It seems that Paul’s favorite name for believers was “brethren”. He used it at least 60 times in his writings and 27 times in Thessalonians alone. Paul saw the local church as family, and so it should be. It’s just tragic when believers neglect or ignore their church. No family is perfect, but without family to protect and provide for a child, they would die. This also happens with some in church families today. Just because you are doing ok doesn’t mean that others are. In a healthy church you should have plenty of newbies walking around. A plethora of babies from salvation is a great thing to have. If someone is only concerned about their own situation and if they are ok. Who will take care of the babies? It is imperative that we look again into the scriptural and not necessarily common understanding of what a church is. The concept has morphed over time but the original, biblical, design cannot be improved upon. It is and should be a family.
Paul said so in 1 Thessalonians 5.12-13, which says— “12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.”
What are the essentials for a happy, thriving church family? One is: Leadership. There is an order God has established. Without leadership, a family falls apart. Same is true in the New Testament church family. There should be order, leadership, and fellowship. This includes submission and counter submission to each other. Jesus is known in the New Testament as the “head of the church” (Ephesians 5.23). As such, He has given leaders to exercise His will in the body (Ephesians 4.7-16). Every flock needs a shepherd-leader (1 Peter 5.1-5). These ‘under-shepherds’as they are called in the East are identified with different titles in the New Testament with the same position: Pastor (under-shepherd of the chief Shepherd); Elder; and Bishop). They were in most cases in plural form (Titus 1.5; Acts 14.23). As our passage will teach us: they have charge over; they give instruction; and they equip others for ministry.
What are the responsibilities of Pastors to the flock? According to our text here— The work of Pastors are summarized in a three-fold description:
(1) Work— “labour among you”. Literally means to: ‘exert energy to the point of exhaustion or fatigue.’ He is not in it for paychecks, perks, or a 9-5 job. In fact, his ministry is not a job— it’s a calling. And his calling should be his passion and life. If not, then he really isn’t a pastor is he?!
(2) Lead— “over you”. The word literally means to stand before a flock to lead and protect them. In the New Testament it is associated with words like: ‘to preside, lead, direct, protect, provide.’ As Peter said in 1 Peter 5.2—“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof”. Oversight is required for good management. As Paul told Timothy— “Elders” are to “rule well.”
(3) Instruct— “admonish you”. Instructing and taking responsibility for all instruction to the church body. This isn’t as easy as it looks. It literally means to— ‘put in mind or warn.’ Admonishment is always tied to: preaching, teaching, and applying scriptural truth. For example Paul said in Colossians 1.28— “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”This is heavy responsibility. Which is why Paul’s charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4.2— “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”That phrase— “In season and out…” when it’s convenient and when it’s not—when it’s popular and when it’s not—when it makes everyone say ‘amen’ and when it doesn’t. Yes, it is a calling. It better be, or else it would be forsaken quickly. People are not easy to deal with, including Pastors.
What responsibilities does the flock have toward their Pastors?
(1) members should Appreciate them. That is the meaning of the word “to know” in our text. Members are to know their pastors well enough to have an intimate appreciation for them and to respect them because of their value to them and their family eternally and personally. This is why it says here they labor “among”. They are identified in Ephesians 4 as a gift from God to churches with spiritual authority. Now isn’t that something?! A gift. I have been trying to tell my wife that for years! Just kidding.
(2) members are to Submit to them. Since given spiritual authority, members should submit to the scriptural teachings they provide and the leadership that is biblically sound. Just a quick caveat here… submission to each other is essential to unity, and unity is of the upmost importance to Christ (John 17). Having said that, submission to all of their thoughts about life, etc isn’t what these passages are talking about. Some have taken this way too far! Look at what Paul said here in 1 Corinthians 16.16— “That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.” They are “helping” and laboring” and that is the difference. You can also notice in Hebrews 13.17 it says— “obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves”. As in our text passage— “are over you”. This is also seen in 1 Timothy 5.17—“ Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.” Again we see them “labouring” and doing so “in the word”. These are the qualifiers. They are simple men made of clay; doing a work of God. For this reason they should not be on a pedestal, but their position should be respected and spiritually obeyed. Mutual respect should be enjoined by every member, but that is another post entirely. Unless it is obvious that they are out of God’s will, this is when other passages come into play. There is a direct answer in the scripture on how to deal with that. Again, another post later. Best way I have ever heard this explained is: ‘When God’s servant, led by God’s Spirit, calls us to obey God’s Word, then we must obey.’They are ‘over’ us and at the same time ‘among’ us. Both at the same time is critical. One who is ‘over’ but not ‘among’ will become a dictator. Conversely, one who is ‘among’ but not ‘over’ will lose respect. Both are essential for the cause of Christ.
(3) members should Love them. Congregations are to think lovingly of their pastors, not because of their charm or skill, but because of the fact they work for the Chief Shepherd. As our passage says: “esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake”. Our love for pastors should be high. After all, they: protect; feed; care; love; watch; advise; and suffering for the flock. When members do not appreciate their Pastors, it’s not only detrimental to themselves, but also to the rest of their church family. Which is why it says— “be at peace among yourselves”. Peaceful harmony! Who doesn’t want that?! David said in Psalm 133.1— “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” It also affects the work of the ministers in your assembly. It makes it that much more difficult for them as Paul said in Hebrews 13.17b— “…that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” The Ephesians were told to do this in 4.3— “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
In my mind; all of this begs the question— What sort of person does God use?
Imagine a group of people gathered before you. You need to select from among them those most likely to play a pivotal role in God’s plans for humanity. They are so at ease with you that they open up and share their darkest secrets. One tells you that after a night of heavy drinking he was sexually abused by one of his own sons. Another confesses that he gave his wife to another man to sleep with. Yet another plotted with his mistress to kill her husband. Another murdered a man and is still on the run from the law. One is a prostitute. Another has a lifestyle marked by violence, he even killed people to impress a girlfriend and his prospective father-in-law. Yet another confesses that he cheated his brother out of his inheritance.
Could you use them? Those crazy ones?
I hope so, for they are the heroes of faith described in Hebrews 11. Noah is the man who got drunk and was sexually abused; Abraham is the man who gave his wife to sleep with another; David is the one who plotted to have his mistress’ husband killed. Moses is the one who murdered an Egyptian and was never brought to account for it. Rahab was the prostitute. Samson is the man whose life was marked by violence and who killed to impress his girlfriend. Jacob is the person who cheated his brother out of his inheritance.
Scripture demonstrates time and time again that God uses very flawed people!
What sort of person does God use? You.
Jesus told us to pray… “Pray ye therefore the LORD Of The Harvest that He would send forth laborers into His harvest field.”
You could be an answer to someone’s prayer.