Clergy Duties

Table of Duties
Certain passages of scripture for various holy orders and positions,
admonishing them about their duties and responsibilities

For Bishops, Pastors, and Preachers.

A bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; not a novice; holding fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 1 Tim. 3:2ff ; Titus 1:6.

What the Hearers Owe to Their Pastors.

Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel. 1 Cor. 9:14. Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Gal. 6:6. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the Word and doctrine. For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn; and the laborer is worthy of his reward. 1 Tim. 5:17-18. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you. Heb. 13:17.]

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

 

There are definitely days filled with grief when it should be joy. It is a very sad thing to proclaim the good news and that good news is met with all kinds of obstacles. There are days when I wonder if it is all striving after the wind (Eccl 1:14) as attempts are made to "muzzle the ox." 

 

Today, I read an article about another pastor who is an atheist. I wondered how she got to be a pastor in the first place. I surmise that it was because someone or a lot of someones had "itching ears." They appreciated the humanistic prattle because it appeased their sense of right and wrong. Even as Martin Luther appeals to a sense of good character; he also reminds us that we must hold fast the faithful Word in order to exhort and convince the gainsayers.

 

I heard news yesterday that a friend has received a call to serve out of the area. She will be moving soon. I will miss her. For my ordination she gave me a framed reminder of my call that I keep in my home office. It says "Comfort The Disturbed. Disturb The Comfortable." Doing either can sometimes bring grief rather than joy. Sharing the Word of God, which is a two-edged sword always seems to make someone unhappy and in return the one who shares the Word will receive grief. If one comforts the disturbed that others deem should have no comfort then you're in trouble. If one disturbs those who are too comfortable the pastor is also likely to receive grief. But, it is the job description! 

 

We are not called to make friends of the world. We are called to hold fast to the faithful Word and to proclaim it (regardless of who it offends) so that other might hear and believe.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J 

2 Timothy 4 - Preach The Word No Matter What

2 Timothy 4 NIV

Monastery at Valaam, Russia

Paul is anticipating his death and so closes this letter to Timothy encouraging him to come quickly to even while he gives Timothy instruction on ministry. "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction," he writes. (vs 2) 

Just as the many deserted Jesus in his last hours, Paul finds that many have deserted him. He warns Timothy to especially watch out for Alexander who did him great harm. There are those who have and will turn their ears away from truth and turn aside to myths. They will listen only to what will please their itching ears. They will come up against you for proclaiming the truth. Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all duties of your ministry. (vs 3-4)

It is not easy to proclaim the message of God in Christ Jesus. There will be many who will want you out of their lives, even dead. They do not want to hear the truth. The Word of God, is after all, a two-edged sword: one edge to stab the conscience; the other to heal the wounded soul. Be aware of those who would attack you for the truth. But, do not worry unduly about them for God is with you and for you. With patience, continue to proclaim the good news to all who would hear.

"The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all." (vs 22)

God's Peace - Pr. J

2 Thess 2 - Man of Lawlessness

2 Thessalonians 2 NIV
I cannot count nor ever remember how many men have been publicized as possibly being the lawless one (the anti-Christ) that was prophesied to come. Most often those who were accused of being the anti-Christ have been in positions of power in the world. They have been world political leaders.

I cannot help but wonder if this anti-Christ is actually going to be a leader in the secular world or will that personality be someone from within the visible church on earth. There are many; after all, who are teaching false doctrine and yet are quite popular personalities; leaders (not servants) in the visible church. They have been popular because they please the itching ears. They are popular because they tell people what they want to hear. They have led many astray as they have lifted themselves up in the eyes of the people they teach.

I am convinced that the most dangerous false teachings do not come from those outside the church who deny Christ. These allegations are a distraction and have kept us from looking within ourselves and acknowledging the lawlessness that abides within us. Those most dangerous lies are those lies propagated within the church that are being passed down and expanded upon to succeeding generations. It is quite possible (probable) that the man of lawlessness will be revealed to be one who spread the lies from within the visible church. The man of lawlessness may well come from within the church, itself.

Do not let anyone deceive you; not from outside the church or from within. Jesus is our only salvation. May God help us to remain faithful to His Word.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Romans 16:17-27 Itching Ears

Romans 16:17-27 
We've all heard them; those who with smooth talk teach a false gospel. It is not any different today than in what it was in St. Paul's day. There is one way to tell if something proclaimed to you is the truth; know the scriptures, read them and hear them. The message proclaimed to us through the prophets is found in them. The fulfillment is found in them. Do not let your itching ears lead you to believing  smooth talkers whose aim is not to glorify God; but their own egos. It is neither wise nor safe to accept any doctrine that cannot be supported by scripture; scripture supports scripture. Read your Bibles daily and have a blessed day; a blessed life in Christ Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Amos 8 - Famine

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord,
    “when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
    but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
People will stagger from sea to sea
    and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the Lord,
    but they will not find it." (Amos 8:11-12 NIV)

Always searching, never finding... So many seekers out there... hungry... thirsty... but, never being satisfied. The word of the LORD is available. But, it is not available in every church, from every pulpit. It is there. But, sometimes it is difficult to find.

Just as in the days of Amaziah the temple is used for worldly proclamations. In chapter 7, we heard Amos declare that the temple was his and that Amos was not to be proclaiming God's word in it. The same applies today. The church, it seems, belong to the people, a worldly people, who want their "ears itched" and pastors who are reluctant to say anything that will not scratch those ears. This causes a lot of thirsty and hungry people to wander, searching for the water that will quench their thirst. Jesus is that living water. The proclamation of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can satisfy the thirsty or hungry soul.

I rarely get a chance to attend worship services other than at Zion or Aura Lutheran. However, when I am away from the pulpit, I attend worship services wherever I am. Some of the messages leave me excited and fully fed with the word and the Word. Others do not. They leave me empty and actually wanting to run out and find some real nourishment. Not long ago, I attended a funeral service for a Christian man. There was no proclamation of life in Jesus Christ! It was a very long eulogy (not a sermon). Only one time was Jesus' name mentioned during the sermon and that was in reference to Jesus approving of the man; not because of Christ's work on the cross but because of the man's life, itself.

The days of famine have come. Not a famine of food or water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. Jesus' instruction to those who claim they love him was to feed His sheep. Feed them... Feed your neighbors, your friends, your family, with the Word of God... Share the love of God, who in Christ Jesus, was willing to die that we might live abundant lives in His Kingdom, reconciled to God and one another, beginning even now!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Lamentations 4 - Prophets and Priests to Blame

The lament continues. The people suffer. They are suffering, the lament tells us, because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests.

"But it happened because of the sins of her prophets
    and the iniquities of her priests,
who shed within her    the blood of the righteous." (Lam 4:13 NIV)

What were the sins of the priests and prophets? Simply put, they spoke falsely, in the LORD's name, to please the itching ears of God's people. The consequences were bad... really bad! Don't forget to read chapter 4 of Lamentations today to get a better idea of how bad things got for God's people.

Lutherans, as well as other denominations in the U.S., typically call their pastors. They meet each other; they hear him/her preach; they pray for God to help them discern whether He is calling the pastor to that community to serve; and, then the congregation votes. I cannot begin to tell you how tragic it ends when the people of God do not take seriously this discernment process. They must  listen to this man or woman they are considering calling to see whether they truly proclaim God's Word or if they speak to please the itching ears of those who call. I cannot begin to imagine how many congregations actually listen for and call those who are willing to serve their itching ears before the Word of the LORD. It is not good!

And, a word to the pastors and priests, who are called to serve: consider the consequences to the people that you are teaching falsely. Is your paycheck and retirement really worth the devastation that false proclamations will bring to the people, to the land? Consider the consequences, for all people, of your decision to proclaim the truth or not. Sure, some of them may not like you for speaking the truth. But, speak it anyway so that they might have life!

Let us part with a bit of good news: even in our reading today, God promises that the sorrow will pass.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 18 - God Answers According to His Will

A few chapters back, Jeremiah was praying for the people and God told him not to. It was useless. The people were simply hard-hearted and would not change. They would continue to do everything according to their own wills and to persecute Jeremiah for speaking the word of God.

Today, Jeremiah is asking God for relief from these same people. Apparently, he's about had it with being persecuted for trying to save them. His conversation with God:

"They said, “Come, let’s make plans against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the priest will not cease, nor will counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophets. So come, let’s attack him with our tongues and pay no attention to anything he says.”

Listen to me, Lord;
    hear what my accusers are saying!
Should good be repaid with evil?
    Yet they have dug a pit for me.
Remember that I stood before you
    and spoke in their behalf
    to turn your wrath away from them." 
So give their children over to famine;
    hand them over to the power of the sword.
Let their wives be made childless and widows;
    let their men be put to death,
    their young men slain by the sword in battle.
Let a cry be heard from their houses
    when you suddenly bring invaders against them,
for they have dug a pit to capture me    and have hidden snares for my feet." (Jer 18:18-22 NIV)

 

I've known more than a few pastors in my life who have been verbally attacked by their councils and congregations. The slander goes out into the community and attendance starts falling and then the people go into full attack mode. Apparently, it is the pastor's fault that this gossip about him/her amongst the congregants in the community has somehow damaged the reputation of the congregation. Go figure!

 

When a congregation goes through a new pastor every two or three years because the Bishop or whomever sent them a "bad" or "ill-fitting" pastor to them; maybe it's time to take a look at the congregation. It's not that the whole congregation attacks the pastor. It usually one takes one or two antagonists to start the stampede. But, once it is started, it is almost impossible to change the downward slide. It takes divine intervention. That divine intervention usually comes in lessons to learn. Hopefully, they learn better than Israel did. The children of God had to go into captivity to turn their lives around so that they were better in line with the LORD's will for them.

 

In the reading today, God tells Jeremiah to go down to the potter's house and learn what God would have him know. The potter will work the clay. He will do what it takes to make the work of his hand most beautiful in his eyes. Sometimes, like pottery, God needs to fire up the kiln. Sometimes, we need to be fired up in order to be completed. Sometimes, God has to completely destroy the work of His hand so He can start it from scratch once again.

 

Jeremiah is tired. He is tired of being persecuted for not pleasing the "itching ears" of the people. The time has come to listen as we hear the prophecy in 2 Timothy 4:3: "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." That time is here. Just as the people, whom Jeremiah spoke to, only wanted to hear what was pleasing to their ears, so do many today. The truth of which God would have us speak has not changed. It must be spoken. And... those who speak it will be persecuted.

 

The pastors continue to proclaim the kingdom even as they pray for the people. God answers according to His own will and not ours. He is the potter. We are the clay.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J