The Mobile Pastor, the Young Men and the Double Portion.When I was working last night, I got to thinking about the Pastor/Teacher. I have written down a few thoughts on the role of the Apostle and the Prophet previously, and it hit me how vital it is that the 5-fold Ascension Gifts must co-exist. Any of them have the ability to halt or cause problems for the advance of the Kingdom of God. Just as similarly, I was struck by how vital it is that we see these ministries in the context of church planting. If we do not, it is guaranteed that controversy will creep in and we will begin arguing about their existance today.
What Ern Baxter and Terry Virgo Saw ...
This particular line of thought concerning the Pastor/Teacher was inspired to me by two prophecies. One was given to Ern and one to Terry. In the extremely key interviews that Ern Baxter gave just before he died entitled "Life on Wings" (the transcript is available online here), Ern was being asked about how he developed a keen concern in disciplining and shepherding. He said;
"I had had an experience up in the mountains of Australia with a group of about 40 pastors in rather an intimate discussion session. And it had impacted me greatly – it had reduced me to tears because it was almost like God had invaded my rational flow with a kind of transcendental invasion and I shared it with the men and women and we were all weeping because I was seeing something in the Spirit (at least that’s my way of presenting it) where I thought of a number of men who were apostolic and prophetic in their ministries who were sitting on top of church works (some of which were sizable) and were really keeping eldership from emerging.
And they needed to come off the top of those things and do their apostolic/prophetic/ evangelistic work – because those three are mobile people. And because they were sitting on top of these, in some cases, sizable churches they were actually keeping the government of God from evolving in eldership. And that was much of what I said at Montreal. It was well received and there was a considerable response from men to whom the message spoke. And about 300 men responded – that was a word to them. That they needed to reconsider who they were and what they were doing and what they should do".
In his book "No Well Worn Paths", Terry shared two accounts where it seemed that this issue was on the Lord's heart - and I see an intense parallel between these accounts and what Ern saw. When Terry was pastoring his church in Seaford, Alex Buchanan came to their meetings and began to prophesy; "Young men prepare yourselves for ministry, for my hand is increasingly upon my servant ... here he will grow less and less and you will grow more and more".
The second account came when Terry was considering going to the USA to minister in 1993. It was a prophecy given by Robyn Lowe and she said that she had seen a vision of Terry with a machete in hand, striding up a hill and cutting through undergrowth. Terry's temptation would be to look back to ensure that all was okay behind - but God urged him through the vision not to do that but to be fully assured that as he moved forward in obedience, so behind him and fanning out in ever increasing circles would be workers and rows of people. The prophetic word ended; "You will not be forsaking them by going forward, rather you will be helping, as it is important that you clear more ground so that in turn, all can move forward".
What Does That Mean?
I want to suggest that I think that pastors/teachers should be far quicker and more ready to relinquish their office in place of a younger man within their midsts if God so speaks. I realise that could come across as incredibly arrogant (who do I think I am?!) or stupid maybe. So I want to unpack the enormous benefit for the pastor/teacher taking that step and the greater church if they can do this. Consider this anonymous quote that I found in an old Restoration magazine;
"Everyone who has the capacity for responsibility will be given responsibility and as their capacity increases - so will their sphere of ministry".
So ...
A Mobile Pastor/Teacher will ...
1. Benefit Himself.
If a pastor/teacher can hold this mobile state of mind and be ready at a moments notice to pass on his office to a younger man, I believe it will keep him humble before God. The dangerous problem with the traditional ecclesiastical position of a "one senior pastor and congregation" mentality is that pastors can become extremely protective of both their ministry positions and their pulpits. While there is a valid place for the senior pastor acting protectively towards his church and not allowing error, the far more serious problem I think is this - that their identity becomes wrapped up in their position. If the pastor is prepared to go if God says so, I think an attitude of humility will be fostered, because he will realise that his identity is actually hid with Christ on high.
A mobile state of mind will keep him vastly dependent on God. Again in the classic "one senior pastor and congregation" picture, there can be a great deal of pressure to 'people please'. I have heard story after story from various friends of mine who are in the ministry, who have had unspeakable things said to them by angry pew members when they have tried to initiate change! There could be a very real temptation to not preach certain sermons or not initiate certain changes for fear that the congregation will rebel - or even worse, leave. To keep a mobile mindset will free this. He will realise that the ministry is not a democracy - elected in by the congregation, who then have the power to move him - but that he is there called by God.
And finally a mobile mindset will keep him fresh to God. If you as a pastor are constantly on the lookout for younger men who may carry a "double portion" of your anointing, then you will find it very difficult to rest and build here three tabernacles. You will know and trust that if God does move you in, it is NOT to retirement! But to more exciting challenges and changes. I was profoundly touched by a comment that Terry Virgo made at Stoneleigh Bible Week 2001 - his final address. He was mentioning church planting and he urged older couples among the thousands to seriously think about moving to a new church plant, and the enormous blessing that their presence and wisdom in a church plant will bring to the younger pastor. I don't think we are EVER meant to think of retirement - or indeed to become overly obsessed with heaven. Surely heaven and the thought of it, is meant to motivate us and release us to more daring living - not a morbid escapism.
2. Benefit Others (Jerusalem, Judea and the Nations!)
If a pastor can hold this incredible mobile mindset then he will free the way for Elisha. It is incredibly moving to read the final accounts of the time that Elijah and Elisha spent together before Elijah was taken to heaven. Elisha's final request was "a double portion". I wonder how easy we find it to accept the fact that our successors are meant to do a better job than we did? Hebrews 11:39 says of the giants of the faith; "And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised". Again and again through that wonderful passage, it makes reference to this mobile context. (v8) Of Abraham; "he went out not knowing where he was going". (v13) "These died in faith, not having received the things promised but having seen them and greeted them from afar". Can we achieve this? To be so thankful for the prophecies and promises that God has given, but to know that maybe it will be the Elisha's who follow who see this come to pass.
A mobile-obsessed pastor will keep the church fresh and dependent on God. I am sure that no one would deny that "change" is not a favourite subject in todays church! Yet if the pastor/teacher fathers them properly and prepares them for that inevitable time when God will indeed move him on, and bring in an Elisha-figure who will take them - the people of God - yet further, I believe that they will begin to trust this and accept this. In his now-out-of-print book, "What on Earth IS This Kingdom?" Gerald Coates writes; "Many settlers were once pioneers and others still have a spark of pioneering spirit left but their faith and corporate lives are so old they are creaking, and any spark of life they have is reserved for simply helping them to carry on".
Addressing the nation in 1899, Theodore Roosevelt said; "Far better it is, to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much or suffer much, because they live in the great twilight that knows neither victory or defeat".
And finally a pastor/teacher with a mobile mindset will advance the mission of taking the gospel to the nations, and hasten the Lord's return. How so? Because he will be then freed to take his experience to other churches, to younger pastors who can thrive on having him behind them. It is no good a pastor/teacher allowing a younger man to take his place, and then him taking a back seat in the church! The whole context of mobility that both Ern and Terry saw, was that the pastor/teacher is stepping aside to allow others to surge forward. But then there are new paths to clear, new challenges to meet and new missions to embark on.
I must highly recommend Mark Heath's post concerning John Piper and his views on church planting. Piper sees four key reasons as to why we MUST plant. The fourth is; "Breaking free from the risk-free comfort of long-standing patterns of church life is a good thing. It’s good for your faith to be tested. It is good to take risks". Piper of course does not just want any old church plant. He desires; "God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated, missions-mobilizing, justice-pursuing churches" and Mark adds; "Spirit-filled". Mark makes the vital point that we must not get threatened by church planting - there is a huge world out there to save!
Newfrontiers - the family of churches I am involved with - frequently refer to the prophecy that John Kpipi gave at Stoneleigh 1999 speaking of a thousand churches. I don't know if they will ever see these 1000 churches in the United Kingdom if their churches are marked by pastor/teachers who jealously guard their pulpits and rarely move anywhere. Yet if they can grasp this mobile context, (and I know they already are) 1000 churches suddenly becomes a small thing, especially if God will restore His house.
A few Caveats ...
I think that this mobile context and indeed obsession can only occur safely and securely in the context of loving fatherly apostolic ministry in the churches concerned. It is the apostolic fathers who are best equipped to spy out and see younger potential Elisha figures and it is the apostolic father figures who know best where the senior pastor who desires to move on can be best placed. I will never forget being at Brighton a few years ago and seeing a Newfrontiers pastor called John Wilthew being prayed for. Although I had seen him sit on a couple of Stoneleigh platforms, I didn't know a great deal about him. I discovered later that he has moved to loads of Newfrontiers churches and been involved in supporting the pastors there. I think he was at Church of Christ the King, Brighton - then at New Community Church, Sidcup - and now I haven't got a clue where he has gone! That thrills me - because it demonstrates what I am trying to argue.
It is not always God's will I am sure that every senior pastor should quickly move on as soon as possible! I do believe that it is key that some strategic churches should indeed have pastors with a long ministry. But Dave Holden reminded us at Brighton 2003 that EVEN IF they do stay - they should still have a mindset of "going"!
It would be remiss of me to end this without mentioning the obvious and celebrated case where a senior pastor has handed on his very successful ministry to a younger man. This is of course C J Mahaney handing over the leadership of Covenant Life Church. The whole weekend where this took place is available on DVD, and although I haven't seen it to recommend it, it could be a useful resource for anyone requiring further persuasion on these things. Just as similarly Peter Brookes handed over leadership of Church of Christ the King, Brighton and moved to a new apostolic work in Australia and a younger man will now be taking over there. So it can happen! And I believe the more it does, the further the advance of God's Kingdom.
9 comments:
Fascinating, and I couldn't agree more - the gifts described in Ephesians 4 must come together - if any are missing, the work will not know the full effectiveness God desires it to have.
I have been reminded of this again this weekend, chatting to a close friend and meeting some new ones, all of whom have had difficulties due to the absence of one or more of these ministries in the life of the church with which they have been involved. Churches are not only incomplete and incorrect if all are not present, but far more seriously real people get seriously hurt.
It is in circumstances like theirs which make us realise that those ministries are not just the ideal - their involvement in church life should be the norm. This is not just some abstract Theological concept, it is practical advice given by the God of heaven - why would we not listen to Him?
I reckon we don't listen to Him, because He is dangerous and He brings change and all sorts of scary things! Seriously though, it is incredible to me to consider how stubborn and loath to change we are as a people of God. And it is there throughout history - even back to the children of Israel! God said, "Go into the land - it is prepared for you, all you have to do is go in and take it". And the children of Israel decided in their "wisdom" to go and see if it was a good land. If!!? God said it WAS good! And then of course the spies, and they didn't go in.
Outrageous!!
Why oh why and when oh when are we going to get it into our heads that when God speaks - we must listen! Thanks for your comment!! You provoked a rant off me as usual!!
This is a vital prophetic insight into a situation that largely much of the UK church has failed to grasp I think. Yes we see it again and again - pastors jealously guarding their pulpits in the name of "orthodoxy" but are actually preventing young men from rising through their ranks and being used by God.
Obviously the immediate question to this piece of writing is - well what can we do about it? And I suppose really nothing. But I think just reading it stirs and raises faith to believe in the greater restored church. And that is the fantastic thing about what is developing here. That we are not just discussing the outward and finer points of restoration, but are getting intensely PRACTICAL. And that's vital! Vital to carry the vision of a restored church on from the Terry Virgo's and Keri Jones' of their generation on to today.
Thank you so much for this! Much food for thought.
Dr D A Johnson
As to the question what can we do about it, I think that if we believe this and hold it in our hearts then we are going to affect our churches in which we are in arent we? In a sense almost hold our pastors accountable to have a mobile mentality?
A risky strategy. You are an idealist to be sure, but I doubt if you would get any orthodox pastor to buy into this.
It depends what you call "orthodox" doesn't it. I'm sure that we all would see ourselves as orthodox in terms of being committed to the word of God and the truths of stuff like the reformation. But if you mean orthodox in terms of traditional, and ecclesiastical - then yep im sure that he would'nt buy it. Why is it risky!? It's only risky if the pastor is insecure about his position and clings onto it all the tighter to protect it. Adn im not sure if thats a good thing at all.
"Risky" ... "Doubt" ... "orthodox" ... I don't mean to offend but I absolutely hate these words! I had just had yet another argument with an elder at my home church about the Holy Spirit and he said that; "It's great that you're so passionate, but you will grow up in time". I swore then and there that if growing up meant losing the fight for what mattered, then I NEVER would!
R J Rushdoony said; "History has never been dominated by majorities, but only by dedicated minorities who stand unconditionally on their faith".
Well I stand unconditionally on my faith that is fired by the Word of God - that I believe that He will see the glory of His Son cover the earth! Didn't He promise in Numbers 14:21 that "as SURELY AS I LIVE ... ALL the earth will be filled"?!?? That's good enough for me!
Amen!!
I am suspicious that again there is a tension that we need to maintain here. I remember Ern Baxter once saying that he had a leadership team in his church in Vancouver made up of old AND young men. And if he had a leadership decision to be made in his church, he would throw it out and listen to the young men seeing their visions and the old men dreaming their dreams and somewhere in the middle - there was the answer!
To go to one extreme, brings this kind of patronising, annoying "despising of youth" that Dan has experienced in that account he mentioned. To go to the other extreme, brings a despising of the older generations and thus we have a youth church mentality. Let us not allow either!
Surely "if the future does have a church" then it should be made up of a glorious mixture of old and young, black and white, men and women (I think that comes from Isaiah somewhere doesnt it?!). That sounds like a glorious end time church to me!
Post a Comment