“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
Preach the word!” (2 Timothy 4:1-2)
I am dismayed when I hear (as I have) a preacher excuse his lack of people skills with, “I’m a preacher, not a pastor.” Even moreso when such a person appeals to 2 Timothy 4:2 (above), saying his calling is to preach the word; he leaves it to others to pastor the flock.
In fact, the word to “preach” in the text is the Greek word kērussō, deriving from kēryx, meaning “a herald”. So technically, kērussō, means “to proclaim after the manner of a herald”. It is the most common word used to define preaching in the New Testament, occurring some 61 times.
“In ancient times, a herald was someone who was sent to deliver important messages.” They were there to make an announcement, “with formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed.” They appear, announce, then leave; they do not interact personally with their audience.
The Pastor-Teacher
But as I pointed out in the preaching course I used to give we need to be cautious when it comes to etymology. It can sometimes be a help, but it can also lead you on a false trail. In this case the concept of the preacher as a herald proclaiming vital information is certainly relevant when it comes to understanding that he conveys the important message of the gospel. But it is not the whole story.
And it is certainly misunderstood if it is used as an excuse to avoid pastoring those you preach to. I firmly believe no one should even be considered for a settled ministry in a church who does not have a heart to personally and individually pastor those he will be preaching to.
In Ephesians 4:11, where Paul speaks of the gifts that Christ gives to the church, he says: “He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers…” “Apostles” and “prophets” have now ceased; “evangelists” maybe or maybe not (depending on what the term referred to in New Testament times).
But “pastors and teachers” continue; and exegetically the reference refers to one office, not two, i.e. to a “pastor-teacher”. You cannot be in office as a teacher if you are not a pastor. Some, I know, dispute whether it is the one office referred to here or two. But New Testament practice certainly suggests that preachers (or teachers) must also be pastors.
Paul as a Pastor
Consider Paul’s own use of kērussō in 1 Thessalonians 2:7ff where his pastoral heart shines through:
“We were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil; for labouring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached (kērussō) to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children…”
Or Paul’s testimony to the elders from the church in Ephesus, in Acts ch 20:18ff:
“You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed (anangellō) it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house… And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching (kērussō) the kingdom of God, will see my face no more… Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”
Even in the passage we began with, Paul goes on in 2 Timothy 4, viz: “Preach (kērussō) the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” – words which exude a pastor’s heart.
As does Paul’s exhortation at the end of 2 Timothy ch 2:
“A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance…”
All through Paul’s ministry his pastoral heart comes through, whether “beseeching” those he calls “brethren” (Romans 12:1), “pleading with brethren” (1 Corinthians 1:10), finding his “joy fulfilled” in their faithfulness (Philippians 2:1-2), or testifying: “Now we really live, if you stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God.” (1 Thessalonians 3:8-9).
And consider how those he pastored responded in Galatians 4:15, “I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.”
Relationship Theory
John Appleby, in his worthwhile book “…to tell THE TRUTH” (p.71), brings out the importance of the pastoral relationship the preacher has with his hearers by highlighting how important relationship is to communication:
“Instead of regarding a communication as something put into people, it is to be thought of as information that is shared between people. The closer the relationship between communicator and the receptor the more likely it is that the process will be successful. Enemies misunderstand each other so easily; to an observer it sometimes seems incredible just how much a lack of trust between two people can distort the messages which pass between them. Long-time sweethearts, on the other hand, can often ‘read’ the mind of their partner almost before words are spoken. A relationship which creates trust is the highway for successful communication.”
At first this may appear unrealistic – even a bit too much 21st C. “touchy-feely”. How can the person addressing his audience hope to have “a relationship” with each of his hearers? What about an evangelistic context, where you might not even have met your hearers before? Or a Kids’ Club, where (hopefully) there are new kids coming along each time?
While that is so in some circumstances, especially those out-of-the-blue evangelistic opportunities that come our way (eg. talking to the person sitting next to you on a one hour flight) it is rare that even then there is not an opportunity to build up some sort of rapport with those you are addressing. Even in the one-hour-flight situation it is not impossible. Jesus established rapport with the woman at the well (John 4) in a very short space of time.
And, especially where it comes to a preacher in a settled ministry communicating with his people, this becomes of vital importance. Personally, it is the area of ministry I have needed to work at more than any other.
FOOTNOTE: Some have wondered why my posts are less frequent now than in recent years. I do want to keep posting; but early this year the pastor of the church where we are members departed for another charge. As a result I have had more teaching, leading and pastoring duties and cannot always post as often as I would like.