Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

• 1 Corinthians 10:31-33

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

• Ephesians 4:11-13

“ ‘This is how we can faithfully serve the Lord: we should in an orderly manner elect and install ministers from every level of society. The aim is to have those who are trusted and loved by all, who are also gifted and zealous for this ministry and for true pastoral care …That way the five tasks of pastoral care will be performed: to seek and to find all the lost; to bring back those that are scattered; to heal the wounded; to strengthen the sickly; to protect the healthy and to put them to pasture.’ (True Pastoral Care, Summary)”

• Tony Lane, A Concise History of Christian Thought

Martin Bucer, (1491-1551), was considered by some to be the father of Calvinism.  Odd, in that John Calvin came to prominence later on, but the theological movement is named “Calvinism.”  Bucer tried to institute reforms at his Catholic church in Wissembourg (now in France), but he was excommunicated due to those efforts, and he fled for his life to Strasbourg, France.  He mediated between Martin Luther and Huldrych Zwingli over the issue of the Eucharist, representational or literally becoming the body and blood of Christ.

Basically, Bucer established some structures that Calvin built upon.  Note also that Calvin’s Institutes, that we may mention next week, were written to the Holy Roman Emperor in France as a means to combat the opposition from the Roman Catholic Church.  Thus, Calvinism became more accepted in the time of John Calvin, but we cannot forget the foundation that was laid by Bucer.

His quote above, about the basics of pastoral care, speaks first about the polity of the church.  Since the Reformed church was in its infancy, they could create their own rules regarding how to select church leaders.  Bucer gives his ideas in part here.

But then, Bucer defines what he thinks are the essentials of pastoral care.  Seek and find the lost.  Bring back those that scattered away.  Then Heal, Strengthen, Protect, and put the flock to pasture.

I have heard pastors argue that the first task is not the task of a pastor.  Pastors tend their flock.  Evangelists seek and find the lost.  Evangelists are often not liked by a congregation, due to the evangelist’s mindset that there are people here who are not saved.  That makes people uncomfortable, but think about it.  If it makes them uncomfortable, maybe they need that evangelist getting them on the right track, either as a believer who is “scattered” from the true path or as a nonbeliever who goes through the motions making people think he/she believes.  Otherwise, if a pastor gave me a fire and brimstone sermon, I would be thinking about how I am far from being like Jesus and promising myself I will do better, but then I believe.  I take no offense to that kind of sermon.

But the rest of it is what we now look at being pastoral care.  Sometimes, it takes a team to care for those who have drifted from the church (scattered), the sick, the weak, and those that need direction.  A pastor may not be able to do all of that care.  Some pastors are not equipped in that fashion.  If you are germ phobic, spending a few hours in a hospital each week might be nerve racking, and your jangled nerves might show on your face when you say something like “I am here for you.”

Our church has an associate pastor who is great at pastoral care, but one third of the deacons are on the caring team that does things for others.  And the church has two elders who go to hospitals and nursing homes so that everyone who wants to receive communion can do so at least once each month.  These elders also make sure these shut-in members of the church are prayed for, with the help of a large group of prayer warriors.

So, while I feel Rev. Bucer’s definition should be applied to pastoral care, pastoral care does not need to be limited to “pastors” – those paid to do that stuff.  We all can do the tending of the flock within our own skill set.

If you like these Tuesday morning essays about philosophy and other “heavy topics,” but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Tuesday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.