I’ve never been mistaken for Brad Pitt. Not once. Neither has anybody ever stopped me on the street only to look disappointed, apologize and say, “I’m sorry, I thought you were Johnny Depp.” It just never happens. There’s a reason for this. Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp are remarkably handsome guys (says I in a totally heterosexual way). While we all know that, at least to some extent, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, there is no doubt that, at least culturally, there is some standard of what makes a person beautiful or exceptionally handsome. Depp and Pitt fit the mold quite well. I, like most others, decidedly do not. Some concerned therapist may write me concerned that I do not have healthy body image or some other pyscho-mumbo-jumbo, but I’ll assure him that I’m doing just fine, thank you. I know who I am and I know what I’m not. And I’m no Brad Pitt.
What is remarkable to me is that Aileen, who (thankfully) seems to have no irrational and deep-rooted crushes on movie stars, can still be perfectly content with me, with my not-so-chiseled-chin and my I-know-they’re-under-there-somewhere-abs. This is, in my books, a good thing. Her love is blind in all the right ways and I’m the grateful beneficiary.
A couple of days ago I was driving around Los Angeles (in a hybrid car, mind you—how CA-cliché is that?) with a couple of friends (neither of whom look like Pitt or Depp) and we began to discuss celebrity culture within the church and the tough task of any but the absolute best preachers. I don’t think we can rationally deny that there is some serious celebrity culture in the church today, and even (or perhaps especially) within this New Calvinism. Whether this has always been the case, I do not know. But I consider it undeniable that, for good and/or for ill, it is a powerful force today. And those who face the tough task of forever “competing” with the brilliance of these celebrity preachers are the ordinary pastors who serve at churches just like yours.
Christians today have access (via the Internet, of course) to vast libraries of the best sermons by the best preachers—the Pitts and Depps of the preaching world. Of course in place of square chins and rippling abs are amazing abilities to communicate lucidly, to illustrate lavishly, to speak passionately, to exposit brilliantly. These are men who, by any objective measure, stand head and shoulders above the crowd just as Depp and Pitt do above me. They are men who are extraordinarily gifted by God and who have been faithful to use their gifts for his glory. I certainly do not wish to speak ill of these men who are such a gift to the church.
But where my wife remains content with her husband, I see so many Christians who struggle to be content with their pastors. And why is this? Because all week long, these people are drinking from another cistern, to borrow a phrase from Proverbs (5:15). They are doing the equivalent of a wife who spends her week plastering her home with posters of movie stars and staring at them greedily. How can her husband hope to compete with those ridiculously good-looking guys? And many Christians today listen to their pastor on Sunday and then listen to fourteen sermons by fourteen pastors before the next Sunday comes around. And, more often than not, their own pastors’ sermon pales in comparison. Little wonder that we see increased cases where small-time pastors find themselves simply copying the top dogs, plagiarizing the brilliance of other men. Haven’t we almost driven them to this?
The fact is, God has put us in churches with less-than-perfect and often less-than-brilliant pastors. The fact that there are extraordinary preachers tells us that there must be vast numbers of perfectly ordinary pastors. This means that most of us have been blessed by God with a very ordinary kind of pastor, just as most of our wives have been blessed by very ordinary-looking husbands. These men, these ordinary pastors, are the ones to whom we owe our loyalty. They are the ones to whom Paul refers when he tells the church at Thessalonica “to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.” These are the men God has given to serve you and to labor as pastors before you. It is through these men that God means to specially bless you in that unique body called the local church.
I do not mean to say that we ought not listen to podcasts or that we have to pretend that the extraordinary pastors do not exist. We can listen to their sermons and enjoy their great giftedness in teaching the Word of God and in calling us to live in light of it. But through it all we must guard our hearts. You would not want your child to be parented by another mother and father, paying lip service to you but giving his heart to others. You would not want to see that look in your wife’s eye, that disappointed, disgruntled look, after she has spent her day staring at posters of movie stars. And you need to guard your heart that you do not inadvertently turn it over to a pastor who is not your own, a pastor who in any measure you care to see, is superior to your own.
Comments (68) »
1. Robert Carpenter
September 14, 2009
10:13 AM
Thank-you for writing this article. I am guilty of this and explains my discontent in this area. One issue down an infinite amount to go.
2. Mark
September 14, 2009
10:19 AM
A wonderful encouragement (and perhaps a rebuke for some). Thank you.
3. Jim Gray
September 14, 2009
10:19 AM
I totally agree with this. I listen to a lot of sermons/conferences/etc. But there is no place like home. Our pastor could be bigger than what he is, but his focus is this body.
A good Monday morning reminder for us all.
4. Everyday Mommy
September 14, 2009
10:24 AM
I’m not ashamed to say that I love our pastor, and his family. I’d rather sit in our small, dated church sanctuary listening to Pastor Brian than any podcast any day of the week.
5. Jesse
September 14, 2009
10:26 AM
I drive around all week for work doing exactly what you have stated here. Discontentment has abounded from time to time.
Thanks for this article. This really does hit home with me and isn’t likely to just go away. Finding that balance between good education from available resources and being content with the body you are a part of and the leaders placed over you is difficult. I’d appreciate any recommendations on what you think is a good balance.
6. Jane
September 14, 2009
10:29 AM
Yes, I can see your point….but think this is a tough one. Because my husband had a job (driving) that allowed him to listen to various sermons throughout each day, God showed him through these messages that what our pastor was teaching did not line up with scripture. It was man-centered. And it was through the wonderful teachings of many reformed guys, and by God’s grace, that we were made to understand reformed theology. Thus we became unsettled in our church and were led to a wonderful Sovereign Grace church. And now, praise God, no matter how many sermons we listen to during the week we still really feel like our local pastor is the one we’d love to teach us the most. Even though we adore a great John Piper sermon, it’s our pastor that is No. 1 in our book!!!
7. Paul C
September 14, 2009
10:34 AM
An absolutely excellent post here. The natural inclination is that we would begin comparing our local pastor to the profound, web-based pastors with their terrific sound-bites, analogies, presentation, etc.
Dissatisfaction will set in and eat away. I like the balance of this article and will pay it heed.
8. Adrian
September 14, 2009
10:39 AM
Your local pastor can (and I hope does!) pastor you in the fullest sense of the word. A distant pastor with whom you interact purely on the basis of MP3 sermon recordings is “only” preaching. There is much more to being a pastor than preaching - at least, in my experience of reformed evangelical churches in the UK where the average congregation may be fewer than 50. A pastor cannot have the “luxury” of being only a preaching pastor, with other pastors doing other aspects of the work. It’s worth bearing this in mind as you give thanks to God for your faithful, local pastor and his pastoral work in all its aspects.
9. Steve Grace
September 14, 2009
10:45 AM
Tim,
As one of these very very ordinary pastors, thanks for the encouragement to me and to the body of Christ.
10. Christina
September 14, 2009
10:47 AM
Amen to this post! God bless you for writing this! I am in one accord with “Everyday Mommy”! God has blessed us (also with a Pastor Brian!) whose pure and simple devotion to God has been a gift from the Lord. October is “Pastor’s Appreciation” month and I pray that Pastors around the globe who don’t have “rock star” status are acknowledged lovingly by their people!
11. Randy Hurst
September 14, 2009
10:56 AM
Our pastor is an undiscovered jewel (on a national level) of a preacher. He preaches sermons that impact real living in a way I’ve never heard before. I’ve listened to the best in my travels across the US and the Internet…and it’s good to know we have a man who holds a candle to them all. But then a again, maybe the LORD just lets me hear him that way. If you are ever near the Smoky Mts in East TN, come by FBC Maryville and hear Dr. John Sharp.
12. Daniel J.
September 14, 2009
11:08 AM
Tim,
Great post. I’m hesitant to say “great timing”, even though it was for me after yesterday’s sermon. This is, undoubtedly, a reminder that could be made quarterly (or more!) on your site due to the understanding that God will continue to raise up faithful preachers that WE will appoint as the Pitt and Depp’s of the preaching and teaching world. However, I liken that issue to the frustration that some have with churches becoming destination churches rather than remaining strictly neighborhood/local bodies. Faithful expositors of God’s word will unavoidably deal with fame and a growing flock from surrounding areas or the globe!
13. Reg Schofield
September 14, 2009
11:20 AM
I don’t think it has ever been really different. I mean we have the writings of the key reformers but know little about 1000’s of faithful pastors that labored in the fields over the last 500 years.
The problem comes not from listening to a Sproul,Piper,Mac or even a Driscoll, but if you fail to realize they are extra gifted , if you will . But at the same time if the pastor you have is failing to preach a Christ centered message or is as dull as a drum , you have a problem.
If a pastor is not a good preacher(by that I mean really passionate) but is at least faithful to message of the gospel , I can live with that . But if the Cross is a throw in to a message of self improvement and moral-ism , that is a whole new ball game.
The danger for the “cult” of super preachers is he will need a solid group of elders and friends around him to keep him grounded. We must also keep in mind these are servants , just like our faithful local pastor working apart from the limelight.. laboring in the same field to proclaim the gospel .
14. E
September 14, 2009
11:27 AM
Yet another reason why I love the Catholic Church.
15. pentamom
September 14, 2009
11:27 AM
To extend the analogy, then, the desired balance seems to be the same as a healthy approach to the movies: you can watch and enjoy the movies, but don’t confuse the movie stars with your spouse. You can listen to the big-name preachers, but don’t forget the place of your pastor in your life. (Or for those who might object to the movies having any proper role in one’s life, you can read a book, but you’re able not to confuse the admirable characters with your real-life acquaintances, because you understand the limits of their value to you.)
16. Tim Challies
September 14, 2009
11:30 AM
To extend the analogy…
I deliberately stopped a bit short of where I might have gone with this, simply because I think it’s valuable for each of us to think things through and come to our own conclusions.
So yes, it’s great to go to the movies and enjoy a good show. It’s good to read a good book and enjoy the characters. The trouble comes when we compare the tiny snapshots of people we get in books or movies and allow these to make us discontent with the much fuller picture we get of people in “real life.”
17. wjcollier3
September 14, 2009
11:34 AM
thanks for this great word, tim. this idea has been on my mind for a little while now. i wrote about it from a little different angle just the other day at http://wjcollier3.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/whats-your-porn/
18. Jeri
September 14, 2009
11:39 AM
Excellent and well-put thoughts, Tim. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, and I’m sure you’ll get a sympathetic response from most of your other readers. God bless all “ordinary” husbands, wives, pastors and teachers who eternity will surely show not to have ever been ordinary at all!
19. Renee
September 14, 2009
11:52 AM
Tim!
This is excellent teaching! Spiritual maturity allows you to know this but if large number of Christians struggle with having a right perspective regarding their God-given pastor/teacher, couldn’t we say that it is their lack of spiritual maturity? Would it be unfair to say too, that the responsibility for a congregation’s spiritual growth and maturity lies heavily with their pastor?
Seriously wondering,
Renee
20. dan abbey
September 14, 2009
12:14 PM
great post. i agree wholeheartedly. i appreciate my pastor and admire the pastoral team at my church. sure, it’s ok to listen to 14 podcast sermons later on the week as long as we don’t forget that day in and day out, in our local churches, are pastors who need our love and support as much as the next. they may not be as erudite or knowledgeable as (insert name of rockstar pastor here) but they’ve been tasked by God to lead and shepherd us. many can accurately handle the Word of truth and serve selflessly in love, even though they don’t lead megachurches or have book deals. they deserve our esteem and love.
21. Arlen Stuart
September 14, 2009
12:32 PM
Thanks for sharing this, Tim.
22. Denise
September 14, 2009
12:42 PM
Aww man and I thought I had been reading Brad Pitt’s blog all along. I’m slightly disappointed now…
But yes, awesome reminder :)
23. Tim Challies
September 14, 2009
12:59 PM
Would it be unfair to say too, that the responsibility for a congregation’s spiritual growth and maturity lies heavily with their pastor?
Probably in some sense. It is the responsibility of the parents to make sure their children are polite and obedient; ultimately the children are to blame when they disobey, yet the parents are responsible to teach them to obey. I’d say there’s a parallel with pastors. Ultimately every Christian is responsible to grow up, yet the pastors are responsible to help people get there and perhaps even to teach Christians that God has this expectation of maturity.
24. Tim Worley
September 14, 2009
12:59 PM
Thanks, Tim. Great reminder. I had this realization not long ago. I found myself really in the mood to listen to “Celebrity Preacher X” and wasn’t able to at the time since I had other responsibilities. I actually started to get upset, asking God, “Why did you give me all these other responsibilities that take me away from listening to ‘Celebrity Preacher X’ preach the Word?” Then I stopped. I realized that for most of the history of the Church, believers have been grateful to have ONE person to faithfully preach the Word to them ONCE a week. Here I was upset because I couldn’t listen to an entire sermon series in one day. Something was not right with my attitude.
On the topic of “ordinary” pastors, I think an often-overlooked consequence of the availability of such “celebrity pastors” on the Internet and elsewhere is that it not only creates challenges for current pastors, but may in fact discourage qualified potential pastors and church leaders from ever stepping into that role in the first place. I wonder how many would-be “ordinary” pastors, who could have been used greatly by God in the life of an “average” congregation, have given up before even pursuing that calling because “I could never preach like Celebrity Preacher X.” (Incidentally, I think this is also a potential danger of multi-campus satellite churches that “beam in” a sermon from the same speaker to multiple locations - how many qualified potential leaders in each of those locations are never given an opportunity to step up to the plate and lead God’s people?).
25. Nathan
September 14, 2009
1:04 PM
What gets my goat is when some guy has to explicitly state that he is not gay because he recognizes something about the looks of another guy. Most guys go to the extreme and claim that they have no idea how to recognize a good looking guy, but then will turn around and be able to categorize every guy into various leagues of hotness.
26. Tim Irvin
September 14, 2009
1:10 PM
I don’t listen to many sermons by men other than my pastor. I do read quite a few though.
I love my pastor but he isn’t very studious and there have been very few sermons that I deemed profitable. He began yesterday mornings service by saying, “I don’t know what I’m going to preach this morning.” He was then very silent for a few minutes before announcing that he was going to preach the same sermon he preached Wednesday evening. I’ve always felt that a good sermon could be preached more than once but this one should have been left to wither in the casket.
Still, he is a good man and a good pastor. I see this as another good reason to follow the Biblical example of having a plurality of elders. No one man is gifted in all areas.
27. PK
September 14, 2009
1:22 PM
Timely Tim. (That’s a statement not a nickname however appropriate it may be).
As one of the ordinary pastors you mention, I found myself in tears at 3:30 this morning wondering if the sermon I had preached yesterday had honored God and provoked godly growth in the congregation. This was exacerbated by a comment from a parishioner who listens to many ‘rockstar preachers’ saying, “That was passable.” I am glad for the reminder you offer in your blog—particularly that it is not coming from me. The ordinary pastors can’t say this to their congregations. Thank you for saying it for us.
28. Daniel
September 14, 2009
1:42 PM
Preaching and pastoring are two different things. The one (preaching) does play a (public) role in the other (pastoring) but the two are cannot rightly compared as though they were interchangeable. It is wonderful when a good speaker makes a fine pastor, but a good speaker can be a miserable pastor as well - and vice versa.
Just saying.
29. Renee
September 14, 2009
1:48 PM
Nathan,
While working for an oil company in Calgary, I remember taking a girl-friend of mine to the company’s Christmas banquet. Being single, I reserved the right to invite a close friend rather than blind date with a friend of a friend of a friend’s guy friend. The following Monday in the office, someone asked me if I was gay.
Nowadays, heterosexuals “need” to disclaim that they are not gay. While the gay person may take pride in his or her sexuality, I don’t take pride in his or her sexuality and reserve the right to dileneate and make the disclaimer. We can’t guilt people for identifying themselves in this sexually-charged society - the gay community constantly is trying to teach us that.
30. Renee
September 14, 2009
1:52 PM
Thanks Tim. I agree.
31. Russell
September 14, 2009
2:09 PM
The line that hit me harest is the one asking if the church has driven pastors to plagiarize. The pastors I know desperately want to give their people the best preaching that they can and I am sure that many of these men are fishing through the ‘brad pitt sermon lists’ to do just that. Maybe you can follow up this discussion with one that defines when a minister is guilty of plagiarism and in need of repentance.
32. Daniel Stephens
September 14, 2009
2:09 PM
Good post. Perhaps a more subtle outworking of the celebrity culture’s invasion of the church is the church forgetting what it means to be a minister of God. We too often think that it means getting up in front of people once a week to give a speech and spending the rest of the week preparing for that speech. While that is certainly a part, it leaves out a crucial part of the job. Ministers shepherd their flock, and while that means preaching truth to them by sermons it also means meeting with them, caring for them, giving advice, administer the sacraments, etc.
it is perhaps the celebrity culture and the individualism that has us even framing the discussion as we have. Traditionally, the church (including the reformed tradition) has held that the minister is used by the Spirit and the word (with which the Spirit communicates with us ordinarily) is the real focal point of any ministry, along with the sacraments, not the abilities or lack thereof, of the individual God uses to shepherd his sheep.
33. David
September 14, 2009
2:15 PM
New Calvinism’s Super-preachers, Olsteen, and a Range Rover Supercharged Sport SUV
In my judgment there are two troubling matters connected to the super-preachers of New Calvinism: one, a lifestyle that does not match preaching; and two, public worship in which admiration expressed by believers isn’t restricted to Jesus.
LIFESTYLE.
A couple days ago I sat at a red light behind a guy in his new Range Rover. The supercharged $70k+ sport model. His license plate frame reads: “Love Christ. Live by faith. And God will give you big things!”
I think we can bank on a New Calvinism super-preacher, if he were sitting where I sat that day, intuitively murmuring something like, “Olsteen.” Yet, what troubles me is that what some super-preachers reject in speech, they loudly proclaim and endorse in lifestyle.
In other words, in America at least, along with super-preaching comes super-income: books, speaking stipends, radio, tape/CD/MP3 sells, and the grand-daddy of them all, the study Bible. Add to that, gifts tossed at the super-preachers from the ever-growing and well-nurtured sea of the admiring: golf clubs, cars, travel, Brooks Brothers custom clothes, free tuition at Christian high school and college, VIP seating at sporting events, Mont Blanc, country club memberships, fine art, third row tickets to Les Miserables, and the signature chronograph watch—Tag Heuer or perhaps Rolex. Then there is the resultant treasure-stacking: multiple houses (primary residence plus a beach house plus a mountain house plus a house at the country club), houses for the children, stocks, foundations in family name, and multiple luxury cars.
Though living in that rarefied world of fame, wealth, and power, the New Calvinism super-preacher saddles up to his pulpit/microphone/keyboard, opens his Bible to 1 Corinthians 1-4, and goes medieval on prosperity gospel preachers.
The New Calvinism super-preacher would never preach: “Love Christ. Live by faith. And God will give you big things!” But, look carefully at his life, or even casually look for that matter. You will detect that he seems to have no scruple about owning and driving a 2010 Range Rover Supercharged Sport… but of course, absolutely absent the “Olsteen-ish” license plate frame feature.
Who has more integrity? The prosperity preacher who reflects in lifestyle what he affirms from the pulpit? Or the New Calvinism super-preacher whose personal world of opulence is a far remove from the content of his gospel preaching? At least we can say that Joel Olsteen walks in step with what he preaches.
WORSHIP.
In worship the worthiness of Christ is proclaimed, acknowledged, celebrated, and transforms. Yet, in New Calvinism the super-preacher receives a steady stream of admiration.
Consider John Doe’s garden-variety sort of journey from his home to a pew or chair where, in person, he can hear the super-preacher preach.
1) John Doe was given a book written by the super-preacher, Dr. Blank. JD reads the dust jacket: “Dr. Blank is recognized world-wide as the contemporary church’s most gifted, most effective, most biblical, and most trusted preacher who pastors a church where thousands flock to hear he preach and buy his books, tapes, and CD’s. This book is prophetic. It is changing the face of Christendom and it will change your life.” What is more, JD sees that Dr. Blank’s book is endorsed by a veritable who’s who of Christian leaders.
2) JD finds Dr. Blank’s radio program. The preaching portion, which is only 18 minutes of the half-hour program, is bookended by 2 six-minute segments of high praise for Dr. Blank and purchasing opportunities of Dr. Blank’s many, varied, and essential-to-all-godliness resources. 1-800-DrBlank.
3) Next, JD makes a trip to a local Christian bookstore to purchase Dr. Blank’s new bestseller. There he sees Dr. Blank’s picture. The publisher’s merchandising stand includes a life-sized cardboard of Dr. Blank. It’s impressive. JD reads the endorsements plastered on Dr. Blank’s image. JD is impressed that so many are impressed.
4) JD Google’s Dr. Blank’s church. He decides to attend on the coming Sunday. It’s only 52 miles away. About 24 miles out of the city in a very exclusive suburban area. However, as nice as the homes are surrounding the church, as JD pulls into the parking lot, it is the church property that captures his attention; is amazingly stunning! Massive. Manicured landscaping. Buildings, new, sparkling, architectural delights. Eyes still darting from spectacular visage to spectacular visage, “WOW!” JD thinks to himself. The precise reaction sought and strategically plotted. JD reacts on cue, with admiration.
5) The service begins with a staff member giving announcements. JD is half-listening as he reads the several pieces of literature that he was handed as he walked from his car to the auditorium. “Read the story and see the pictures of Dr. Blank and his family as they vacationed this summer in China,” began one flier. Another, “Follow Dr. Blank as he speaks this fall throughout Eastern Europe.” Another, “Dr. Blank explains why America is on the brink of economic disaster.” Finally, “We invite you to visit one of our Sunday School classes (nursery to adult). In all classes the teachers guide us in applying Dr. Blank’s Sunday sermons.”
JD finishes his survey of titles just in time to hear, “Great news folks. Dr. Blank is back from China. He will be preaching this morning!” The audience of several thousand instantly and robustly applauds. “Dr. Blank loves you. He has missed you. And, he rejoices that he is back with his church family (more applause). Dr. Blank, we’re the ones who are blessed. We want you to know we love you. Would you please come to the platform. We have something we want to give you. Yes, bring Mrs. Blank (more applause).
“Dr. Blank, we want you to know that we’re thrilled that your radio program is now #1 in the nation (applause). And according to Amazon book ranks, three of your books are in this past week’s ‘top 10 bestseller list’ (applause). In honor of your tremendous God-given success, we took a collection last Sunday. Here are a set a keys to your brand new 2010 Range Rover Supercharged Sport SUV!” (applause, standing now).
Eventually, the Dr. Blank admiring activities came to an end. Christ-admiring hymns were sung. And Dr. Blank preached a Christ-admiring sermon.
SOLUTION?
I see the problem, or at least what appears to me to be indications there is a problem: New Calvinism churches have too much Corinth in them. And, New Calvinism super-preachers have too little Paul in them.
But I do not see the solution. I’m not for shutting down the printing presses, blog sites, and conferences. Although, I confess, I can’t remember the last Christian conference I attended. And I am very selective about what I read online. I stop reading blogs when I sense the host-author is a super-preacher groupie.
I do think we need to take Paul seriously. Specifically, I thinking of, “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men? 5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Cor. 3:3-7, NIV).
And, “no more boasting about men!” (v21).
And, “Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (4:6-7).
And, “We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. 14I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me” (4:10-17).
And, “…those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” (12:22-25).
34. Jeff
September 14, 2009
2:21 PM
Tim,
Your post is excellent in that points to a matter of the heart. If you have ever been a part of a church where the Pastor was “less then stellar” in the pulpit and you listen to all sorts of “famous” preachers during the week you can begin to compare. I think these are some apt words to motivate us to not judge a pastor on how well he presents, but listen to the Holy Spirit on what He might be teaching us.
But, if the pastor is preaching doctrinally in error we need to be wise and discern that. But most times we have a picture of the way he should preach and when they don’t fit we aren’t happy. We should be the first to encourage pastors to pursue excellence in preaching, by kind words and encouraging emails or letters. I have been on the side of hurtful comments by those that didn’t think I matched up to their picture of a good preacher. Most pastor’s pour themselves into their sermons each week and are sometimes emotionally tied up in them. Some are not.
I’m not saying go give your pastor a hug on Sunday, but realize that God is sovereign and can work in his life, just like He has worked in yours.
To God be the Glory!
35. Renee
September 14, 2009
2:48 PM
David,
While the super preacher may be sporting a super-charged SUV, how can we know what he does with his book sale proceeds? He may tithe 50% or more of what he makes. We can never know from where we are standing.
But I do agree with you, a preacher living lavishly does perturb the human mind.
36. adam
September 14, 2009
2:54 PM
Maybe, I’m missing the analogy, but I have a hard time with the idea that listening to or reading other preacher’s sermons, whether it’s one a week or 50, is in any way akin to filling my mind with images of women other than my wife, and would somehow be “cheating” on my pastor…
Could the same be said for listening to other musicians beside your worship pastor?
There is something to be said about idolizing preachers, or anybody for that matter, but I can’t see how this analogy works at all…
37. David
September 14, 2009
3:06 PM
Renee,
“As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3”I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on” (Luke 21:1-4, NIV).
The significance of giving rests in the sacrifice made, not the amount or percentage. It strains credulity to believe that the guy driving the Range Rover Supercharged Sport SUV is living sacrificially. Christ did, Paul did, all Christians are called to… live sacrificially that is. But are the super-preachers of New Calvinism living sacrificially? Am I?
38. Renee
September 14, 2009
3:19 PM
Good point, David.
It’s just that if I happen to one day be in the ministry, ministering to masses of women - and if one or many perchance were to say that based on my expensive clothes, I must not truly be a Godly woman, I would find that extremely annoying to say the least. Would I need to shop at Wal-Mart in the discount section in order to be acceptable to the women in the church?
My point (although I agree with yours) is that it is hard to determine a Godly person by the objects they own. Poverty does not make holiness.
39. Christine
September 14, 2009
3:48 PM
Excellent post Tim. Here’s another element of that same point…
What happens to those ordinary pastors when the Brad Pitts or Johnny Depps of the preaching world are giving their sermons just down the road? My parents’ home is less than 2 miles from Saddleback Church. The ministries at that church affect the ministries of churches in a relatively wide radius, including the church where I grew up. Those average pastors who happen to serve in the neighborhood of a mega church aren’t just competing with the internet ministries of the mega churches around them, but they are losing their people, quite literally, to their Bible study ministries, support group ministries and children/youth programs because there is no way the average churches can compete with the extra-curricular programming offered by the mega churches. I know dozens of people who attend Sunday services at a smaller, denominationally affiliated church but who go to Saddleback for a women’s study, a grief group or a moms and tots group. All of which are offered at their own home church, but in a very different setting with a very different presentation. In much the same way their parishioners are attracted to the Brad Pitt preachers, I’ve seen pastors try to become the Brad Pitt preacher in an effort to compete for people, not just their minds and hearts, but in the very literal sense of getting their butts in the seats. It’s not any prettier from other side of the argument.
It’s easy to say that that’s a fight that can’t be won, competing with a Saddleback (or a Willow Creek or a North Point or wherever) so why even bother. Focus on the people you do have and quit worrying about the numbers attending any given program. The Lord will serve those who do attend and you just can’t worry about the thousands of people right up the road. And I don’t dispute that at all. But the argument still rings a bit hollow when the ministries at your church suffer a real and significant hit despite all your best efforts.
40. Tim Challies
September 14, 2009
4:26 PM
Maybe, I’m missing the analogy, but I have a hard time with the idea that listening to or reading other preacher’s sermons, whether it’s one a week or 50, is in any way akin to filling my mind with images of women other than my wife, and would somehow be “cheating” on my pastor…
It can be done. I am merely asking people who do this to guard their hearts. It is remarkably easy to turn a love of great preaching into discontent toward average preaching.
41. Peter
September 14, 2009
4:33 PM
As a preacher myself I needed the reminder but for a slightly different reason. I spend many hours listening to great preachers. I do so to learn from gifted men. I learn from their passion, their study and their perceptions. I strive to preach and teach in a way that engages the audience not just in listening but in thinking about what God is saying. I have been blessed by being able to learn from men I would never be able to hang out with and be mentored by personally.
For me this post reminded me that I must never walk off the platform thinking, “I hope that matched up to (insert name here) standards). I need to walk off the stage grateful that I got to share God’s Word with His people, and praying that God would use it to shape the church into HIS image.
Thank you, Tim.
42. matt
September 14, 2009
5:05 PM
David-
I know for a fact that Piper actually doesn’t receive a penny from his royalties.
And I’m guessing most of those guys don’t want their face all over their books and what not, but the publishers do.
And there’s a big difference between wanting people to buy your book because YOU wrote it and wanting people to buy your book because you believe the message is biblical.
43. Rafael Alcantara
September 14, 2009
5:21 PM
Excellent Post!!!
But I do not understand the comments of David, number 33.
This article is for self-examination, not for judge the New Calvinism. This is a problem not necessary exclusive of New Calvinism. This is a problem for every Christian in every generation. The same happens with people that loved Whitefield, Spurgeon, etc.
Many persons that read this blog are part of New Calvinism, and others not. Thanks God for Old Calvinism and for the New Calvinism. Thanks God for men like Lloyd-Jones, Ferguson, Piper, Mohler and Mahaney.
But thanks God for our pastors that preach the word every week, and do the Work of God.
Rafael Alcantara
44. Paul
September 14, 2009
5:45 PM
You make a great point Tim.
But is there not also the opposite danger of tolerating mediocrity either in a pastor or in a lay preacher? Or perhaps not necessarily mediocrity but preachers who try and emulate their heroes and preach beyond their gift?
I wish within the reformed movement some would realize that they do not have to preach for 1 hour if they do not have the gift or the material.
45. Stan
September 14, 2009
5:58 PM
Matt, Rafael,
I agree with the central point of David’s email. There is a problem in the church when the ministers most known, read, and heard are, many of them, growing insanely wealthy. Whatever money one makes in whatever one does… it is not 10% or even 50% God’s money. It is 100% God’s money. So if Dr. Blank by writing, conferences, and CD’s, or Mary church member by selling Amway, make $600k, all of it is God’s. We are not owners. We are stewards. The question isn’t “why are Dr. Blank and Mary making the money?” Rather, it is “why are Dr. Blank and Mark keeping and using $70k+ of God’s money to buy a Ranger Rover Supercharged Sport SUV?”
As we’ve all be taught many times, Jesus spoke a lot about money, as did Paul. Treasures control the heart; treasures reveal the heart. This is more than a legitimate issue, it is one that ought to concern the church when our best and most familiar models of Christian leadership use God’s money made from ministry to live “high on the hog” as grandpa said.
And, I thought judging meant something like the act of one who presumes to have the ability of God; namely, the ability to possess full and perfect knowledge of the interior person. We’ve got to be careful to toss out the term “judging” simply because we don’t like what is being said. Disagree amicably, but don’t judge someone by accusing them of judging. Ooops, see how easy it is to use “judging” in order to win and to silence?
I’ve heard that about Piper. And yes, I’m guessing David would agree, this is not a problem that is limited to New Calvinism.
Stan
46. Tim Challies
September 14, 2009
6:43 PM
I wish within the reformed movement some would realize that they do not have to preach for 1 hour if they do not have the gift or the material.
I like what James MacDonald says about that. He says that you have to earn your hour. That a young pastor should preach for a half hour tops and only when he has gotten better at the craft of sermon-writing and delivery should he begin to lengthen them out. That strikes me as a pretty good idea.
47. donsands
September 14, 2009
7:44 PM
“I see so many Christians who struggle to be content with their pastors.”
That’s a shame. Local pastors are the best. I like to talk with my pastors about the prominent pastors in the world, and we have some great discussions.
But on Sunday, when I go to my local church, and I am attentive and listen to the Word of God expounded, I am always blessed.
In fact one of my pastors went to the Together for the Gospel, and heard all the gifted pastors preach and teach, and it fired him up to preach with more fire and authority.
I would imagine a genuine pastor/preacher of the Word, who the Great Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ, has called to feed His sheep, will feed no less a good spiritual meal as any other pastor. I think it’s a different thing then Brad Pitt vs. average Joe, Don, or Tim.
The Holy Spirit surely uses personalities, but the gift to preach the truth in love with passion and compassion will be the same, whether it’s RC Sproul, who is the top theologian in our day, or a pastor in a local church, for it will be the Holy Spirit filling the preacher and proclaiming the Word through the pastor.
And then there’s the whole package of a local pastor. He is available, and a friend in Christ as well, as a preacher.
48. Drew
September 14, 2009
8:29 PM
This post appears to me to be Carl Trueman redux. http://www.reformation21.org/articles/the-nameless-one.php
Except he was much more strident and less balanced in making his point than Tim. The New Calvinism? There is nothing new about what a lot of these “super-preachers” are preaching. And I say Amen. I like what Spurgeon(super Reformed preacher of the 19th Century. Ooops. Forgive me for not quoting my local pastor.)said “It is a nickname….Calvinism is the Gospel and nothing else”. And if the Gospel is being disseminated far and wide how can we criticize? This is a NON-issue in my opinion. To quote my local reformed pastor “it’s jacked-up.”
49. Renee
September 14, 2009
8:53 PM
Speaking of super-preachers, J.I. Packer said of John Owen and John Calvin that they “knew more theology than John Bunyan or Billy Bray, but who would deny that the latter pair knew their God every bit as well as the former?” God calls “everyone” to a different mission field.
50. Mike
September 14, 2009
9:14 PM
Interesting post Tim, comes at the appropriate time for me as well (isn’t that usually the case??).
I have lately been struggling with discontent towards the sermons coming from my local church. You have given me food for thought, thank you.
51. bchallies
September 14, 2009
9:29 PM
Great post!
52. M
September 15, 2009
12:16 AM
This post did strike a chord with me, and it comes at a time when I have decided to leave the church we have attended and worked in for more than eight years. It has been my listening to Abendroth and others that has pulled me into the “Reformed” camp, and the topical, simplistic messages from a 4-point arminian aren’t feeding us, regardless of the sincerity. I know the pastor is over-worked. And I know he has a true desire to serve Christ. But I also know he was trained in an IFBx school that has never emphasize verse-by-verse exposition. I just do not see any of the staff changing after the 25 years of “this is how we’ve always done it.” I hate the thought of the discouragement that the departure of a faithful family will bring, but I also understand the appearance of “sowing discord” in this type of church by any suggestion that there’s a disagreement with the staff.
In retrospect, I could probably conclude that listening to and reading Piper, Mac, Sproul, Abendroth, and others has level-set (in my current view) my understanding of what honest preaching sounds like. I know we do not want a super-pastor. Driscoll’s church was a blessing when we visited, and I would visit again if in the area, but we would much rather work in a smaller assembly with a non-celebrity pastor.
I guess my point is merely an attempt to justify to myself that while I do not want or expect a celebrity pastor, perhaps there are cases in which a decision to continue sitting under mediocre preaching (even if seeing that it is mediocre is a result of teaching from outside the local assembly) really is not the best option.
It is a great point that listening to these super-preachers has the serious potential to plant seeds of discontent. And that discontent, if nurtured, will undoubtedly grow into distrust and dislike. It is critically important to watch your heart and pray for your pastor.
53. Jeff H
September 15, 2009
12:32 AM
This is going to be a light-hearted comment. You do look (at least from your online pictures) a bit like one local celebrity (whom you have blogged about before): Roy Halladay. Has anyone ever made that observation before?
54. Joe Johnston Sr.
September 15, 2009
12:57 AM
Tim’s post was a good one. Some of the comments, however, caused me some concern:
“New Calvinism” seems to be taking the rap for all kinds of things that are not really part of the New Calvinists. Some seem to imply that Joel Osteen is part of the new Calvinism….I doubt it.
I don’t even think we can connect Rick Warren to the portrait of new Calvinism. He made a boatload of money on books, stopped taking a salary, paid back his church all of the money he ever was paid, and used a lot fo the money to start a foundation. Since God is sovereign, He probably has even this prosperity under control for those faithfully preaching the gospel. Do I agree with his approach? I will reserve comment.
Anyone who has listened to John Piper couldn’t possibly connect him with rabid materialism and seeking celebrity status. The same can be said for a lot of the others. If a pastor reaches celebrity status, it might be for the right reason.
Painting with such broad strokes is pretty dangerous. There are local preachers who diligantly study God’s word to create a meaningful teaching — a teaching glorifying God.
There are others who are not doing what it takes and this produces mediocre, luke warm results. If you look at preaching resources on the internet and elsewhere, you can find all kinds of shortcuts: sermon outlines, pre-package presentations, etc. The pastor who doesn’t do what it takes in his own life is likely not to produce a sermon that has what it takes. It’s simple. Good preaching is not ever going to be the frut of Cliff Note preparation.
While Tim makes a lot of good points — particularly for pastor readers, I doubt he is excusing a type of preaching which has limited fruit for good reason (or should I say bad reason).
If a pastor diligently prepares, studies for himself, practices regular time with God, and is committed to allowing the Holy Spirit to work within him, there’s a good chance even mediocre would be more than good enough.
BTW, a preacher who does the above IS a celebrity!
I actually went to a church recently where the pastor conducted the service in his bare feet — and yes, the service was more about him than God. Celecbrity preachers and Christian fandom was clearly not his problem.
Thank for reading,
Joe Johnston Sr.
http://www.joejohnston.us
55. anthony locke
September 15, 2009
1:43 AM
this reminds me of the pastor pornography article written by pyromaniacs found here…
http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2009/04/porn-and-paper-pastors.html
56. Ronnie
September 15, 2009
2:59 AM
As an ordinary preacher, I sometimes enticed by can-sermons. As I went on, I found there are more than enough to go around for every preacher in the face of this earth who seriously ask wisdom from God. And I believe any congregation would love to hear a genuine local preacher whom they knew and loved.
57. Ricky Williams
September 15, 2009
12:11 PM
I enjoyed tremendously your comment for this day. I´m a new reader of yours. Whether for good or not, preaching has been put on the buffet, and most people go through the line and pick what they like, not necessarily what they need. Also, there is always a certain false sense of greatness involved when we hear preachers like this. It´s like the evangelist that comes and preaches for one week and leaves. You never see the errors in his life or the bad sermon days. Give me an imperfect preacher any day that plods along in sermon prep among the many other pastoral duties that befall him.
58. adam
September 15, 2009
2:51 PM
Tim, thanks for the response.
One thing I really struggle with is knowing where the line is between preference and valid theological concern. I have found this difficult both with teaching pastors and worship pastors.
I listen to a lot of great preachers and a lot of great songwriters, so I wonder sometimes if my discontent with other preachers/worship pastors is truly a valid concern with how God is being proclaimed or merely preference (i.e. that is not how I would proclaim Him if I was up there on stage…)
59. Mike
September 15, 2009
3:14 PM
The problem is they, these celeb preachers, just say things sometimes so much better. If I wanted to share the Gospel I would rather let the person hear a message on it by C.J. Mahaney, which I have often done, then myself because I just cant do it like him. I hear our pastors constantly quoting the same guys every week and I understand why because I do the same thing somehow you feel you bring more credibility to your point when some well recognised preacher says it. But I sense their own insecurity especially after they come back from a conference
Im not a preacher or pastor but I understand why our pastors may feel a little insecure its tough being compared to some of these guys. I don’t do it but these pastors do it to themselves quite often.
Mike
60. Julius mickel
September 15, 2009
4:29 PM
J.I Packer was asked who he thought was the greatest preacher ever? he replied ‘you don’t know him’ —-Meaning that some of the best sermons and best preachers ARE NOT known.
There are seasoned pastors who can shed light for younger pastors, but it must be recognized that our Western mind equates popularity and numerical growth as success, is that a biblical response??? Then Moses was a failure, consider the ‘BIG’ churches in the letter to the churches in Revelation, only 2 receive no rebuke which should teach us how God evaluates things.
Pastors I BEG you not to compare yourself to American rockstar preachers, Are you faithfully praying over the flock, over your messages, are you diligently studying the scriptures, and applying these truths to the lives of your members? Then praise God, continue to be faithful.
It’s almost as if we think we’ll see Piper, Sproul and the rest enter heaven with trumpets blasting, while the ‘little’ guys with heads bowed are quickly rushed through the gates.
GIve me a man who’s touchable and their congregations are known by name and are able to lead by example because their people see them!
I would never excuse lazy, stoic preaching, but most people are just nit-picky because they don’t want to submit to the authority God has placed over them. Sure it’s easy if your pastor is comprimised to blame him for your own sins ‘well if i had a preacher like Piper, then…’
Albert Martin pointed out at a conference that such conferences can be misleading to pastors because everyone is so attentive there, while at your home church you have the rebellious, the bored and the like. I simply don’t believe in extraordinary preachers, popular perhaps but nor extraordinary (for instance Johnathan Edwards didn’t receive the same effect when he preach ‘sinners in the hands of an angry God’ the first time and let’s not forget his church eventually kicked him out…). A prophet is not honored in his own country….(the ‘ordinary’ pastor is just TOO in your face)!
61. Ken Kendall
September 15, 2009
9:53 PM
What a fantastic post. We are so into being entertained that we forget that we are in church to worship our Lord, draw close to our Father, and fellowship with our brothers.
I especially like the comparison to our wives accepting us just as we are. I write a blog about how men can better love their wives and build strong marriages. I would love for you to take a look and give me your feedback and comments if you have a minute.
http://whatsheneedsfromyou.wordpress.com
Thanks
62. Phildog
September 16, 2009
8:46 AM
Tim
Great article. When we listen to a list of sermons by famous preachers, are we not coveting a pastor? There are times when we can listen to the “pastor-celebs”, eg on holiday we should take the opportunity to listen to conference sermons, or topical sermons. However, our duty is to our own pastor.
He knows the congregation, he knows the faults of the church, he knows where it has to be encouraged, disciplined, rebuked, etc. Perhaps if we spent more time praying for him, rather than imbibing another sermon, our local churches would be much better off.
If our pastor does not preach truth, then go somewhere else, where truth is proclaimed. Don’t go to the internet.
63. Scott
September 16, 2009
10:58 AM
I go to a church with a celebrity pastor. The teaching is wonderful, the sermons impactful and it is clear that all of it flows from a genuine heart.
There is a difference between a preacher and a pastor. It is impossible for my “pastor” to actually pastor the people in the congregation. He does in some sense through the pulpit, but it is no where near the level of intimacy that comes from a small church, where the pastor knows you, your family, your story, etc. It takes much more intentionality (on the member and pastors) to meaningfully connect in a large church.
64. Dave
September 16, 2009
11:10 AM
I could not resist making a comment on your article. It’s hard to compete with a polished master of speaking, who has 25 or more hours to prepare, in quiet, uninterupted, with an assistant or two to help look up info, and then have an editor to take out comments that are rabbit trails. But for the average pastor who has Mrs. Merkle on her death bed and John and Sally struggle with their kids. After all the meetings, and your own struggles, put together a sermon; then you have someone pull you aside after a message and critique you and say you should listen to _________ and learn from them. How do you feel?
Wish people were more sensitive and were more oriented towards their local church. This age is very much like the Corinthian church: “Im of Apollos or I’m of ______________ (fill in the blank of your favorite preacher)
65. Renee
September 16, 2009
11:37 AM
I agree Dave, that our churches are not unlike the one in Corinth. We have affinities for pastors, preachers, etc. and forget that God has made them all…and that the best preacher/pastor is the one who breeds a deep sense of rightful reverence for God in the hearts of his congregation.
I’ll have to disagree though, on your point that “polished” preachers have 25 or more hours to prepare their sermons and have tons of people to assist them. It may be true that they have a lot of assistant, but with their public platform comes unbelievable accountability..and I think they have even less time than the “average” pastor. I hate to even use that word. No one who genuinely serves God is “average”.
66. Chuck
September 16, 2009
12:06 PM
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Philippians 1:18
67. Eric M Schumacher
September 19, 2009
4:28 PM
Encouraging, especially for my blog, which has never been mistaken for Challies.com.
68. Kathy
September 20, 2009
9:57 PM
Well, wait a minute. Pastors read books written by other pastors or Christian leaders/writers. Pastors listen to sermons by other preachers they look up to. Pastors even recommend Christian books to their parishioners. Why should we not follow their example?
Also when you are at a church long enough you certainly see many pastors come and go and have many pastorless Sundays in between with various fill in speakers.