(Acts 20:20)

 

The verse from which the title
of this article is taken sets forth in a forcible manner the intimate
connection between the work of the teacher and that of the pastor. It is
important that this connection be understood and maintained. The teacher
unfolds truth; the pastor applies it. The teacher enlightens the understanding;
the pastor looks to the state of the heart. The teacher supplies the spiritual nutriment;
the pastor sees to the use that is made of it. The teacher occupies himself
more with the Word; the pastor looks after the soul. The teacher’s work is for
the most part public; the pastor’s work is chiefly in private. When combined in
one person, the teaching faculty imparts immense moral power to the pastor, and
the pastoral element imparts affectionate tenderness to the teacher.

 

That there is urgent need of
pastoral care throughout the Church of God, few can deny who know what
pastorship is, and who are at all acquainted with the true condition of the
Church. How rare is the true spiritual pastor! It is easy to take the name and
assume the office; but, in fact, pastorship is neither a name nor an office,
but a living reality—a divinely-imparted gift—something communicated by the
Head of the Church for the growth and blessing of His members. A true pastor is
a man who is not only possessed of a real spiritual gift, but also animated by
the very affections of the heart of Christ toward every lamb and sheep of His
blood-bought flock.

 

How few real pastors are to be
found in our midst! How rare is the pastor’s gift, the pastor’s heart! Where
shall we find those who duly combine the two grand elements contained in the
title, "publicly and from house to house"? A man may, perhaps, give
us a brief address on the Lord’s day, or a lecture on some weekday; but where
is the "house to house" side of the question? Where is the close,
earnest, diligent looking after individual souls day by day? Very often it happens
that the public teaching shoots over the head; it is the house to house
teaching that is sure to come home to the heart. How frequently it happens that
something uttered in public is entirely misunderstood and misapplied, until
.the loving pastoral visit during the week supplies the true meaning and just
application.

 

Nor is this all. How much there
is in a pastor’s range that the public teacher never can compass. No doubt
public teaching is very important; would that we had many times more of it than
we have. The teacher’s work is invaluable, and when mellowed by the deep and
tender affection of a pastor’s heart can go a great way indeed in meeting the
soul’s many needs. But the loving pastor who earnestly, prayerfully, and
faithfully goes from house to house, can get at the deep exercises of the soul,
the sorrows of the heart, the puzzling questions of the mind, the grave
difficulties of the conscience. He can enter, in the profound sympathy of an
affectionate heart, into all the circumstances and sorrows of the path. He can
kneel down with the tried, the tempted, the crushed, and the sorrowing one
before the mercy-seat and they can pour out their hearts together, and draw
down sweet consolation from the God of all grace and the Father of mercies.

 

The public teacher cannot do
this. No doubt, he can anticipate in his public address a great deal of the
soul’s private exercises, sorrows, and difficulties. But he cannot fully meet
the soul’s individual need. This is the pastor’s holy work. A pastor is to the
soul what a doctor is to the body. He must understand disease and medicine. He
must be able to tell what is the matter. He must be able to diagnose the
spiritual condition in order to apply the true remedy.

 

Let us join in fervent believing
prayer to God to raise up true pastors among us. We are in sad need of them.
The sheep of Christ are not fed and cared for. We are occupied so much with our
own affairs that we have no time to look after the beloved flock of Christ. And
even on those occasions when the Lord’s people assemble in public, how little
there is for their precious souls. And then, all through the week, few loving
pastoral calls, few inquiries after soul or body. There seems to be no time.
Every moment is swallowed up in the business of providing for ourselves and our
families. How different it was with the apostle Paul. He found time to make
tents and also to "teach publicly and from house to house." He was
not only the earnest evangelist, ranging over continents and planting churches,
but he was also the loving pastor, the tender nurse, the skillful spiritual
physician. He had a heart for Christ and for every member of His body. Here
lies the secret of the matter. It is wonderful what a loving heart can
accomplish. If I really love the Church, I shall desire its blessing and
progress, and seek to promote these according to my ability.

 

May the Lord raise up in the
midst of His people pastors and teachers after His own heart—men filled with
His Spirit and animated by genuine love for His Church, men competent and ready
to teach "publicly and from house to house."

 

(From Miscellaneous Writings,
Volume 5.)