[BBC List] good policy for pastors

[Mike Abendroth]

John MacArthur:

1990 Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference in New Orleans, LA.

 

Fling him into his office, then tear the "Office" sign from the door, and
replace it with a sign that says, "Study." 

Take him off the mailing list. Lock him up with his books and his typewriter
and his Bible. Slam him down on his knees before texts and broken hearts and
the flick of lives of a superficial flock and a holy God. 

Force him to be the one man in the community who knows about God. Throw him
into the ring to box with God until he learns how short his arms are. Engage
him to wrestle with God all the night through, and let him come out only
when he's bruised and beaten into being a blessing. 

Shut his mouth from forever spouting remarks and stop his tongue from
forever tripping lightly over every non-essential. Require him to have
something to say before he breaks the silence. Burn his eyes with weary
study. Wreck his emotional poise with worry for the things of God. Make him
exchange his pious stance for a humble walk with God and man. Make him spend
and be spent for the glory of God. 

Rip out his telephone. Burn up his success sheets. Put water in his gas
tank. Give him a Bible and tie him to the pulpit. Test him, quiz him,
examine him. Humiliate him for his ignorance of things divine. Shame him for
his good comprehension of finance, batting averages and political party
issues. Laugh at his frustrated effort to play psychiatrist. Form a choir,
raise a chant and haunt him night and day with, "Sir, we would know God." 

When at long last he does assay the pulpit, ask him if he has a word from
God. If he doesn't, then dismiss him. Tell him you can read the paper. You
can digest the television commentary. You can think through the day's
superficial problems and manage the weary drives of the community and bless
the assorted baked potatoes and green beans better than he can. 

And when he does speak God's Word, listen. And when he's burned out finally
by the flaming Word, consumed by the fiery grace blazing through him, and
when he's privileged to translate the truth of God to man and finally is
himself transferred from earth to heaven, bear him away gently. Blow a muted
trumpet. Lay him down softly and place a two-edged sword on his coffin and
raise the tune triumphant, for ere he died he had become a Man of God. 

 

 

Thanks.

 

Charis,

 

Mike Abendroth

 

www.bbcchurch.org

 

2 Tim 1:2b  "Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our
Lord."

 

"The typical modern Christian breastplate is a little paper bib.  Absolutely
useless!  It's made up of a system, or a method, or a program... 10 to 12
sessions with a counselor.  That's not what you need.  What you need is
about 10 or 12 hours in the presence of God until you sort out the unholy
characteristics in your life and get right with Him." John MacArthur, The
Believer's Armor, Study Notes. Eph. 6:10-24, pg. 33.

 

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