The Feeding of the Flock?

[andy]

Good Morning

In the past, I have read numerous posts concerning the PDL movement, the Emergence Church and so forth. In some of these posts, people are saying they are not being fed.

My question is: Is the church, not the body but the person in the pulpit, supposed to feed us or it is our responsibility to feed ourselves?

Is the pastor responsible for my spiritual growth or am I? When Paul and the other apostles were on their missionary travels, they were starting and building the church body. There was no New Testament nor expansive libraries to read, study, and research scripture as we have today through the Internet.

I am not trying to say that we don't need a godly man in the pulpit, I am not saying that at all. What I am saying (and I have been guilty of myself) are we not taking the responsibility of properly feeding ourselves?

Any thoughts?

[70thWeek]

I think that a lot of modern, western Christians have lost the idea of community. Some see the Christian life as something done on Sunday morning. Some see the job of ministry as belonging to the pastor, the professional. A more communal understanding, whereas as part of the body of Christ we are all ministers and all related to each other would help take a large part of the task of teaching away from the professional and return it to the laity. Parents can teach their children. Personal Bible study in consultation with the Holy Spirit can bring results. Reading the writings of the early church fathers and others from the history of the faith will help us grow. I firmly believe that the pastor should preach and teach and train, but it is not his only job, nor is it his job alone.

[RevJeff]

Zechariah seems to indicate along with several other passages that one of the primary roles of the shepherd is to feed the flock(Zech 11:15-17 condemns the shepherd who does not feed the flock, also see Micah 3:1-3 and Ez 34:1-10) Christ himself told Peter to "Feed My sheep." It is indeed the role of the pastor to feed the flock. It is also his responsibility to equip others to do so. A faithful church is one who disciples and empowers others to feed as well. These would be those with the gift of teaching or evangelism who may not serve as pastors.

[HeartlandGal]

But then it begs the question, that today in the US for example, most people can read and can have access to the written word. So therefore do Pastors have the same role as they did before we had the written word and before most of the average citizens could read?

Of course we still need fellowship, encouragement and accountability.. but as for training, the older women are to train the younger, and the older men to train the younger. Parents to train thier children. So does the role of a pastor still fit into our churches today as it was needed to do at the beginning of the church?

[RevJeff]

But then it begs the question, that today in the US for example, most people can read and can have access to the written word. So therefore do Pastors have the same role as they did before we had the written word and before most of the average citizens could read?

Of course we still need fellowship, encouragement and accountability.. but as for training, the older women are to train the younger, and the older men to train the younger. Parents to train thier children. So does the role of a pastor still fit into our churches today as it was needed to do at the beginning of the church?

As you look at the world and see all of the people that are being deceived, I would argue that we are more in need of shepherds grounded in God's word today than at any time in history. Yes we need others that can teach, but from God's word it is easily discernable that God's people are to have shepherds that guard them from the wolves in sheeps clothing. this is done by feeding the flock with the truth.

[andy]

As you look at the world and see all of the people that are being deceived, I would argue that we are more in need of shepherds grounded in God's word today than at any time in history. Yes we need others that can teach, but from God's word it is easily discernable that God's people are to have shepherds that guard them from the wolves in sheeps clothing. this is done by feeding the flock with the truth.

Granted and point well taken, however those type of pastors and shepherds are harder and harder to find.
:(:

[RevJeff]

Granted and point well taken, however those type of pastors and shepherds are harder and harder to find.
:(:

Sadly, you speak the truth. If we had more biblical shepherds so many would not have strayed from the faith and followed the false teachers.