Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Growth
MMI Links links to a post by David Foster on metrics for pastoral growth.
Ask yourself this - if point 3 is to be a part of point 4, how can one, only one, out-reaching pastor bring about that many conversions? Re phrase the question, how can a shepherd add that many sheep to his flock, by himself? His only option is to purchase the sheep from someone else - does that qualify as analogous to growth by conversion?
I don't think so, see, a pastor that raises healthy sheep just sits back and watches the sheep make other sheep, often many at a time, since virtually every ewe is busy.
If you are called to reach outward and convert, then you are called to evangelism, not being a pastor. Time to look for a new job.
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- Are you growing together in love?
- Are you growing up in Christ?
- Are you growing out through ministry?
- Are you growing more through conversion?
Simply, this means, are you discovering what you’re really good at and focusing outward toward those who are not a part of your church’s ministry at this moment? Outward focus is essential. You cannot say you’re growing without it. Just loving being together with the same people week after week, month after month, year after year does not count as growth. Are you growing outward?This is a very different vision for what it means to be a pastor than the one I have. Nelson's Bible dictionary defines the word this way:
The feeder, protector, and guide, or shepherd, of a flock of God's people in New Testament times. In speaking of spiritual gifts, the apostle Paul wrote that Christ "gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers" [Eph 4:11]. The term pastor by this time in church history had not yet become an official title. The term implied the nourishing of and caring for God's people.Seems to me a a shepherd hangs around with the same sheep almost everyday - also seems to me that it is the sheep that make the new sheep, not the shepherd (Please - spare me the artificial insemination discussion, like the apostolic church could begin to conceive of such a thing).
The Greek word translated pastors in [Eph 4:11] is used elsewhere in the New Testament of sheepherders, literally or symbolically [Matt 25:32]; of Jesus, the Good Shepherd [John 10]; and of "shepherds," or leaders, of the church [Eph 4:11]. The NKJV uses the word pastor only in this verse. Also compare Jeremiah23: 1-2 (KJV).
Ask yourself this - if point 3 is to be a part of point 4, how can one, only one, out-reaching pastor bring about that many conversions? Re phrase the question, how can a shepherd add that many sheep to his flock, by himself? His only option is to purchase the sheep from someone else - does that qualify as analogous to growth by conversion?
I don't think so, see, a pastor that raises healthy sheep just sits back and watches the sheep make other sheep, often many at a time, since virtually every ewe is busy.
If you are called to reach outward and convert, then you are called to evangelism, not being a pastor. Time to look for a new job.
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