Insight for Leaders

Pastoral Ministry: A New Type of Preacher

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. --Acts 20:24

If Christianity is to receive a rejuvenation, it must be by other means than any now being used. If the Church in the second half of this century is to recover from the injuries she suffered in the first half, there must appear a new type of preacher. The proper, ruler-of-the-synagogue type will never do. Neither will the priestly type of man who carries out his duties, takes his pay and asks no questions, nor the smooth-talking pastoral type who knows how to make the Christian religion acceptable to everyone. All these have been tried and found wanting.

Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne. When he comes (and I pray God there will be not one but many), he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear. He will contradict, denounce and protest in the name of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment of Christendom. Such a man is likely to be lean, rugged, blunt- spoken and a little bit angry with the world. He will love Christ and the souls of men to the point of willingness to die for the glory of the One and the salvation of the other. But he will fear nothing that breathes with mortal breath. The Size of the Soul, 128-129.

"Lord, in the first half of this current century this need is even greater. Send to Your church today many who have 'seen visions of God and...heard a voice from the Throne.' Amen."

This Insight for Leaders devotional is also available in a print-friendly format here on the LMI web site.

My, how far we've come since the middle of the last century.

Or maybe, I should say "how far we've gone".

To: Ciexyz; whipitgood; .30Carbine; mitch5501; Harrius Magnus; 185JHP; holly go-rightly; ...

TOZER PING

"Insight for Leaders"
From the writings of A. W. Tozer

To be added to the "Tozer Ping List", just freepmail Sopater...

God bless you.

2 posted on 03/21/2008 8:37:16 AM PDT by Sopater (A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. ~ Ecclesiastes 10:2)

Here’s a novel idea: How about a preacher who will do as Jesus instructed: preach the good news of the kingdom, preach “your word is truth”? Make disciples not of himself but of Christ? In short do what every person calling himself a Christian should do and who cares what they look like.

3 posted on 03/21/2008 8:55:45 AM PDT by count-your-change (you don't have to be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)

Wow, what an appropriate article for this Resurrection Week.

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