Reading Eugene Peterson’s book: Under the Unpredictable Plant. He takes the story of Jonah and applies it to the pastorate. Great read…here are some thoughts:
North American religion is basically a consumer religion. American?s see God asa product that will help them to live well, or live better. Having seen that, they do what consumers do, shop for the best deal. Pastors, hardly realizing what we are doing, start making deals, packaging the God-product so people will be attracted to it and then presenting it in ways that will beat out the competition?Every few days or so another pastor gets out of bed and says, ?That?s it. I quit. I refuse to be branch manager any longer in a religious warehouse outlet. I will no longer spend my life marketing God to religious consumers. I have just read over the job description the culture has handed me and I am buying it no longer?.”
Some tough thoughts our culture from a very well-seasoned and amazingly respected pastor and teacher of pastors. His thoughts continue to talk about how this kind of thing kills what true pastoring/shepherding is all about…
His answer to his elders of why he is resigning after he resigned his position as pastor….
?I want to study God?s word long and carefully so that when I stand before you and preach and teach I will be accurate. I want to pray, slowly and lovingly, so that my relation with God will be inward and honest. I want to be with you, often and leisurely, so that we can recognize each other as close companions on the way of the cross and be available for counsel and encourament to each other.? That is where I had started out intending when I became a pastor, but working in and for the church had pushed them out?
I’d better stop there…i could go forever…