In my wanderings and readings I was recently challenged by Ernest Goodman @ Missions Misunderstood, as he struggled with what or who is a pastor. Specifically in light of the big name pastors/preachers/teachers/speakers/authors we listen to through conferences, podcasts, webinars, dvds and books.

Here is his understanding of a pastor, what do you think?

A pastor knows you well enough to preach the gospel into your community of faith. He holds you accountable for your missteps and encourages you through the rough patches. As described in 2 Timothy 4, a pastor is more than just a presenter of gospel teaching, he’s a shepherd who supervises your spiritual formation. The conference stage, book, (and, in many cases, the megachurch pulpit) serve as two-way mirrors; allowing us to be taught without being seen, to be preached to without being cared for.

We need thinkers, teachers, authors, and speakers. On the corporate level, leaders like Ed Stetzer are the people who drive the conversation and inspire with new ideas. They teach, equip, and challenge us publicly. They speak on our behalf. But believers need more than just sound instruction. Every Christian everywhere needs a pastor who knows them and speaks into their lives personally.

Today, I was reading “They Found the Secret” by V. Raymond Edman and was confronted with the term exchanged life. What is the exchanged life? According to Edman, the exchange life is…

“not something, it is some One. It is the indwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ made real and rewarding by the Holy Spirit.”

If Jesus came to that we might have abundant life then the exchanged life replaces our discouragement and defeat with victory; our weakness and weariness with strength; and, our ineffectiveness and apparent uselessness with efficiency and significance.

As we come to a crisis of utter heart surrender to Jesus, we will find that the Holy Spirit has taken up residence. And we live out Paul’s words in Galatians…

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.   (Galatians 2: 20 NLT)

New life exchanged for old. While the path of crisis is different for each of us, the reality and power of the Spirit-filled life is unanimous. Thanks Dr. Edman for this timely reminder!