Friday
Friday
Metaphors of Ministry
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
1 Thessalonians 2:10
Paul’s surreptitious nighttime departure from Thessalonica and his failure to return aroused a lot of criticism, making it necessary for him to defend himself, which he did by a series of vivid metaphors.
He wrote first of the faithfulness of a steward: “We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel” (v. 4). It is true that the word steward does not occur in the text, but the concept of stewardship is implicit, since Paul had been put in trust with the gospel.
Secondly, “We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children” (v. 7). Yes, and not only gentle, but affectionate and sacrificial as well. It is wonderful that Paul, who was tough in mind and character, should have referred to his ministry in these feminine terms.
Thirdly, “We dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children” (v. 11). The apostle seems to be thinking of a father’s educational role, teaching by both word and example.
Fourthly, Paul mentions the boldness of a herald. To herald (keryss
) is the commonest New Testament word for preaching. “We preached the gospel of God to you,” Paul writes (v. 9).
The faithfulness of a steward, the gentleness of a mother, the encouragement of a father, and the boldness of a herald. From these four metaphors of ministry we learn the two major responsibilities of those who are called to pastoral ministry. The first is our responsibility to the Word of God, as stewards to guard it and heralds to proclaim it. And the second is our responsibility to the people of God, as their mother and father to love and encourage them. Or we could say that the two chief marks of pastoral leaders should be truth and love in combination. How is this possible? Only by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, for he is the Spirit of truth, and the first fruit of the Spirit is love.
For further reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:1–13