Everybody must have a pastor?
 

Q: Who was Paul's pastor?

Q: Who was Peter's pastor?

Q: If you are a pastor of a local church, then how do you have a pastor? I assume they are at a different assembly? How does that actually work? How do they 'pastor' you?

Re: Everybody must have a pastor?
 

Jesus and the other apostles

Jesus and the other apostles

Firstly of course Jesus, but most Christians have had a man or men in the discipleship process of their life. A wise person will not try to operate solitarly, but will seek counsel in leading in the local church.

I think we have a misconception of the term pastor and in a lot of cases are thinking of men above what is written (1Cor. 4:6). We all need people in our lives to help us to grow in the Lord, but inevitably we will work out our own salvation. I also think that the term pastor is a ministry and not a title. There are probably many pastors who don't profess that as their title.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ

I believe this is the only mention of the word pastor in the NT. It means a shepherd. A shepherd cares for the flock. Not the other way around. For me it isn't do I have to have a pastor, but do I get to have a pastor. If someone truly is your pastor they are there to look out for your well being (not a lord over others). Who doesn't want that. It is the many wolves in sheeps clothing that causes many to withdraw from leadership.

Re: Everybody must have a pastor?
 

The Ministry and the callings?

Most denoms seem to place the "pastor" over the assembly and the rest
of the Ministry. I believe that thinking is derived from the same spirit that
asked the Prophet Samuel for a king. The people saw the pomposity of
the kingdoms around them, and wanted to partake of the same.

There is only ONE Ministry, but different callings. Each calling is
subject to one another, and are to complement each other.

Re: Everybody must have a pastor?
 

Peter
James
Other pastors and Bishops

Re: Everybody must have a pastor?
 

Where do y'all get that Peter was Paul's pastor?

Re: Everybody must have a pastor?
 

More correctly everyone needs a covering and authority they're under and submit themselves beneath.

Re: Everybody must have a pastor?
 

Paul went up to the elders at Jerusalem. Peter was there as well. The NT is full of examples of plural leadership, and not one single head, other than Jesus Christ. There is not one scripture in any of the NT that says submit yourself to pastor, or one man... but many that do say submit yourself to others, to the elders... etc.

1 Corinthians 16:16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Hebrews 13:17 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.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Re: Everybody must have a pastor?
 

Exactly!

Re: Everybody must have a pastor?
 

Nothing grander than circular logic! I guess we are to ignore Ephesians 4:11-13 because the founding fathers of the church in Acts did not list who their pastor was.

Lets just ignore the whole fact that they were the pioneer of the church establishing the first christian churches.

If the proposition is that because Peter and Paul didn't have pastors we don't nned them then that is absurd.

Re: Everybody must have a pastor?
 

"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ..."

Jesus Christ is man's covering (head), and His word (scriptures) our authority.
No man is called to be another man's covering, but a servant. If we serve a
man (have a man for our covering), we actually are serving the Tabernacle.

When we make the Lord our covering, we will serve Him, that is the ONE
that is IN the Tabernacle!