In his blog of March 11, 2008, Keith Edwards of the Toronto Baptist Seminary, has commented on the true nature of pastoral ministry. He writes:
Having served in 6 “flocks” of God’s people, I have learned a little about caring for sheep. Sheep need a shepherd – not a boss, not a “CEO” but a shepherd, in fact the word “pastor” is really equivalent to the word “shepherd.”
It’s a short post, a personal reflection concerning a conversation he had recently with a former TBS student. Why not take a look, then offer your own comments? Like Keith, I’m weary of the approach too many take toward pastoral ministry these days.
As I read Keith’s post, I was reminded of John Piper’s book, Brothers, We are not Professionals. It is a worthwhile read, and if you don’t already have it, or cannot borrow it from a friend, you can get it from Christianbook.com by clicking on the title below.
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Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry
By John Piper / B & H Publishing Group
Should a church be run like a business? Piper says no. In this provocative critique, he takes aim at the widely held managerial/therapeutic model of ministry—warning that Christlike traits such as childlikeness, tenderheartedness, and dedication to prayer clash with the secular “professionalism” we mistakenly seek to emulate. Sure to spark lively debate! 304 pages, softcover from B&H.
