock (John 10:14–15), and he commands you to follow his example (1 Pet. 5:1–3). (Let's requote: 

1 Pe. 5:1-3 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow-elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers...

Once again we note that the elders are being addressed here.)

Do you know your church members’ names? Are you aware of ways to pray for them? Do you have a general sense of how they’re doing, either through personal interactions or through updates from another elder? ("Another elder?" The author springs new information on us: The pastor is an elder. Hmm.)

Much of your pastoral work is done publicly, but caring for the flock often occurs through personal interactions behind the scenes—after services, in your office, in their homes, or at hospitals. (Apparently this pastor is the do-it-all guy. No one else in the church is equipped or available to do "pastor stuff."

We can't imagine a more dysfunctional church leadership structure than the one for which the author advocates.)

Though less visible, this work is no less valuable. Members of your church are vulnerable to despair, discouragement, and doubts, (Are pastors also vulnerable? Who pastors the pastors?)

and you can speak directly to their needs by applying the gospel and strengthening their faith (Acts 20:20; Rom. 15:13). (We are growing weary of chasing down the author's Scripture references. So many of them have been taken out of context or misrepresented according to the author's doctrine.)

You can also be present to rejoice with them during their happiest moments, like the birth of a child. Or you can be there to mourn with them during their darkest hours, as when they receive a devastating diagnosis or experience the loss of a loved one. Through this kind of pastoral care, weary souls are renewed and the church tangibly experiences the care of the Chief Shepherd. (Self aggrandizing.)


Conclusion

Pastors, Christ has called you to devote yourselves to the care of souls, ministering the Word in all your duties.2 Your job responsibilities are weighty and worthy of the utmost diligence. On that final day, when Christ the Chief Shepherd evaluates your work, what will he say? By God’s grace, may he commend your faithful labors and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21). (The sole quoted Scripture.)

1 .See John 21:15–18; Acts 20:28; Col. 1:28–29; 2 Tim. 4:1–2; 1 Pet. 5:1–3.

2 .Martin Bucer, Concerning the True Care of Souls, trans. Peter Beale (Banner of Truth, 2009), 33.