I Am a Pastor

I am a lot of things. Indeed, the list of titles that any one person has in this life can easily extend into the dozens, even hundreds. There are titles associated with family life, recreational activities, academic achievement, and jobs. Some carry with them a great deal of weight. Others carry with them awesome responsibility. Many carry at least some level of prestige.

Like anyone else, I have my fair share of titles. I am a son, a brother, and an uncle. I've been an assistant, an associate, a leader, a "master," and even a "guru." But even with all of those titles, many of which sound big and important, there are exactly four that I consider the most important of all. It is these four, more than any of the others, which drive my actions and ignite my passions. It is these four which carry the most amazing privileges and most awesome responsibilities. These four which truly define who I am. You see, in their order of priority, I am a man of God. Not in the sense that I am perfect or anything like that, but in the sense that I have been purchased by Jesus' blood, and I choose to make Him my owner and master on a daily basis. I am a husband. What a profound thing to think that my wonderful wife chose me to spend her life with, and I am responsible for taking care of her and drawing her closer to my Lord. I am a father. Those who have children immediately understand what a tremendous thing this is. And I am a pastor, the title which comprises the subject at hand.

I am a pastor. For many, it would seem nothing more than a job title, but for anyone who has ever contemplated the role behind the word, it is a truly awesome thing. As a pastor, I am responsible for the spiritual well-being of myself, my family, and the congregation which God has entrusted to my care. Under this one title, I am a teacher, a prophet, a priest, a shepherd, a soldier, a servant, a leader, and much, much more.

Indeed, the sheer enormity of the simple title, "Pastor," is, I believe, impossible to convey in a purely academic setting. Perhaps that is why, upon graduating from Bible college and entering "the ministry" for real, I found that, even with all of the wonderful things my professors had taught me and I had picked up over the course of various internships and such, I was still at the bottom of a relatively steep learning curve.

After years of college and various ministry experiences, I quickly realized that there were a lot of things that my teachers, through no fault of their own, could not teach me, even when they tried. There were some things books simply could not convey. And there were a number of lessons that, even though I had heard the words and taken the notes and even expounded on in numerous term papers, would not congeal until I had been there and done that.

About each of the other three titles that are truly the most important, there have been numerous volumes written by persons far more intelligent - and experienced - than I. In fact, there are probably better resources about being a pastor. Certainly, there will be more academic works out there. But maybe these words of someone who doesn't know - and hasn't done - everything will help some who aspire to claim the same title that I do. After all, it is more than a job title because, if you are going to be a pastor, I can guarantee that it is more than a job.

No, being a pastor is not something you do; it is something that drives your actions, consumes your desires, and ignites your soul. It defines your person such that it is what - and who - you are so that when people ask you about yourself, the first thing that comes to your mind is that singular statement: "I am a pastor."