Wannabe A Pastor?

Joe Thorn gives a great post today called "So, You're Thinking of Being a Pastor?"  Great, simple advice for guys considering the pastorate.

Comments

[Brian W]

Some points of good advice, others, not so much.

I've been at this pastor-thing for 6 years now and there are indeed unique demands on a person's life, demands that should be seriously thought through (this is my qualifier for what I say below). But I don't get #1. The pastoral ministry is immensely rewarding. Being invited to walk with people in their spiritual journey is one of the highest privileges I've ever experienced. I cry with joy because of what I do. Why discourage that?

I read an article from a seasoned pastor where he listed the joy he had in ministry. But in conclusion, he said that he would discourage his son from being a pastor because its hard... "and miss out on all the joy you just talked about" I thought? Yes its hard, but that certainly doesn't warrant a don't. In fact I tell my young sons, "don't stop just because something is hard." An up-front "don't" to ministry is like telling a woman not to have a baby because of the pain.

Every seminary has its weaknesses, but Trinity, yes. RTS and Southern...no. Gordon and Bethel instead.

[Steve McCoy]

Brian, thanks for the comment.

I believe in the first point Joe isn't meaning to say that pastoral ministry isn't rewarding. He is using the old advice that those who are called as pastors will be unsatisfied with any other work. It appears he has tried to clarify that point a bit on his blog, but most of us who have heard that advice before assumed that is what he meant.

As for your seminary advice, I'm afraid I'm with Joe there as well. :)

[Brian W]

Point taken, Steve. That's why I added my qualifier in the beginning.

As for seminaries, I'm not too surprised. I've got some good pastoral friends from Southern (in particular); great guys. It's just that they all sound like Mohler. The only place they differ may be on alcohol. I like the diversity represented at schools like Gordon, Bethel and Fuller. It seems to be an honest reflection of Christ's Church. It forced me to engage with others face to face in loving dialogue rather than talk about them from a distance; I learned a lot. By God's grace, a seminarian will be trained well from any of them listed (in my estimation).

Thanks.