Bobby Jamieson's The Path to Being a Pastor

 Bobby Jamieson's The Path to Being a Pastor is a valuable guide for aspiring pastors. The book is organized into three parts: Finding the Path, Walking the Path, and Approaching the Destination. Its target audience is primarily those pursuing pastoral ministry. I have greatly benefited from reading this book. Below are my reflections:

On page 20 of the book, the author presents two implications for my desire to be a pastor. I agree that Scripture clearly speaks about financially supporting preaching and teaching pastors, even instructing us to give them double honor. The author’s question that deeply resonates with me is, “Are you a sufficiently gifted preacher of God’s Word that a church should pay you to preach?” The New Testament ties financial compensation for pastoral work to special labor in teaching, which assumes a notable ability in teaching (1 Tim. 5:17–18; Gal. 6:6). As an aspiring pastor, I expect the church to compensate me for pastoring, as I have decided this will be my full-time work. However, the author’s insight instills a healthy, godly fear in me, prompting me to question whether I truly deserve to be paid by the church. To earn this, the church must affirm that I am gifted and capable of preaching and teaching God’s Word. This realization drives me to prayerfully work on improving my teaching skills and to humbly depend on God. Praise God for this insight!

With that said, I have a question for the author. The author distinguishes between pastors and elders, that Aspiring to be an elder and aspiring to serve as a full-time preaching pastor are distinct. Biblically speaking, all elders are pastors. However, eldering is a broader category than full-time pastoring. Why is it necessary to classify pastors and elders within the elder/pastor office? I agree that Scripture discusses paying salaries to preaching and teaching pastors, but this should not be a basis for categorizing within the elder/pastor office. I disagree with labeling preaching/teaching pastors as pastors and non-preaching/teaching pastors as elders. This distinction risks creating a hierarchy within the elder/pastor office. If a church chooses to address its pastors as elders, it should do so uniformly, treating all pastors/elders equally as elders.

The author compellingly argues that ‘aspiration’ to pastor a church is a more fitting term than ‘calling.’ He provides five persuasive points: aspiration is more biblical, humble, accurate, fruitful, and freeing. All five points are undeniably valid, but the one that resonates most with me is ‘more fruitful.’ This point captivates me because, as an aspiring pastor, I should not ask, “Am I called?” or “How do I know if I am called?” Instead, I should focus on, “How can I grow into the kind of man capable of serving as an elder, and even serving in that role full-time?”

In the section on seeking counsel, the author accurately captures my hunger and desire. He articulates what I believe with greater precision, stating, “Seeking counsel is simple: find wise people and get them to share their wisdom with you. Especially important here are the pastors of your church…Lean on counselors whose wisdom you trust—the more, the better. Not for nothing does Proverbs twice urge us to hear out ‘an abundance of counselors’ (Prov. 11:14; 24:6).” I began seeking counsel even before reading this book. However, a fear often arises when I desire counsel: the worry that my aspiration might be perceived negatively, as if I am seeking attention. This fear has hindered me many times, stemming from my experience in an unhealthy church environment where seeking counsel was viewed as a sign of weakness. People hid their struggles because it felt unsafe to share them. Now, being in a healthy church, I intend to wisely seize this opportunity. The author drives the point home by stating, “A good counselor is not one who will make the decision for you…a good counselor will help you learn how to make a wise decision yourself.” While seeking counsel, I recognize that I should not always agree with what counselors say, but approach it with discernment.

This book has provided me with many insights, the most impactful being the author’s custom grid for making vocational decisions, which will guide me in assessing my upcoming ministry. The grid consists of three variables: desire, ability, and opportunity. Among these, ‘ability’ resonates most with me. While I aspire to pastor, aspiration alone is insufficient. Am I truly capable? The author emphasizes that one must meet the biblical qualifications for an elder, be able to address doctrinal questions and refute errors, and preach and teach God’s Word effectively to lead people toward greater conformity to Christ.

In the chapter “Want to Be an Elder? Then Lead Something,” the author’s statement, “…Paul points to family leadership as an entrance exam for church leadership,” deeply resonates with me. From my limited experience in pastoral ministry, I see many similarities between leading a church and a family. A married man who leads his wife and children well is close to being elder-qualified, though not fully, as the ability to teach and preach God’s Word is also essential. The author reinforces this by saying, “Authority flows to those who take responsibility. For what are you responsible? For what else can you take responsibility?” If I am irresponsible with my wife and children, no matter how intelligent or eloquent I am, I am far from elder qualification. This motivates me to love and lead my family responsibly.

In the chapter “Apprentice in the Craft of Preaching,” I learned a valuable lifelong lesson: seeking feedback on my preaching and teaching from experienced preachers and teachers. During my pastoral ministry, I preached 50–60 sermons a year (mostly Sunday mornings, less frequently Sunday evenings, and even less on Friday evenings), but I never sought feedback, nor did anyone offer it except my wife. The author highlights the importance of feedback for improving preaching and teaching. He also encourages wordsmithing, which I deeply appreciate. I recognize that my preaching lacks fluency and order, and I need to use precise, beautiful vocabulary. I am committed to working on this.

In the chapter “If You Can, Make the Most of Seminary,” the author addresses something close to my heart. In India, seminaries are often disconnected from church life, which is why I am no longer drawn to them. Although I attended seminaries, I was not actively engaged in a local church. The author states, “Even during seminary, your local church should be the primary context and means of your pastoral training. Churches raise up pastors with supplemental help from seminaries, not vice versa.” I am grateful for the sound doctrine I learned from seminary professors, but I urge seminaries to encourage students to actively engage in a local church, as churches are the primary place where pastors are raised.

This book serves as an invaluable resource as I prepare to pastor a healthy church. My only regret is not having read it before I was appointed as a pastor in 2022. I have gained profound insights from its pages. To become an effective pastor, I must meet the necessary qualifications, excel in teaching and preaching, and proactively seek opportunities to exercise my leadership skills while humbly seeking counsel from experienced pastors. I am deeply grateful to God for Bobby Jamieson, whose work has equipped me, as an aspiring pastor, to prepare thoroughly for the responsibilities ahead.