The Qualifications of a Pastor
Everywhere I go I hear people talking of how one church is looking for a pastor, but they will not accept anyone unless they have a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree. One day a brother in the faith came to me who felt the lord calling him to full time ministry. The advice given to him by someone who he referred to as a wise pastor, told him to go and finish his degree at the near by secular university, which is known for it’s apostate training. He could then go to a local seminary which teaches that the early chapters of Genesis are taken from Babylonian myths. All this so he could get his acceptance to be a pastor.
Does God require a man of God to go to an institution whose foundation is in rebellion against God?
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 3:11
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.
Proverbs 21:30
You might say Jonathan Edwards was one of the greatest theologians in our American History and he went to Yale. But remember that Yale as well as Harvard in his time taught that the foundation of all knowledge was Jesus Christ. Do these colleges still teach such a foundation? How about the Christian colleges?
What was the example Jesus Christ showed his disciples in preparing for the ministry? Even in Jesus’ time there were Rabbical schools, but the Son of God taught apprenticeship training. Even the greatest prophet of all time, John, did not go to the schools of his day.
What are the true qualifications of a pastor according to scripture? The guidelines are given in I Timothy Chapter 3
1. A bishop (Pastor) then must be blameless.
He must conduct himself in a way so that he is out of reach of any person to prove that he is unsound. He has to set an example to be a role model.
2. The husband of one wife,
He should be a married man with only one wife. If a man divorces his wife and marries another he is not qualified according to scripture, as well as being a poor example to the flock. That is not to mean that people who have remarried cannot serve the Lord, but not in this position. Many will accept a man who has been divorced and remarried as long as he has a degree.
3. Vigilant
He should be watchful to the things that God has put into his care.
4. Sober
He must be of a sound mind and a man open to learning
5. Good behaviour,
A man who is orderly, decent, grave, and correct in the whole of his appearance, and conduct.
6. Given to hospitality,
A lover of strangers; one who is ready to receive others into his house, to help and to serve.
7. Apt to teach
One capable of teaching; not only wise himself, but ready to communicate his wisdom to others. One whose delight is to instruct the ignorant and those who are out of the way. He must be a preacher; an able, zealous, fervent, and assiduous preacher.
8. Not given to wine,
One who is attached to wine, a winebibber or tippler Let us not forget
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1
9. No striker
He is not to be quarrelsome; not ready to strike a person who may displease him; no persecutor of those who may differ from him.
10. Not greedy of filthy lucre but patient
Not desirous of base gain; not using base and unjustifiable methods to raise and increase his revenues; not trading or trafficking; for what would be honorable in a secular character, would be base and dishonorable in a pastor. He also should be meek and gentle.
11. Not a brawler
Not contentious or litigious, but quiet and peaceable
Not a lover of money; not desiring the office for the sake of its emoluments. He who loves money will stick at nothing in order to get it. Fair and foul methods are to him alike, provided they may be equally productive. For the sake of reputation he may wish to get all honorably; but if that cannot be, he will not scruple to adopt other methods. A brother heathen gives him this counsel: "Get money if thou canst by fair means; if not, get it by hook and by crook."
13. One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
One who properly presides over and governs his own family. One who has the command of his own house, not by sternness, severity, and tyranny, but with all gravity; governing his household by rule, every one knowing his own place, and each doing his own work, and each work having the proper time assigned for its beginning and end. This is a maxim of common sense; no family can be prosperous that is not under subjection, and no person can govern a family but the head of it, the husband, who is, both by nature and the appointment of God, the head or governor of his own house.
For if a man know not what method is a matter of great importance in all the affairs of life. It is a true saying, He that does little with his head must do much with his hands; and even then the business is not half done for want of method. Now, he who has a proper method of doing business will show it in every affair of life, even the least. He who has a disorderly family has no government of that family; he probably has none because he has no method, no plan, of presiding. It was natural for the apostle to say, If a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God? Look at a man's domestic arrangements; if they be not good, he should not be trusted with any branch of government, whether ecclesiastical or civil.
14. Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Not recently engrafted, that is, one not newly converted to the faith; one who has been of considerable standing in the Christian Church, if he have the preceding qualifications, may be safely trusted with the government of that Church.
Moreover he must have a good report of them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
He should be one who had not been previously a profligate, or candalous
in his life. Such a person, when converted, may be a worthy private member of religious society.
In conclusion
These are the qualifications given in scripture. Many currently, who hold the office are not qualified. Today, we have followed after the ways of the world in sending men to learn ways that are not the Lord’s. God’s example is Christ, who took his disciples and they apprenticed under him for a period of time. Sending them out from time to time and giving them a plan that was consistent to the word of God, Even in Jesus’ day, he, the Son of God was criticized for the way he ministered.
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me”. Luke 9:23
“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully” Jeremiah 48:10