This is another lesson in our Wednesday evening Bible studies on Order in the Church.

The People-Pastor Relationship

It is true that our relationships with others in this life determines much of what we are and who we are. Many books, both Christian and secular, have been published in recent years dealing with our relationships with others.

In this study we are dealing with the relationship between the people of a congregation and the Pastor. All relationships begin with one key element–respect. From respect we can, as Christians, easily grow to the essential ingredient in the People-Pastor relationship which is love. In our relationship we must first be Christian. One elementary requirement from Scripture is that we “love one another.” The secret (if there is one) is for the Pastor to love his people and the people love their Pastor!

In this one blog post, we cannot deal with the matter of love in great detail. That being said, let it be known if love is not in the People-Pastor relationship it will be a very rocky road for all concerned. In our study we will be using Ephesians 4 as our guide.

In a previous study on “The Pastor” we learned from Acts 6:4 that the main responsibility of the Pastor is to give himself “continually to prayer and the ministry of the word. In II Timothy 3:16 we find four essentials in the “ministry of the word” or Scriptures. Those four essentials are doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction.

Your Pastor is required by the Lord to accomplish all four of these aspects in his teaching and preaching. To understand these words, let’s look closer at their meanings.

1. Doctrine means basically “teachings.” This is what we need to believe. We need to know the truth. This is a very positive aspect of the Pastor’s requirements.

2. Reproof deals with those things that are not right. Reproof is never easy. It is not easy to give and it is not easy to receive. However, when love is the bond between the People and Pastor, reproof is always profitable.

3. Correction is the aspect whereby we learn how to correct that which is wrong. Much preaching and teaching deals with correction. When the Pastor loves his people, he wants what is wrong in their lives (reproof) corrected. Biblical preaching with biblical principles will help us to correct the wrong and thereby grow in grace as a Christian.

4. Instruction is to be “in righteousness.” Again, this is the duty of the Bible preacher. He is to preach what is right or wrong. “Righteousness” as it pertains to our lives basically means “living right.” We need to hear and know what is right for us and our families.

One famous Bible teacher (Wiersbe) gives this explanation in regards to II Timothy 3:16. Speaking of the Scriptures he states, “They are profitable for doctrine (what is right), for reproof (what is not right), for correction (how to get right), and for instruction in righteousness (how to stay right).”

Back in Ephesians 4, Paul is writing from prison (vs. 1). He is concerned with their walk (vs. 1). He is also concerned with their relationships with others (vs. 2). Then he states the reason for his concern: “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (vs. 3). This is only accomplished in the local New Testament church with the proper relationship between the people and the Pastor!

In Ephesians 4:11 we find the calling of the Pastor and teacher. The preacher’s goal is for “the perfecting of the saints” (4:12). This means for the maturing, growing, and final completion of the Christian. He is to “shepherd” or pastor the people. Note again II Timothy 3:16 which gives us the Scriptural way for the pastor to “shepherd” the people.

With an understanding of the relationship between the people and the Pastor, here are some Scriptural truths for all of us:

1. Follow. Paul says in II Thessalonians 3:7, “For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you.” Followship is to be directly related to one’s behavior. Does the Pastor care? Does the Pastor love? Does the Pastor behave in an orderly fashion before us?

2. Appreciate. The Pastor has an awesome, tremendous responsibility before the Lord. Paul says in Philippians 4:10, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly now at the last your care of me hath flourished again.” See I Timothy 5:17-18.

3. Support. Paul writing again to Timothy says, “Against an elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses” (I Timothy 5:19). Pastors are often the object of criticism, many times because of a lack of understanding. Supporting the “called of God” Pastor will result in blessings for you and your family.

Finally, back to Ephesians 4 again, let’s look at the last verse (vs. 32). What a great basis to have a good relationship between the Pastor and the people. Your preacher is not perfect; he is not without sin; his judgment is not always right; and he knows it better than anyone else. On the same note, he does not pastor people who are sinless nor are they perfect.

Let’s end our study with Ephesians 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Kindness, tender-hearted, forgiving–great words for the People-Pastor relationship!