CHAPLAIN OR COACH: The Primary Role Of A Pastor

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.  

Eph. 4:11-13

If the goal of every pastor is to be obedient to this passage of scripture of equipping the saints to perform the works of ministry then pastors should be more like a COACH than a CHAPLAIN!  In North American many Christians have come to the idea that the primary role of the pastor is to be there for their church members when they are going through a difficult time and provide emotional support. And then when they are through the crisis what happens?  They go about their normal daily living just as they had before the crisis, which means playing the church game of going to worship once a week and maybe a few other activities at the church campus with the rest of the time being lived out for their own self with no real regard to God's activity around them in the community.  In other words the pastor exists to provide support, encouragement and compassion when people are having a hard time but not necessarily to prod, poke or push people to live the missional life that Christ has commanded all believers to live.

But is that really the job description a pastor is suppose to have?  Not according to Ephesians 4:11-13. According to the Bible pastors along with the prophets, evangelists, apostles and teachers are to equip the saints, God's People, Ordinary Christians to do the work of ministry.  That's right they are to equip and train Ordinary Christians to do the work of the ministry that Christ himself gave us to do.  In other words pastor should act more like a coach than a chaplain.   Chaplains will hold your hand when you're not feeling well but Coaches are their to train you and if need be get in your face to hold you accountable for your poor performance.   You may feel better with a Chaplin at your side but you will accomplish more and perform better with a Coach by your side.  

If our goal is to win a championship then we need a person who believes in us, sees the potential in us and trains us but who will also push us far beyond what we think we can handle, get in our faces when we are slacking off and make us do over and over again those things, we hate, that will make us more competitive.  Coaches are hated and despised during practices but they are admired and appreciated at the end of the season when the championship has been obtained.  

Ordinary Christians who are to live an effective missional life don't need a chaplain they need coaches. They need a coach who will raise them up, train them up and then unleash them to perform the works of ministry back into this dark world.  Ordinary Christians don't need someone to come hold their hand and talk about their feelings! THAT WILL ONLY STIFLE THEM FROM EXCELLING!  They need someone who will kick them in the butt, get in their face and demand they to run another lap.

The mission of Christ is accomplished by Ordinary Christians who have been well coached and trained to press through the momentary pain and to perform with excellence the ministry of Christ so that when Christ returns they will hear him say, "Well done good and faithful servant."  It's on that day - the day of Christs return - you will be grateful for a pastor who believed in you enough to get in your face and demanded more from you!

ARE YOU AN ORDINARY CHRISTIAN NEEDING ENCOURAGEMENT TO LIVE AN EFFECTIVE MISSIONAL LIFE WHERE THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINES THROUGH YOU?  THEN I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME AT MY FACEBOOK PAGE CALLED:

 

THE ORDINARY CHRISTIAN