What is a pastor?

One of our other writers in this column, Pastor Lewis Kiger, asked a question a few columns back: “From where does your Pastor get his sermon?”

I appreciated Kiger’s comments in that regard. He related that Scripture Alone is a foundational principle of good preaching — that God’s Word is the sole authority and focus of good preaching. I wholeheartedly agree. And I appreciate every word of Pastor Kiger’s column.

The Apostle Paul said something similar in just four words, saying, “We preach Christ crucified.” 1 Corinthians 1:23

And here is the additional challenge facing Pastors, which touches on the art of preaching. Pastors strive to apply God’s Word to a particular people (normally our local congregation), who live in a particular place (middle Georgia) and time (Spring 2023). A true Pastor must be connected to, and provide care for, his people.

For most who are reading this, your local pastor is preparing a message at your local church that is focused upon talking … not to people in Chicago … but to you in the here and now. Why mention this?

Ever hear of ChatGPT? ChatGPT is a free online Artificial Intelligence tool. It has become a topic of note lately. A college student can ask ChatGPT to write a ten-page term paper on just about any topic. The student can even ask ChatGPT to include quotes from Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, or George Washington Carver. ChatGPT will do that. And it will do it in a whole lot less time than doing your own research and creating your own college term paper. I’m not encouraging its use in that regard. And admittedly, there are some troubling plagiarism issues that come into play when this tool is used that way. I’m just saying, this is a tool of technology that is out there.

So recently, an editor of a website called Mockingbird gave instructions to ChatGPT. He instructed ChatGPT to do the following: “Write a Christmas sermon based on Luke’s birth narrative, with quotes from theologian Karl Barth, reformer Martin Luther, early church pastor Irenaeus and former President Barack Obama.”

The author admittedly would probably not look to preach a sermon with a mix of the Gospel of Luke plus quotes from that entire wild mix of people. The question was, “Could ChatGPT write such a sermon?”

It turns out that ChatGPT was able to write such a sermon … with the help of artificial intelligence. It actually wrote a fairly coherent sermon with all those specifications.

The fact that ChatGPT could do such a thing opens up a whole bunch of questions worth considering

If someone stands up and preaches a sermon written by ChatGPT … “Who is actually doing the preaching?”

Secondly, “What does it mean to be a Pastor?”

One could write a book in attempting to answer either of those questions. But let me be brief in addressing the latter.

I recently returned from a visit to our sister Lutheran Church in Honduras. There, like here, they call me by the title of “Pastor.” But in Spanish, the word pastor means shepherd. It speaks of someone who has a personal connection with the people, much like a shepherd would have with his sheep.

That’s not just a nice sentiment, it’s also Biblical.

When God’s servants were not doing a very good job of taking care of the nation of Israel, God told Jeremiah, “I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 31:15

Admittedly, we earthly pastors are simply under-shepherds, pointing people to the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Unlike, Jesus, we “undershepherd” pastors have our share of frailties and warts. Yes, God uses forgiven sinners to do His work.

ChatGPT might be able to print and even say your name.

But the Lord knows you are far more than a name. You have soul that God created to live forever. You have a soul that requires spiritual food to stay healthy.

The local Pastor who is working as he should, is one of the Lord’s instrument in that regard. We are here, in person on a daily basis, to serve as the hands and feet of Christ, the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep.

In His Service,

John Lehenbauer, Pastor

Christ Lutheran Church and School, Perry

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