Godly pastors are the best people in the world. They know that they're entrusted with the noble task of feeding God's people with His Word, shepherding them, watching over them and praying for them. We can even run to them when we are in need of counsel and guidance. Yes, having a faithful pastor is a tremendous blessing in our lives.
However, there are some things that pastors cannot do, and things that we shouldn't expect them to do for us. They're also human, and they're not just "shepherds" of God's flock – they're His sheep, too.
Here are some things you shouldn't expect your pastor to do for you.
1. Confess sin and accept God's salvation, forgiveness, and discipline on your behalf
Friends, God enjoys having an intimate relationship with His people on a very personal level. The salvation that He gives, He gives to all who personally repent and turn to Him. The forgiveness that He gives, He gives to everyone on a personal level because it is what is needed to specifically forgive each and every sin that any one person has made. In the same way, the discipline that God gives to each person is also individual and specifically tailored to suit a person's needs.
Your pastor could lead you to the Scriptures leading to salvation, lead you to verses assuring you of God's forgiveness, and lead you to passages speaking of God's holy, righteous and just discipline, but He could never receive all of that for your sake. In the same way, he can never confess your sin on your behalf.
2. Raise your children or lead your family to godliness
Are you a father or mother? If so, you'll realise soon enough that the responsibility of raising up your children to godliness is first and foremost your responsibility, not your pastor's.
In the same way, it's not your pastor's primary responsibility to reach out to your family, if you yourself know Christ and have made the commitment to follow Him. It's your responsibility. Remember that the Bible promises that if we believe in Christ, our family will be saved with us – considering that we share the gospel to them because we have believed.
3. Grow your personal relationship with God
Yes, our pastors feed us with the Word in church and in discipleship, but our personal prayer, personal Bible reading, and personal worship times all depend on us. We can't expect them to pray, read the Bible and worship God on our behalf. Our relationship with God is ours.
Realise that your pastor is a member of the flock, too
Friends, our pastors, no matter how spiritual they may seem, are humans just like us. Their relationship with God is also individual and personal, just like ours. We should respect them and their limitations.
