Bible Question:
First of all, I would like to declare that I mean no offence to any retired pastors here (if any). My question is generated from my curiosity and my understanding or perseption as to the life-long commitment of a pastor. If I am wrong, kindly correct me with scritpural support. My question is: Can a pastor retire? or Can a pastor not retire? My understanding is that once a person is called to commit himself fully to serve Christ (here, of course I should not limit it to the pastor, instead, every Christian should commit his/her life fully and life-long to Christ) as a pastor, can he retire someday just like those people having their retirement in the society? We see so many examples in the Bible - Moses, Paul, Peter - who demonstrated a life-long pastoring a certain group of people until death, why do we have retired pastors nowadays? Thanks for any scriptural guidiances. God bless you all. Azure |
Bible Answer: Hi Azure I haven't found any scriptures that would support a pastor retireing. But I found some helps. You ask why do we have retired pastors nowadays? To much leaning on the flesh and not the word and spirit of God's guidance I would say Phil 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. 26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. 27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: 30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. 1 Cor.3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's WORK shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. II Tim 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have fishished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Hope this helps Carol |