Church senior leadership is probably one of the most misunderstood professions there are today. Although viewed as one of the most noble tasks and many would also ascribe to the idea that not everyone is cut out to be a pastor, a lot of people - even Christians - can tend to expect too much or even expect the wrong things from people who work for the body of Christ at a vocational level.
The challenge mostly comes from the lack of a biblical understanding of ministry and how God views the work of caring for and tending to God's people. The pastor is often likened to a shepherd who cares for the flock, but that is not the only picture and reference of ministry God has given to us.
As a result of little understanding, members of the church can often have mislead expectations for pastors. Here are five of some of the most common misunderstandings of a pastor's job.
1. The highlight qualification is preaching
1 Timothy 3:1-7 lays out a long list of qualifications for overseers or pastors, and in the list there is little emphasis on the ability to teach and preach. In fact, it is only mentioned as one of the many qualifications. Other qualifications include relationship with other people, family affairs and moral standing.
2. All members should be ministered to by the pastor
The call to minister and share the Gospel is not the job of a chosen few but the job of every believer. It is not the pastor's job to minister and teach everyone apart from the preaching of God's word, but it is his job to teach his members to become ministers. Paul's charge to the young pastor Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 says, "and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
3. The pastor's wife is expected to work for the church too
Another great misunderstanding in the local church is that the wives of pastors are expected to work for the church as well, sometimes without payment. Although the Bible does teach that pastors should be husbands to one wife (1 Timothy 3:2), it doesn't say anywhere in the Bible that the wife must have the same call to pastor a church. And though many pastor's wives are happy to serve in ministry, there are also some that feel called to the market place, to focus on their family or to pursue entrepreneurship and they should be free to do so.
4. The pastor has to know everything
Just like us, our pastors are still learning all they can about God and His Word. Our pastors will never have all the answers to theological questions, but they should always work to find answers where they are able to. Often, members treat their pastors as their only access to God when we now have all access to Christ who is the high priest that bridges us to God.
5. Pastor's should never get rich
Arguably one of the biggest misunderstandings, many people believe that pastors should never be financially overflowing. When a pastor writes a best-selling book or chooses to be bi-vocational to earn more income for his or her own family, a lot of people place terrible labels on him or her. Pastors have just as much access to earthly wealth as long as their hearts are in the right place.
