Who Am I to You? (A Discussion of the Pastoral Ministry)

Pastor Mike
A poster for a discussion of the pastoral ministry titled who am i to you ?

Sometimes, people aren’t sure what to call me. And that’s fine. I will answer to “Pastor Cherney,” “Pastor Mike,” and even just “Mike,” without any issue. Why people call me what they do has various possible explanations. For some, “Pastor Mike” is a simple way to get out of trying to pronounce my last name. For others, “Pastor Cherney” rings with the formal respect they were taught to show clergymen. Still others enjoy the familiarity of calling me “Mike,” just as they would call their doctor, “Vanessa,” and their boss, “Rolando.” And while I still am given pause whenever someone calls me “Reverend Cherney,” it’s all the same to me. But if people ask me, “What should I call you?” I usually tell them, “I like being called ‘pastor,’” Does that sound like a power play? It is not meant to be. Here’s why:


Far more important than getting the title correct, we must understand the pastor’s role in your life (you and I both!). But sometimes there is confusion about this. Is the pastor the CEO of the congregation? Is he the members’ coach in spiritual matters; their cheerleader in Christian living? Is the pastor a servant to the congregation, its leader, or some combination of both? Is the pastor the resident psychological counselor? Is the pastor the chief social activist? Is the pastor a public relations officer for the congregation or for Jesus? Should the pastor run a church like a general manager of a Target, or like a “Mom and Pop” bakery shop? Is a church like a family, and the pastor is the dad?


In individual churches across the globe, the pastor says “yes” to one of those questions. And every example can be found. It almost seems like no two churches are alike, because no two pastors are alike. Each one of us seems to take a slightly different approach to leadership, teaching, counseling, decision-making, and community engagement. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. Only when the pastor and his personality take precedence over the power of the Word have we run off-course (that was my attempt at alliteration).


Pastors and churchgoers alike absolutely must anchor their view of the pastor’s role in what Scripture says. Here are three considerations to ground your understanding of what your pastor is to you that are based on Scripture.


#1 Every church member is a missionary (not just the pastor). This first fact clarifies what the pastor is not. The pastor is not the only evangelist, the only public relations officer for Christ, that a church has. He is certainly not the only one called to have the kind of compassion for others that drives one to share God’s Word with them, whether they are strangers to the faith or straying from it. That call was given to all Christians by Christ (see Matthew 28:19-20, Matthew 18:15-20, John 20:22-23). That is why Scripture calls all believers “priests” (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:5-6) –representatives of God’s love to the world in speech and deeds. In some respects, what the pastor is called to do will look exactly like what every Christian should do (love and serve people by sharing Christ with them), just in a more formal and public way.


#2 Jesus wants his church to be shepherded by leaders. When the Apostle Paul gave his tearful goodbyes to the church leaders in Ephesus, he gave them this charge, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). If there’s any passage from which we got the term “pastor” this is a major one. Paul says that it’s the Holy Spirit that has charged these individuals to the oversee the flock. They are called to shepherd them. Since the word “pastor” means “shepherd,” it becomes the primary metaphor for what a pastor is to the congregation: a loving shepherd guiding them in the right direction; a caring leader called to tend to them and oversee them. Passages like 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:9 show that the way a pastor does this is by teaching the Word of God. A church may need its windows washed and the carpets vacuumed, and while a pastor certainly can do these things, his role as a shepherd has to do with ministering with the Word and Sacraments.


#3 Shepherds ensure the church maintains healthy order. It’s true that every member is a missionary, and every member has the calling to be Christ’s witnesses to the world. It’s also true that when the church assembles for worship and ministry, leadership is a blessing. When you arrive at church to attend service, you don’t have to wonder who will jump up and start preaching and what their qualifications are. When a child is born in your family, you don’t have to wonder whom to call to inquire about baptizing them. This is the point Paul makes in passages like 1 Corinthians 12:27-30, 1 Corinthians 14:33, 1 Corinthians 14:36-38, and 1 Corinthians 14:40. When the church gathers together in worship, study, and outreach efforts, a qualified and called public minister leads the way so that you may be blessed. Our church body (the WELS) ensures qualified pastors are meeting the needs of congregations worldwide by requiring many years of study of Scripture before they take up this important task. Passages like 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9 make clear that not just anyone should be called into leadership, but only those who have been tested, educated, and qualified for it. Could a non-pastor lead worship? Could a non-pastor preach? Could a non-pastor conduct a Bible study? Could a non-pastor baptize a baby? Absolutely. There are many ways in which members can get involved in the public ministry that would be God-pleasing. There are some hypothetical situations that might be permissible, but of questionable practical value (like making a church leader write and preach a sermon). There are some situations that might seem appropriate, but would actually be harmful (like a churchgoer recruiting other members to their home Bible study without the pastor’s knowledge.) The rule that governs these cases is: maintaining good order for the sake of the whole church.


If any of the above has sounded like a power-trip; like I’m trying to assert my dominant authority over you, the reader, I sincerely apologize. This is not my intention. It is not Jesus’ desire that pastors dominate their flock with tyrannical authority. Nor is it his will that pastors steer their flocks according to their own charisma and personality. The pastor is foremost a sinner-saint just like everyone else in the congregation. And just like everyone else, he relies on God’s grace constantly. However, also like everyone else, he has a role to play in God’s family.


In our previous devotion, we examined Ephesians 4:11-13, 15. There, we were told that Christ himself established church leaders, not for domination and tyrannical rule, but because the church is his own body (Ephesians 4:15-16). Each part has a crucial role to play. Some are leaders and some are not. Some have prominent, public functions to fulfill (like preaching and teaching). Others participate in private but vital ways (like supporting the ministry generously with offerings and prayers). I would encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. As you do, you will see that no part of this body of Christ is superior to another. We just have different roles.


So, you can call me “Mike,” or “Pastor Mike,” or “Pastor Cherney,” or even “Reverend Cherney” (although that one is still taking some getting-used-to). What you refer to me as is not what’s important. What brings joy to my heart (or WOULD bring joy to my heart if it’s not true yet) is to be your pastor. Not because I’m better or holier than you, but because Christ has given me to you to be your shepherd.



Pastor Mike Cherney

The Art of Giving: Conclusion

By Pastor Mike • June 27, 2025
There! Now that we’ve cleared up all the misunderstandings above giving an offering, we are all ready to worship God in this way with regularity and joy! I’m just kidding. We’ve only touched on a few of the false conceptions that are possible. Because giving is an act of sanctification – a fruit of faith, thankfully offered to God in response to the gospel – it is something to “grow into.” There may still be misgivings, questions, and reluctance. Some readers may have been seriously hurt by church leaders who prevailed too strongly upon their debit cards and bank accounts. To those, one blog post will not be sufficient to restore the act of giving to its Scriptural, rightful place. For others, giving was never properly explained as a fruit of faith, not an act that earns goodness from God. To those, I pray this discussion has been helpful. I write this post as one who is himself growing in the act of giving. May God continue to shape our understanding of how to use our gifts to his glory. Giving to God is not a science. The act of giving looks differently among Christians, just as their acts of service and fruits of faith look differently. There are no hard-and-fast equations. We can’t say that giving an offering ensures that you’ll get rich in return (maybe God will choose to bless you in this way, maybe not). We can’t say that giving will come easy once you have a more stable income (your sinful nature will likely resist no matter how much income you have). We can’t say that you should never feel concerned or self-critical over your giving (is there ever an amount that will properly express your thankfulness to God?). So, I would say that giving is much more of an art. After taking in all of Scripture’s guidance about how to approach the act of giving, we proceed using our best judgment. We start with the gospel, meditating on what wonderful things God has done for us through Jesus Christ. We then look at the gifts God has given to us: our finances, our time, our personality gifts. We envision how to respond to God’s goodness with these gifts. While there are some acts of giving that will look very similar among various Christians (for example, we all give of our time when we attend worship and Bible study together), each one of us goes through our own process of deciding how best to respond to the gospel with our gifts. We submit our hearts to God for audit, recognizing that there are often mixed motives within them (Psalm 139:23-24). We rely on God to work within us and through us even as we thank him (Philippians 2:13). After all, this is about our relationship with God – not about securing it for ourselves with offerings, because it is already secure in Christ. Rather, it is about living out a relationship of worship with God, expressing to him and to the world what he means to us. To that end, let’s close with these verses from Hebrews: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:15-16) God bless you as you find joy in God’s pleasure over you for Christ’s sake, and as you respond to this gospel with thanksgiving! Pastor Mike Cherney 

The Art of Giving: Misunderstanding #5 – We live under the Tithe Law (giving one tenth of one’s gifts).

By Pastor Mike • June 27, 2025
This is a very common conception of the offering, and up to this point it might appear that we also teach the tithe – the practice of giving one tenth of one’s goods as a matter of the law, and not to deviate from that percentage. This is commanded to the Old Testament Israelites in passages such as Leviticus 27:30. But Christ has set us free from the letter of the law (Colossians 2:14, Colossians 2:16-17, Galatians 4:4-5). When the New Testament commands the act of giving, percentages are not mentioned. What is mentioned, however, is that giving be proportionate (1 Corinthians 16:2), generous (2 Corinthians 9:6), done with joy (2 Corinthians 9:7), and a good work sprung from trust in the Lord (2 Corinthians 9:8-11). This is not as specific as the tithe rule. It requires one to spend time reasoning out what a manageable and reasonable gift looks like for them, while still reflecting the thanksgiving and generosity that they wish to communicate in response to the gospel. In many households, ten percent remains a useful benchmark for giving, but must not be treated as a law. Some households will not be able to afford that amount. For others, “proportionate” giving means giving much more than ten percent. It is a lot easier for church leaders to make hard-and-fast rules to “keep people in line,” rather than offer these general encouragements. However, if we remember that giving is an act of worship in response to the gospel, we will avoid strictly laying down ground rules that Scripture no longer enforces. Instead, we will focus on sharing the beautiful gospel with our members, friends, and community, and allow the Holy Spirit to create and nurture the gospel joy that inspires acts of thanksgiving. Likewise, if someone’s giving is “off-kilter,” we don’t want to address their giving with the desire that they “get those numbers up.” That would convey that our worth in God’s family comes from our works. Instead, we express concern over their connection to the gospel, and nurture their relationship with Jesus through Word and Sacrament. Then, and only then, can we discuss what a proper response to the gospel looks like in our giving. Go to next post in this series

The Art of Giving: Misunderstanding #4 – We give ONLY to keep the church running.

By Pastor Mike • June 27, 2025
This misunderstanding is based partly on truth, but becomes misguided when it is treated as the main issue. Like millions of churches across the world, our church is a not-for-profit organization. We rely solely on the offerings of members to keep the doors open and the air conditioner running. It would stand to reason, then, that we should encourage giving so that the work of the church can continue, don’t you think? After all, the Levites (ministers in the tabernacle and temple worship of the Old Testament) were to rely on the offerings of the rest of the tribes of Israel for their livelihood (Numbers 18:21). The Apostle Paul encouraged offerings so that Christians in dire financial need could be provided for (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). There is a practical side to giving an offering. However, this should not be divorced from the attitude of thankful worship described above. Above all, giving an offering is a fruit of faith inspired by thankfulness in response to the infinite grace of God. It is an act of worship. The opportunity to praise God in this way does not cease when the church’s bills are paid off any more than your need to come to worship services ceases when church attendance is up. Go to next post in this series

The Art of Giving Misunderstanding #3 – Giving an offering if optional.

By Pastor Mike • June 27, 2025
In Romans 12:4-8, Paul lists generous giving as but one example of service that God equips people to render within the church. This could lead to the thought that giving is optional for Christians. That would be misguided. Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” Wealth takes many forms. For the Old Testament believer, their material blessings primarily took the forms of crops, flocks, and herds. For most modern Americans, God bestows wealth in the form of finances and material blessings. The directives in both Old and New Testaments to praise God by bringing an offering from our wealth are so thorough that one can hardly ignore or side-step the issue at hand. It is true that our whole lives are to be offered to God as thank offerings for what he’s done (Romans 12:1). It is also true that God is more concerned with the attitude of the heart than with the dollar amount given (see passages above as well as Mark 12:41-44). But it is also true that God’s design for showering us with material gifts is that we honor him in front of others by giving a portion back through this act of worship we have been calling “an offering.” As Psalm 50:23 says, “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me.” Not all Christians are capable of giving the same amount, or even the same proportion of what they have (we’ll talk about this more in a second), but God’s Word is so full of directives about giving that it is hard for any one of us to exempt ourselves. To put it another way, God seems to be completely comfortable telling us what to do with our money. After all, we only have it in the first place because he gave it to us (see the response to Misunderstanding #1). Go to next post in this series

The Art of Giving: Misunderstanding #2 – God doesn’t care about your offerings.

By Pastor Mike • June 27, 2025
If the discussion is about how we’re saved, how we know that we have a good relationship with God, then offerings have no place in that discussion, nor any work that we do. But it does not follow that offerings have no significance whatsoever. Placing a financial gift into the collection plate or box, or donating through our online service, is a work. We are saved purely by God’s grace through faith, and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). God loved and saved you apart from anything to do with your potential to “pay him back” with a weekly offering. Jesus gave up his life as the atoning sacrifice for your sins without consideration of your cash flow or income bracket. But when the conversation shifts from “how we are saved” to “how do we thank God for our salvation” or “how do we live out our identity as God’s people,” offerings do have a part in that discussion. Offerings do not provide God with anything he needs, but they are expressions of our heart’s orientation toward him. In both Malachi 3:8-10 and Psalm 51:17-19, giving a sacrificial gift is presented as a way of demonstrating one’s repentance (sorrow over sin and seeking salvation only from God). Giving of what we have is also a communication of our confident trust that God will continue to provide for us. He may supply our needs extravagantly, far above what is necessary. He may only give us our daily bread (Luke 11:3). That’s for him to decide. What’s always true is that God will always provide in some way, shape, or form (Psalm 145:15-16). We have previously defined faith as a trust relationship with God. What better way to say, “I trust you, Lord, and I thank you,” than to give? Go to next post in this series

The Art of Giving: Misunderstanding #1 – God needs our offerings.

By Pastor Mike • June 27, 2025
Psalm 50:9-13 says, “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?” What did offerings look like before money was invented? The Israelites in the Old Testament worshipped God by giving of their crops, herds, and flocks. In these verses, God makes it clear that the purpose of these offerings was not because he gets hungry and needs to be fed. He is the immortal, eternal, completely self-sufficient God. Sometimes I really think of myself as an asset to God, as if I provide him with something to him that he otherwise would not have had. Or that God relies on my gifts and service to be able to “do his thing.” These thoughts are delusions that come from my (our) selfish pride. There is a part of our hearts (the sinful nature) that would love to assure ourselves of God’s love because of what we do. But to believe this would amount to believing that God’s love is for those who are worthy – who give enough, serve enough, and are generally good enough. The person who gives millions of dollars to their church no more deserves God’s love than the one who gives fifty cents. It is God’s grace (his decision to unconditionally love sinners) that has saved you, not your actions (Ephesians 2:8-9). Whenever we fall prey to these delusions in the equation of God’s salvation, we should remember David’s words. When his eyes feasted on the beautiful offerings the Israelites brought for the construction of the temple, “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (1 Chronicles 29:14). As the hymn goes, “We give Thee but Thine own.” Go to next post in this series
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