What is a young pastor to do?

'What would you write to a young pastor, probably in his mid-thirties, who was perhaps feeling a bit isolated, was concerned at the level of false teaching that was happening in the city where he was pastoring; a young man who was concerned that such false teaching was endangering the flock entrusted to his care, was anxious to ensure that the church was established and being built in the correct way and was keen to set this church that he loved a good example; a young man who was aware of his youth, aware that his age and inexperience was counting against him in the eyes of some- what would you write?

Let me rephrase that a little- what would God say using His chosen means, which in this case was the pen of His apostle Paul, to such a young man; what would God’s Word have him do, how would God’s Word have him be, what would God’s Word direct him to make his priorities and foundations in this building project that he has been called to. That is the scene that is set for us as Paul writes to Timothy ( 1Timothy 1: 1-11)- those situations, considerations, concerns are the things that Timothy is wrestling with as he seeks to be faithful to the call of God upon his life to pastor this church community in Ephesus. But these are not just concerns for Ephesus; they are great concerns in this city that we live in and therefore this church that we belong to.

This is what I observe as I look around and perceive the prevailing wind of church culture, as I listen to the advice of denominations, as I read media releases from multiple denominations, as I see the sort of people who are considered prophetic and apostolic. We live in a church culture where false teaching is not only ignored but accommodated, where denominations are pursuing diversity when the great need of the church today is clarity; unity has become at the expense of truth rather than pursuing the Biblical concept of unity as the gathering around clear Biblical truth. People and movements are claiming or being given the title apostle. Although given this title they appear to share neither the convictions or the priorities of those who were used by God as the instruments of His Word breathed,' instead undermining that very Word by their vagueness or outright complacency and compromise.'