The three most important characteristics of a Pastor

I think there are three simple characteristics any pastor (which I include elders/preachers/ministers in this category) should have. Obviously some would say that they must be called, and of course I agree, but I know of situations the pastor of the church was NOT called to be a pastor, but because he had these three simple qualities, he was able to successfully lead the church. Some would add good verbal skills, being a ‘people person’, and/or a certain education as attributes any pastor should have. Though each of these, and many others, are highly helpful, the three bare minimum qualities we are describing here are three, that without, we could not do the Lord’s work.

The idea for this article came as I visited an elderly minister in the nursing home he now resides. I had spoken in his church, he had pastored and ministered for over 50 years, on numerous occasions. Our connection extended back to my great grandfather, the dear old saint had baptized him sometime in the late 60’s or early 70’s. He was a fixture in the local town, highly respected and walked away from the ministry because of health, with many years of faithful and dedicated service. In talking with him, as he laid in a bed now too weak to walk, he exhibited these qualities over and over as our conversation went from topic to topic. The three simple characteristics shone thru as the old warrior spoke (and sung) in a weaken voice, eyes dimming as time and hard miles piled onto him. I think a good pastor will have these three qualities/characteristics, and I would argue, must have.

LOVE THE LORD

First and foremost the pastor must love the Lord. It seems that it would go without saying, Matthew 22:37 (KJV) “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Though I’ve yet to meet the man (or woman) that fully fulfills this command, I have seen a few (my elderly minister friend-for example) display a better job than most. It is not to say that the congregation or church members shouldn’t love the Lord (!) or that the pastor will more or less than them. It is a unique love the pastor must have. The pastor’s love for the Lord will sustain and keep him as he endures life’s storms and encounters opposition from the forces that wants to thwart the work of the Kingdom. The old saint (my friend in the nursing home) spoke clearly his love for the Lord, as he said, “God has been so good to me, and I love Him so.”

LOVE THE WORD

In a close second to loving the Lord, loving the Word is essential to a successful pastor. The Word is the food of the soul. The Bible describes followers as sheep and the pastor as an Under-Shepherd, as Christ is the Good (Great) Over-Shepherd. Paul, in instructing a young pastor, said, 2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV) “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” The Word is essential to the pastor’s ministry, it is the unique offering that a pastor has. Counseling, food, and shelter can be supplied by anybody, but the Word must be given by the pastor. The elderly minister displayed his love for the Word, as he would ask any and all to read some portion of scripture to him, as his eyes allowed him not.

LOVE THE CHURCH

This is an essential element to the pastor’s success. Now, I’m speaking of the local congregation, the one the pastor is entrusted to lead. This is not to say a pastor is not to love the CHURCH, the universal one. No, love for the CHURCH is like loving our country, it goes without saying, but it is different than loving our family, much the same way the pastor MUST love his church, the local congregation. Many a pastor has spoken the words, echoed here by Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:15 (NLT) “I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.” It is easy to get frustrated with your church, as a pastor, but the love you have for them will keep you going. Think of it this way, because you love your own children, you will endure a lot of stupid stunts and attitudes, but never stop loving them. The same for the pastor, in love with his church family. The ol’ Warrior showed his love for his church as he asked numerous times how the congregation he pastored, for nearly 50 years, was fairing. A smile broadly crossed his face as I bragged upon the new pastor and the work he was doing.

CONCLUSION

Oh, I know that pastors should have certain skills, talents, and giftings, I am not denying this. It would be much easier to be a pastor that has a great skill in communicating, no doubt, but the pastor that exhibits the above qualities will sustain a ministry that has a less-than-stellar communication skill. In my 30+ years of being involved with church, ministry, and the various aspects of it, I have observed pastors of varying degrees of talents, skills, and gifts. Of these, characteristics will call them, the greatest predictor of success is the three that I have outlined in this article. Give me the man that loves the Lord, the Word, and the local congregation and I will show you a man that would make a good pastor.

#pastor #christianity