How close should a pastor get to the members?

[Amos]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

I think this is correct. Christ is the Chief Shepherd and we pastors are the under shepherds. We care for Jesus' flock. The flock is not ours. We did not pay the price for them, He did. We didn't save them, He did. These above scriptures along with OA's take, I think are very accurate.

I will state this again and again and again: A pastor has as much authority & trust with the congregation as he is willing to serve them. He is there for them, not the other way around.

I think it is great the way Amos had some guys over for horse riding etc. That shows that the pastor is a regular guy like the rest of them. He simply has a calling and role to fill that was given him by God. The position of pastor is not any better than any other calling in the kingdom, IMO. It is just different. It carries an extreme amount of responsibility because he is caring for the Lord's sheep.

There are youth from our church at my house at least one or two days a week.

In fact, there are some here right now.

They just got in from riding my horses.

The young guys like to come over because I live out in the country, and we shoot, hunt, and ride horseback toether.

It gives me an opportunity to spend time with them outside a church setting.