I’ll be more candid than I probably should be; I’ve struggled the past several years with what would seem to be a simple question for me, “what is a pastor?”
Without getting into an exceedingly long post, I’ll simply say that in the American church (I simply don’t know about other countries), there is something of a crisis regarding the pastorate. Is the pastor a visionary? An administrator? A leader? A trainer? A Counselor? A teacher? An event planner? A socialite? A Scholar? A comedian? A process-manager?
One thing is for sure: he/she can’t be all those things at the same time. It’s unrealistic to think so. And where pastors are faced with such expectations, they will eventually burn out.
Eugene Peterson’s memoir The Pastor comes at a great time for me. I wrote in my journal that this book has been “like water for my thirsty soul.” Peterson is unapologetically “old school,” in regards to what it means to be a pastor. But what resonates with me is that his ideas about what the pastorate is align with my passions – the reasons I got into the ministry.
Of course, much of his book swims against the contemporary church culture, where pastors are more likely to read the newest leadership book than a philosophical, meditative book about the pastorate, where building projects and attendance growth ”maximizing impact” is the ultimate goal.
Honestly, I don’t think most people will find this book very interesting. But if you’re a pastor, or thinking about going into the ministry, this is a book you should read and wrestle with. For the rest of you, I’ve schedule several quotes to post over the next couple of days to give you a taste. Feel free to comment!
Twitter Updates
I downloaded the first chapter and cow;don’t agree more – “like water…” With the busyness of late, I haven’t finished it, but am looking forward to it even more after your review!
@Isaac Downing – what the heck… *couldn’t* agree more. Wow. #fatfingers
Coming from someone who sits in the pew on Sundays (as I tell the “Senior Pastor” at my church), I think there is a difference between a pastor and a teacher. I think you can be both but having the title of one doesn’t make you the other. Unfortunately I think too many people think they are both when really they are not very good at either.
Personally I struggle with someone who carries the title and wants to be called “Pastor” yet shows little care and concern for people. Scripturally isn’t a pastor a shepherd?
I’ll get on my soapbox here I guess, but I think a pastor doesn’t make a comment that a father needs to capture the heart of his children because children are called arrows in the quiver, and the more arrows a man has in his quiver the mightier he is. Or, he preaches an entire sermon on why the love of God is like a marriage relationship. In other words a pastor in the true sense is sensitive to the man in the audience who would desperately want to have “a quiver full” but can’t or the single person who can’t identify with a marriage relationship.
I suppose my comment says something about where I am in my church life and what I struggle with.