That last article I posted is great: a church of 100 people or less in some rural Alaskan place sponsors an African village without a pastor. They didn't have one, they did it amongst themselves. That's a church! The Shepherd of the sheep should always, always be Jesus Christ. Usually from what I hear, the pastor has to do every thing. The Alpha One course...counsel people... When the pastor's real job is to be an example of Jesus Christ so that those that see him can be raised up just like Jesus Christ. It's to serve the church! But I liked reading that one thing because the church still did, as the Shepherd's sheep, the will of the Shepherd, and there was no pastor involved.
A pastor isn't some far-off class of Christian. The Lord doesn't look down and see the pastor as a pastor, as we in the world see them, but as Christians! They're no different and you're no different - the difference between they that teach and they that do everything else, is that the one that teaches faces a greater condemnation if he doesn't live up to what he teaches, says Christ. That's all. There's no difference.
Like John 10 says, Jesus is the door and he that passes through the Door becomes a Shepherd of the sheep, meaning you're no lower than a pastor and as a member of the body are expected to walk in the Spirit the exact same way.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. A pastor is human just like everyone else. It is sick how many people elevate their pastor to a level that over and beyond who they are. I love my Pastor dearly, and unlike what you wrote about a pastor having to do everything, my pastor pretty much has a partnership with fellow ministers in the church. Christ is the Head of the church. Amen.
