The shepherd; Why and for what? 

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers”. Ephesians 4:11.

In the letter of the apostle Saint Paul to the Ephesians in chapter 4 verse 11, shows us that God has established the authorities in the church through ministerial gifts. As we see, these gifts are five and among them is the pastor.

Why the shepherd.

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd”. Matthew 9:36.

In the Gospel according to Saint Matthew chapter 9 verse 36. shows us that the Lord Jesus saw the multitudes that were like sheep that had no shepherd and had compassion on them, however we know that there were those who were in charge of leading God’s people. They had the temple, there was the high priest and the priests. They also had the synagogues and scribes who were in charge of teaching the law that God himself had given him for his people, so the Lord Jesus said: “like sheep having no shepherd”. But there were those as established by God in the Old Testament, they would have to lead the flock of God. This shows us the deterioration they had reached.

Matthew recounts that when the Lord Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, this word compassion: (Splagcna in Greek), being moved to compassion, longing for compassion. It is frequently recorded from Christ to the crowd and to individual sufferings.

Then he said to his disciples: Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest. The harvest was many and the workers were not competent. In the Gospel of St. Marc in chapter 6, verse 34, it says:

“And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things”

As we can see in this passage that Mark tells us, he not only tells us that he had compassion on them, but that he began to teach them many things. What does the word of God show us with this? That God’s people were not conducted according to God’s thoughts, that is why the Lord Jesus established pastors and placed them in the church, and all who are called by the Lord for this ministry receive from him the gift of Shepherd. Through which those who have the privilege of this call are trained through this gift, to lead the flock of the Lord as if he were the Lord himself. Since with the gift they receive the vision that a pastor has to have, and a pastor’s heart and a pastor’s soul. –

The shepherd!

A choice of God or a vocation of men?

This is one of the great problems that the church has been going through for centuries, not understanding that the pastorate is not a man’s vocation, but that the Bible teaches us that God put him in the church. “And he himself constituted some apostles; to others, prophets; to others, evangelists; to others, pastors and teachers”. Ephesians 4:11.

Many men, being sincere and wishing to work in the vineyard of the Lord, have attended Bible seminars in search of training to practice the pastorate, and having obtained a certificate and diploma from a pastor, sometimes sent by their denomination, sometimes by their own heart, they founded a church in which they began to exercise this ministry, without having had the call of the Lord. Many have done this, ignoring God’s true purpose with the church for the world, others not recognizing the Lord Jesus as the head of the church.

In the book of Acts, in chapter 20 verse 28, the word of God teaches us that the Holy Spirit put them as bishops to feed the Lord’s church.

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood”. Acts 20:28.

Many men have worked and are still working in this ministry without the true direction of the Lord, however honest they may be, if they do not have the call of the Lord, they will never reach the true vision they have to have to lead the house of God. Many do not know that sincerity does not prevent error. Those who do not have the call for this ministry, the Lord does not reveal their purpose, since by establishing themselves by their own means they did not recognize him as their boss, that is why pastoral unity becomes difficult in these times, since each one of those who are not called makes use of his reasoning and wisdom as a man; that way they will never reach scriptural unity and neither will spiritual unity. Then, in the light of the scriptures, we can see that the pastorate is not a vocation of man but is a choice of God.

“This is a true saying, if a man desires the office of a bishop, he desired a good work”. First Timothy 3:1.

The apostle Paul teaches that he who longs for bishopric desires a good thing, so longing for the pastorate is good, but each one individually must do so knowing the Lord, and not exercise it on their own.

Those who are called.

In chapter 3 verse 13 and 14 of St. Mark. the word of God teaches us that the Lord Jesus called twelve to be with him.

“And he goth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach”. Marc 3:13-14

The apostle Paul says that he was called and set apart by God for his ministry, and he says in (Galatians chapter 1 verse 15 and 16). that he was set apart by God from his mother’s womb, and called him by his grace to reveal his Son in him. The same apostle Paul says in (Ephesians, chapter 4 verse 11). that God put in the church and names the five ministerial gifts.

When the Lord calls someone to the ministry of the pastorate not only enables him to exercise it, but also reveals his purposes; This is the great difference between the pastor who is called by God, and the one who does it only by his vocation. Those who are called carry on their shoulders the responsibility of shepherding, and feeding all those who in God’s call are placed in their care. Every pastor should know that the church is a thought of God, therefore his mission is to lead the people towards the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”. Ephesians 4:13.

PASTORS: “Feed the flock of God”.

Pastor: (Poimen in Greek). In its natural sense, of one who takes care of herds or flocks, not merely one who feeds them. Metaphorically, of those who practice pastorate in the church of Christ. The shepherds drive as much as they feed the flock; (Acts 20:28), indicates that this was the service entrusted to the elders (supervisors or bishops).

Pasture: (Bosko in Greek). It is mainly used as a pastor (to boo, feed, the special function being to provide food), metaphorically, of the spiritual ministry.

The pastor’s mission.

The pastor’s mission is to lead and feed the flock of God. (Acts 20:28).

How a pastor should take care of God’s flock.

1) Not by force, but voluntarily:

Understanding the honor, he has from God, for having considered him faithful for this task.

2) Not for dishonest gain, but with courage soon (jealously). First Peter 5:2.

Every pastor who achieves this knowledge of what “not for dishonest gain”, means, understanding the privilege he has of having been called by God to lead the flock, will never have to beg for anything, but whoever called him will provide all the things he needs to carry out the mission entrusted to him.

3) Not as having lordship over those in your care. First Peter 5:3.

Every pastor who was called by God for this ministry must understand the mission he has with those in his care. Understanding that this work must be done for love, not showing how he has authority over them but, manifesting the care that the Lord has of his own through him. If it is to manifest an authority it must be spiritual.

4) The pastor should be an example of his flock. First Timothy 4:12.

Every pastor has to be an example of those whom God puts under his care, the best way to reach him is to look to Christ and be an imitator of him. As the apostle Paul said: “be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” First Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 5:1.

And 5) The reward to the pastorate: “The Crown of Glory”. First Peter 5:4.

I love you and I embrace you in the love of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Juan Avellaneda