(C) Are You Called to Be a Pastor?

ALERT!

Many churches and many leading men, including pastors, do not understand some very important aspects about this gift. So before you test yourself for this gift, you must first understand some very important things about it. This will help you to understand and to accept this test.

Pastor, Elder, & Overseer: Are These Three Different Gifts or One Gift?

(A) Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, Clearly Described Them as One Gift

“Elder” and “overseer” are terms that the Holy Spirit used in the Bible to further describe the gift of pastor. This calling is described by three different terms-- elder, overseer, and pastor. Elder describes his age. Overseer describes his authority that he must exercise over the church. Pastor describes his main responsibility to feed and care for the flock. This is one calling, not three. For example, beginning in Acts 20:17, look at what Paul said about it. He called for the elders [i.e. the older men, the presbytery] of the church in Ephesus to pastor [i.e. to shepherd] the church in Ephesus, of which God had made them the overseers [i.e. the bishops, the rulers, the authority]. Thus, these were a group of pastors who were old men with authority over the church in Ephesus.

“From Miletus he [Paul] sent to Ephesus and called to him [1] the elders [i.e the older qualified men] of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them, "You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you [2] overseers [i.e. bishops], to [3] shepherd [i.e. pastor] the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Acts 20:17-28

Notice that Paul [1] called to himself the qualified older men of the church in Ephesus because the Holy Spirit had made them the [2] overseers who were to [3] pastor that specific church. Obviously these were not all of the older men of that church, but the ones who had received the greater gift to oversee and pastor it. Are all older men given the gift of overseeing and pasturing a church? No because all are not pastors. Elders of the church are not just elders of the church; they are not just to be old men of the church. Instead, if God has gifted an older man to be an overseer of a church then he has also been given the responsibility to be the pastor of that church. Elder describes his age and gender, overseer describes his authority to be over the church, and pastor describes his duty to shepherd the flock, that is to feed, nurture, and protect it.

(B) Another Apostle, Peter, Clearly Described Them as One Gift

Look at what Peter, another apostle, said in1 Peter 5:1-4. Notice that Peter called out to the elders [i.e. the older men, the presbytery] among the churches (of which he was gifted as one, for example he was married and had believing children), to shepherd [i.e. to pastor] the churches in which they were a member, telling them to exercise the oversight [i.e. the bishoprick].

“Therefore, I exhort the [1] elders [i.e. older qualified men] among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, [2] shepherd [i.e. pastor] the flock of God among you, exercising [3] oversight [i.e. bishoprick] not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

1 Peter 5:1-4

So, when you complete the test for pastor below, you will see Scriptures listed that, if you looked them up and studied the context in which they were placed, you would clearly see that they specifically and directly relate to the qualifications or eligibility requirements of a pastor, to have or receive this gift.

Two Lists Qualify Certain Members for the Gift of Pastor

There are two lists of eligibility requirements in the New Testament for qualifying members for this gift (1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). They are noted throughout the test below for you to reference.

Without a doubt, both Paul and Peter, who were both gifted as apostles, the highest calling in the church, clearly spoke about these things as one gift of the Holy Spirit, not three different gifts. It is a great mistake for a church to have an elder, an overseer, and also a pastor or some combination of these things because these terms were meant to further describe the one calling, pastor. Just being an older man, an elder, is not one of the greater gifts. But a pastor must be an older man, an elder. Complete the test for more details.

Note: A single church is to have several pastors in their local membership (Titus 1:5), not just one.

WARNING!

The list of eligibility requirements for having the gift of pastor are prefaced by the Holy Spirit with “must be” (1 Tim 3:2). This means that God Himself said that they are required vs. optional, essential vs. non-essential, have to be vs. may be. So you ought to be strict with each of these things, not lenient, loose, or careless with them or else the church will be led by men who are not called to do so; disjointed members (see point three of this study for an explanation of the sin of being a disjointed member). Churches, members, are famous for receiving and appointing members who are not qualified by God to be pastors.

If you can truthfully answer yes to all of the questions below and give legitimate proof to validate each of them, then you have or can receive the gift of pastor.

.... more about this in the Bible Study on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit