Chapter One

Pastor - His Personal Life

IF THE PASTOR is to be effective in the pulpit and in the parish, he must carefully guard his personal life. His great responsibilities and the influence he exerts as a minister of God argue loudly for such care. "Take heed unto thyself," said the veteran preacher to young Timothy (I Tim. 4:16). More literally, this passage may be translated "Keep on paying attention to thyself." Hence the man of God ever needs to be on the alert to keep himself a vessel fit for the Master's use.

His Devotional Life

In his busy round of duty the pastor must ever be on guard lest he devote all his time to feeding the souls of others and have no time left to nourish his own soul. The truth is that no minister is fully qualified to help others spiritually until first he has been in close touch with God. There is a tragic statement in the Song of Solomon, which may apply to any minister who neglects his devotional life: "They made me the keeper of the vineyards: but mine own vineyard have I not kept" (1:6) . Doubtless this is a sad commentary on the lives of many pastors.

There are problems involved in maintaining this devotional life. The pastor will discover that the press of duties in the realm of the church and the home and reliance on his long years of Biblical preparation will tempt him to neglect the devotional aspect of his life. He must make time for it if he would be what he ought to be. To dispense with this source of spiritual power will diminish the glow of his ministry.

Devotional Reading of Scripture. Every pastor should take time daily to read the Scriptures devotionally for his own benefit with no thought of preaching or teaching in mind. Feasting on the manna from Heaven will cause the man of God to grow strong, and continuance in this practice will inevitably result in his becoming like the Book in his daily ministrations. The very expressions from his lips will reflect its tone.

Each minister must choose his own plan for Scripture meditation. Some like the plan of reading the Bible through year after year. Dr. Harry Ironside followed this plan with the result that his pulpit expressions and his writings were permeated with the Word of God. Others have followed the plan of reading selected books in their devotional periods, say one from the old Testament and then one from the New Testament so that there is no prolonged time when either Testament is neglected. Some other plan may have a greater appeal to the reader. But some plan ought to be chosen and followed consistently lest he experience spiritual barrenness. Hit-and-miss reading seldom brings satisfaction or the greatest spiritual blessing. Whatever portion of the Word is read at a particular time, it should be read in a meditative spirit with a determination to find out God's directive for the day. Let the minister ask himself after reading a passage, What is there in this portion of Scripture for me? Let him realize that God does speak to the individual from His Book.

Prayer. The pastor should have a definite time each day to pray. In most cases, the best time is in connection with the reading of God's Word. Prayer ought to be conceived of as a two-way experience. It is like a conversation with a friend. Two parties are involved in the conversation. In the Word God speaks to man. Prayer is never complete apart from listening to the voice of God. In what we usually think of as prayer, man speaks to God. Both are essential to devotional development. The minister ought to have a prayer list. He should pray definitely. Too many prayers are characterized by indefiniteness. God is pleased when his ministers come before Him with definite burdens upon their hearts, definite matters of petition .

Probably few ministers are engaging in the ministry of intercession as they ought. Thus lack of fruit age results. The Apostle Paul in writing to Timothy, the young pastor, wrote, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour" (I Tim. 2:1-3). God thus assigns a prominent place to the ministry of prayer in the lives of His servants. He wants His ministers to be men of prayer.

Worship. The pastor should also learn to worship with his people in the public services of the church. He should be so well prepared when he gets to the pulpit on Sunday that he can worship even as he expects his people to do. Some ministers conceive of their responsibility as only to direct the worship of others. This is a faulty conception and is liable to result in superficiality or the putting on of an act. The minister should cultivate the practice of wholeheartedly entering into the service of worship himself for his own benefit. In this way he will not only benefit himself but will "be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (I Tim. 4:1-2) . The congregation will quickly sense the nature of the minister's public exercises, whether he is putting on an act or sincerely entering into the presence of God as he exhorts his people to do.

Reading of Devotional Materials. In order to keep his heart aglow with a warm devotional spirit, the pastor ought from time to time to read some devotional books and articles. He needs to get in contact with other men who have walked with God in order that he may profit from their experiences. The man of God will enrich his life and ministry by reading such works as Memoirs of McCheyne, Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, The Preacher and Prayer by E. M. Bounds, and the series of "Quiet Talks" by S. D. Gordon. There are countless others of equal value. Nothing will bless the heart more than the reading of biographies of such missionary heroes as David Livingstone, J. Hudson Taylor, John G. Paton, and Jonathan Goforth. The reading of such literature is certain to warm the preacher's heart, stimulate his zeal, and give him a fund of powerful illustrations that will make his ministry more attractive.

Charles Spurgeon is said to have read through Pilgrim's Progress a hundred times and he continually read much other devotional literature, such as Matthew Henry's commentary on the Holy Scriptures. Doubtless this was responsible to a large degree for his success as a warm-hearted preacher. Such reading tends to keep the minister from becoming spiritually dull and uninteresting in the pulpit.

Attendance at Spiritual Retreats. The pastor will do well also to attend Bible conferences and spiritual retreats. They will refresh the minister's soul and will keep him from getting into a rut. Every church owes it to its minister to help him to attend conferences where his soul can be fed and where he can learn how other men are accomplishing things for God. All things being equal, the pastor will return from such retreats with new enthusiasm, new ideas, and new material with which to bless his congregation. Thus both the pastor and the church will benefit from the pastor's attendance at such meetings.

In summary, let us be reminded of Paul's admonition to Timothy that the man of God must exercise himself unto godliness (I Tim. 4:7). If he is to mature in this divine characteristic, he must give attention to it unceasingly.

The Pastor's Health

The minister also needs to pay attention to his physical welfare. Who needs a strong body more than the busy pastor? His physical well-being affects his mental and spiritual condition. He needs to remember, as does every Christian, that his body is "the temple of the Holy Spirit" and that he must treat it accordingly (I Cor. 6:1-20). The minister's body is not his own. It belongs to God. Therefore he ought to treat it as he should treat the things of God.

In accordance with this truth, there are several things to which the minister needs to give earnest attention:

Rest at Night. He should obtain sufficient rest at night. Not all men have the same sleep requirements, but most ministers need seven or eight hours of sound sleep if they are to be at their best in their day-by-day ministry. Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler, whom Dr. W. B. Riley referred to as the ideal pastor, has some interesting remarks on this point. Said he, "Sleep as soundly as possible all night if you want to keep your congregation awake on Sunday. The Irish-man's rule for good sleeping was 'to pay attention to it.' The men who live the longest, and do the most effective work, are commonly good sleepers. If they cannot secure enough rest at night, they make it up during the day. When a man who has so much strain on his brain and his sensibilities as the pastor has, goes to his bedroom, he should school himself to the habit of dismissing all thoughts about outside matters. If this costs him some difficulty, he should pray for Divine help to do it. Too many ministers toil at their sermons until eleven or twelve o'clock, and then retire with throbbing heads to their sleepless beds. The man who invented 'midnight oil' deserves a purgatory of endless nightmare. My own rule is never to touch a sermon by lamplight. One hour in the morning is worth five at night."

Relaxation. The pastor should find some time for relaxation during the week. In these complex days most ministers find it difficult to take a whole day off each week with regularity. Certainly they cannot have a weekend rest like many others. This is the time when their labors reach a climax. From the observation and experience of the writer, it seems best for the minister to arrange for half-day periods of relaxation each week. Some find Saturday afternoon a satisfactory time for this. With the preparations for Sunday complete and the need for a bit of refreshment before the arduous duties of Sunday are undertaken, Saturday afternoon has definite advantages. And, weary from the responsibilities of Sunday, the preacher finds a half day of relaxation on Monday very beneficial.

Others prefer to find their relaxation during the middle of the week in order to break the tension that builds up at that time. Each minister should settle upon a plan most satisfactory to himself and do his best to abide by it. While we are not living under the law of the Old Testament Sabbath in this dispensation, yet there is a principle involved in setting aside one day in seven for rest and recuperation which will benefit the minister if he will adhere to it. A minister's efficiency can be reduced tremendously by a tired body. It can keep him from being a radiant witness for Christ and can result in his making poor decisions. The faithful pastor expends an enormous amount of energy in his labors of preaching and parish ministrations and is entitled to some time of relaxation during the week. He owes it to himself, his family, and his church, and he will be a better preacher because of taking such time.

Vacation. Somewhat related to the above matter is the minister's vacation. Every minister deserves a vacation at some time during the year. He needs a change of scenery at least once a year. There are some ministers who prefer to divide their allotted vacation time into two periods, feeling that this plan helps to keep the man of God fresh throughout the year. Some churches feel that it is to their advantage to give their ministers, in addition to a summer vacation, a week or more of vacation after the heavy Christmas activities are over. But whatever the plan, the right kind of vacation will minister benefits to the pastor's body, mind, and spirit. He will come back to his work with a new attack. He will be a better preacher, and thus his congregation wil] appreciate him more.

During his vacation, the minister should seek to do something different from his regular round of duty during the rest of the year. He ought to do something he likes to do. He ought to look on new scenes, meet new people, and enjoy new experiences. Of course, the desires of the minister's family must be taken into consideration in planning the vacation.

It would be impossible here satisfactorily to outline the proper kind of vacation for all ministers. We differ so greatly in our tastes. What would appeal to one minister would bore another. Our families, too, are different in size and desires. Some have greater means than others. The time allotted by our churches for vacations varies. Each minister should use the wisdom he has to work out for himself and his family what will be the most feasible and profitable vacation. By all means take a vacation. And don't spend the whole vacation preaching elsewhere!

Exercise. The minister should provide for himself some sort of suitable exercise. Without it he will become sluggish and unfit for his best work. Many times when the pastor feels depressed and his work becomes irksome, he will gain a new perspective if he will get away from his study and take a walk or engage in some other kind of physical exercise.

There are some who discount the value of this sort of thing because of Paul's word to Timothy, "Bodily exercise profiteth little" (I Tim. 4:8). But when properly understood, this statement is no argument against bodily exercise. A study of the entire verse makes it clear that Paul is contrasting things temporal with things eternal. It is true that, compared to eternal things and godliness which makes them glorious, the exercise that ministers only to the physical body "profiteth little" or "for a little time." But it is also true that while we are in the flesh bodily exercise is beneficial because it ministers to physical health. And it is important since it is necessary to ministry in this world to keep the body fit.

The type of exercise the pastor should engage in depends largely upon his desires and his age. If possible, his exercise should be pleasurable, but it must become his age if it is to be profitable. Some ministers like sports such as golf or fishing. Others are satisfied to get their exercise working in the garden or about the home, keeping it a pleasant place in which to live. Other ministers find pleasure in walking. Still others have availed themselves of the facilities of the local Y.M.C.A., which sometimes offers these facilities to ministers free of charge or at a reduced rate.

The minister who is forty years of age or older should refrain from the more vigorous types of exercise. Known to the author was a minister who appeared in the best of health and thought he could keep up with his sons of high school age athletically. In doing so, he dropped dead doing a round on the track.

If the minister takes up some form of exercise like golf, he will need to be careful lest he spend too much time on the fairways! Too many afternoons devoted to this sort of thing can lessen the minister's usefulness. Analyze your needs and select the type of exercise which will benefit you the most.

Good Eating Habits. The minister should seek to eat properly. This is one of the areas where the virtue of self-control needs to be employed (Gal. 5:22-23). With all the information available today, there is no reason why the minister should be uninformed as to what constitutes a balanced diet. Proper eating will contribute to keeping him physically fit for his arduous duties. Overweight, for instance, may cause the minister to become listless and a prey to physical ailments which will impair his ministry. How can the minister with consistency criticize the drinker and his bottle if he cannot control himself in relation to his icebox? He ought to enlist the help of his wife in this matter and determine, in spite of the many temptations that will face him, to eat properly.

Physical Examinations. Finally, on this point, the minister ought to have a thorough physical checkup annually. This is especially important after he has reached the age of thirty-five. By these regular examinations he may ward off serious difficulties by discovering diseases or malfunctions in an incipient form when they may be easily corrected.

The Minister's Home

The Scripture says of the bishop (or pastor) that he should be "one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) " (I Tim. 3:4-5) .

The minister's home--call it parsonage, manse, rectory or whatever you will--is a marked home in the community. Everybody knows where the preacher lives and expects a type of life there that conforms with the message from his pulpit. Where this conformity is not evident, the spiritual progress of the church is affected.

The minister's children also should be a credit to the minister, well-behaved in and out of the church. The ministry of some pastors has been reduced in effectiveness because of failure at this point. This is not usually the case, however. By and large, the children of the parsonage are a credit to the pastor and his wife. But it is the responsibility of every pastor to exercise care in the development of his homelife so that his children will not bring reproach upon his ministry. The minister's home should be at least a partial reflection of what he would like to see in his church families.

Devoting Time to the Home. If the minister's home is to be what it ought to be the minister must take time for his family. He must not leave all of this responsibility to his wife. Being the head of the home, he has a definite responsibility to guide it in the right way. The pastor must not be so busy with the affairs of his church that be becomes a mere boarder in his own home, almost a stranger to his children! But the minister must not give too much time to his home either. Some preachers spend so much time puttering around the house that they have scarcely any time left for the work of the ministry. The pastor should not be expected to do the work that his wife is perfectly capable of doing.

Characteristics of the Pastor's Homelife. There are several characteristics that should certainly mark the homelife of the pastor.

One of them is unselfishness. If he is selfish and crabbed at home, he surely will be far from manifesting the character of his Lord. If his preaching on the Christian virtues is to be well received, he must practice them at home.

The characteristic of cheerfulness should also permeate the minister's home. If he is not careful, the pastor is likely to allow the burdens which he must bear to cast a gloom over his home. This ought not to be. The home of the pastor should be a happy place, radiant with Christian joy. His home should be an example for the church and the community in this regard. Many missionary leaders are coming more and more to advocate missionary families on the foreign field in order to teach the natives how a Christian home should be conducted. In like manner, the pastor's home should be an example in the homeland, a place where others will delight to come and where God's presence is a reality.

Another characteristic of the pastor's home should be that of devotion. The family altar should be a vital part of his household. A spiritual atmosphere should prevail. A stream will rise no higher than its source. If a warm devotional life is not exemplified in the pastor's home, how can it be expected that the homes of the membership will rise very high in this respect?

The grace of hospitality should also characterize the pastor's home. In the pastoral epistles Paul twice speaks of this grace as essential for the pastor. In I Timothy 3:2 Paul says that a bishop, among other things, must be "given to hospitality." And in Titus 1:8 the apostle says that a bishop must be "a lover of hospitality." He must not only exercise it as his responsibility, but he must love to manifest it. The welcome mat is always out at the true pastor's home. Sometimes the frequency of visitors may disrupt the ways of the household, but the blessings of hospitality far outweigh its inconveniences. Above all, the pastor and his wife should be impressed with the fact that it is the will of God that their home should be a hospitable place and, therefore, do all that they can to make it so.

Let the minister's home, then, be a place where the Christian virtues are beautifully portrayed. Of the English Bishop Hooper's home it was said, "In every corner thereof there was some smell of virtue, good example, honest conversation, and reading of holy Scripture."

The Minister's Personal Appearance

The man of God ought to be careful of his personal appearance, keeping himself neat and clean. It is unthinkable that the representative of the Lord Jesus Christ would appear otherwise in his public ministrations. Dr. Andrew W. Blackwood has set forth this aspect of the minister's life in the following statement: "Both in appearance and in dress the servant of God should keep as neat and clean as any man in uniform. With self-imposed discipline, the minister at home should be as careful as any lieutenant under the watchful eyes of his captain and colonel. Surely our Lord expects no less of his local representative than the country requires of an army or navy commander. "

The minister's clothing should be spotless. He needs to watch his linens in particular. It is well-nigh unpardonable for a preacher to bring forth a used or wrinkled handkerchief in public. He will beware of wearing his shirts too long, and should see to it that his wife knows how to iron them. There is a knack to producing a well-ironed shirt that not every woman has. But it can be acquired. Since a tie is about the only ornament the preacher wears, he ought also to make sure that it is unspotted.

The pastor needs to exercise care to keep his suits pressed. Baggy trousers are no commendation for the minister. He need not wear fine clothing, but what he does wear should be kept pressed, cleaned, and brushed. His clothes ought not to be flashy but in good taste, for the eyes of many people are upon him. He should not dress to draw attention to himself, especially when he is in the pulpit. A few ministers dress so gaudily that their hearers find it difficult to center attention upon the message being proclaimed.

The minister should keep his shoes polished. Nothing more quickly reveals slovenliness than dusty, muddy, or dingy shoes in the pulpit. The same goes for the parlor. The general makeup of many ministers can be detected by a look at their shoes.

Not only should the minister's heart be clean but His hands also should be clean. His fingernails should be kept clean and trimmed. This cleaning and trimming should not be done in public. This is a breach of etiquette of which the pastor should not be guilty.

It goes without saying that the minister needs to practice extreme care in keeping his teeth clean. Such neglect has been appalling in some cases, with resulting unsightliness and halitosis. If he wears glasses, he ought to make sure that they are cleaned regularly. Not only is this good for the eyes, but he should remember that there are people who are quick to notice carelessness in such matters. It is sad when a church has reason to be ashamed of its pastor because of his carelessness about his appearance.

The pastor should also give careful attention to his hair. It should be kept clean, trimmed, and combed. He must be careful about dandruff and falling hair. It is most distasteful to see a coat collar and lapels covered with dandruff flakes and falling hair. Also, the minister should appear clean-shaven when in public, even if he has to shave twice a day. At this point, it is not out of place to warn ministers against an excessive use of highly-perfumed lotions, which may be offensive to some people, especially to someone in a sickroom.

One of the best ways to keep clean and fresh is to bathe frequently. This should be a must for every minister. There is much truth in the statement, "Cleanliness is next to godliness."

Finally, the minister should constantly remember that he is a representative of Jesus Christ. We cannot imagine that He was ever slovenly in appearance or lacking in cleanliness. No, He was the One "altogether lovely." Therefore, let His representatives be careful to maintain an attractive personal appearance.

His Social Conduct

As the minister moves in and out among people, he at all times should act the part of the Christian gentleman. He will separate himself from bad manners in every form, having a sincere regard for the feelings and situations of others. Arthur Wentworth Hewitt has graphically set forth this matter in a negative way: "When a man contradicts others with a know-it-all finality, when he monopolizes the conversation or the program, when he speaks incessantly or even unnecessarily of himself, when he looks bored or impatient while others are talking, he is seven light-years away from being a gentleman." There are many other considerations worthy of thought in this matter of ministerial correctness in his social contacts.

Good Etiquette. For one thing, he ought to observe the common rules of etiquette. For instance, he should immediately stand to his feet when a lady or elderly gentleman enters the room, and remain standing until the person is seated. When dining with a woman, he will help seat her at the table. He will refrain from using his napkin to wipe off his silverware after he sits down to the table. This is a first-class way to insult the hostess! Neither will the minister tuck his napkin under his chin. Elbows on the table are certainly taboo. And after the meal is over he will not be found using a toothpick in the living room.

It would be a good thing if all ministers would take a little time to read Emily Post or some similar work. People are quick to observe when ministers fail in some point of etiquette. This is especially true where the minister moves among a group of cultured people.

Courteous Dealings. He should always be courteous in his dealings with others. Politeness is an attractive characteristic and often breaks down barriers of resistance which may confront the pastor. Courtesy should be manifest even in the minister's dealings with his enemies. If a minister fails to be courteous, it is soon noised about and is a poor testimony. The Apostle Paul exemplified the finest courtesy, even before those who had him in their custody, such as Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa. Hear him as he addresses the Roman governor, Festus, who had accused Paul of being insane in his convictions. He said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness" (Acts 26:25) . In Paul's other dealings with rulers while he was in prison, he acted in a similar dignified and courteous manner.

There are some ministers, however, who do not follow Paul's example. The minister may become easily irritated when people do not agree with him or when they encroach upon his time. He may cut short conversations with salesmen, insurance agents, and others of like occupation in a manner that clearly betrays his irritation. If the telephone operator gives the wrong number he manifests impatience and is very discourteous. This ought not be. The minister will be richly repaid if he always practices the grace of courtesy. He will feel better in his own soul and promote smoother relationships in the church and a better testimony in the community.

Sympathetic Spirit. He ought always to possess a sympathetic spirit. Jesus always had compassion on the crowds of His day, for He saw them as sheep not having a shepherd. He knew their sins and their sorrows. As the minister learns about the sins and the sorrows and the heartbreak of people all about him, no matter who they are, he should be like his Master. Jowett said, "When we cease to bleed we cease to bless." The world needs sympathy. The sympathetic touch of the man of God is one of Heaven's benedictions to this needy world.

Sobriety of Attitude. He should refrain from undue levity. The pastor is not called to be a clown. A few pastors have so given themselves to foolish jesting that no one ever thinks of them in serious terms. That is a tragedy. Those with burdens hesitate to come to such a pastor, fearing they and their burden may be treated lightly.

It is right and proper for ministers to be jolly and cheerful, full of the joy of the Lord. But it is unbecoming for them to be glaring examples of the thing that Paul speaks against in Ephesians 5:4: "foolish talking" and "jesting." The word for "foolish talking" in the Greek is the word from which comes the word "moron." Christians, and ministers especially included, should not be guilty of moronic talking. The word "jesting" carries the connotation of all sorts of low-type conversation, including shady jokes which are supposed to be funny but are unwholesome. Lay people should be impressed with the minister's seriousness, not with his superficiality and levity.

Good Listening Habits. The minister needs to be a good listener. People who have burdens are helped if they can talk to someone about their troubles. Many times the best thing the minister can do is to listen sympathetically to the stories of broken and perplexed men and women. The late Dr. George W. Truett, the great Baptist preacher of Dallas, Texas, said he had a chair in his study which he called the trouble chair. In it people of all walks of life sat down to unburden themselves to him. He just listened.

Some preachers make the mistake of thinking that they must do all of the talking. Job's so-called comforters probably helped most when they kept silence. If the pastor is to be really helpful in counseling, he needs to hear what is upon the hearts of those who come to him. Dale Carnegie gives six rules for getting people to like you, and one of them is, "Be a good listener."

Exemplary Financial Practices. The pastor should learn to live within his means. It has been said that two things have destroyed more ministers than anything else, debts and women. Ministers should pay their way as they go. This means that some pastors will have to live very frugally because the provision of their churches is not as generous as it might be. Of course, some churches are not able to pay an adequate salary. There are some cases where the pastor will be forced to add to his income by working outside the church. But whatever the situation may be, the pastor should allow no scandal to arise because of his laxity in money matters.

Punctuality in Keeping Appointments. He should be punctual in keeping his appointments. In this matter, he needs to follow His Lord who made appointments and always kept them. Our Lord has made some appointments for the future, and He will keep each one. His undershepherds have responsibility in this matter both in the church and out. A minister who is lax in keeping his appointments in his church will get nowhere. He should be prompt in starting all the services of the church. He should be unfailing in meeting appointments with individuals and committees of the church. He should meet the deadlines for newspaper announcements. He should be on time in meeting the schedule he has set for his own study program. Then he must keep his business appointments outside the church. If he fails to keep them, he will lose the confidence of the people he is seeking to reach for Christ. Let each pastor discipline himself to promptitude in all of these matters. The minister's business is the most important business in the world and deserves nothing less than punctuality.

It is fitting to conclude this chapter on the pastor's personal life by calling attention to a fivefold characterization of the elder as found in the Pastoral Epistles: (1) he should be without reproach, a man of integrity (I Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:7); (2) he should be a man of good behavior (I Tim. 3:2; II Tim. 2:22); (3) he should be a man of good report (I Tim. 3:7); (4) he should be a pattern of godliness, a man of God (I Tim. 6:11); and (5) he should be a man of self-control (Titus 1:8).