You Want to Be a Pastor? Be Something Else First
Touchstone Magazine - Mere Comments: You Want to Be a Pastor? Be Something Else First
We are not speaking here of the incursion of the know-it-all clerical whippersnapper who steams into a church to reform it according to his own bright lights or formulas for success he has learned in some ridiculous Practical Theology faculty, but rather the pastor who finds, as one so often does, heresy or immorality that must be dealt with, and purposes to deal with it. There are great advantages in such a case to be operating, and to be known to be operating, from a position of financial independence. Challenging the malignancy has a cost, and it is wise to be able to cover it before one begins the work.The day and age when a pastor can challenge a congregation to be orthodox without serious consequence are gone. In the corporate world, we called this job security. It would appear the author would only advocate second-career pastors.... Is his fear reasonable that pastors will be reserved in their preaching of Law in fear of losing their financial ability to support their family? It almost makes you wish to return to a system of Bishops, taking the congregation out of the mix. It makes sense that some might adjust their giving based on the preaching of the pastor. Sad... but true. What do you think?
