I was talking with a friend of mine about how little people in the church know and love the gospel of God’s grace in Christ. He mentioned the greatest confusion and worry came in understanding the relationship between law and gospel; and preachers added to the confusion.
This reminded me of a minister’s great responsibility to preach Jesus Christ in order to help God’s people know and love the gospel. I then read this excerpt from George H. Tavard’s work, The Starting Point of Calvin’s Theology. In this quote Tavard summarizes Calvin’s view of the ministry. It’s a great encouragement to press on to help God’s church mature in the knowledge of God, even the relationship between law and gospel. Now I think we should be aware Calvin does not promote the CEO, the facilitator, or the ‘be a winning leader’ model. He says be a shepherd, a father, a leader, a guardian and back it all up with a life filled with the love of the gospel. Here is the quote.
"Rather, a true bishop is a guardian of the people of God, entrusted with its care, watching over its salvation. His administration is geared to the dispensation of the divine mysteries and the building of the house of God. Since preaching is itself call 'power of God for salvation to every believer' (Rom 1:16), and 'kingdom of God' (Mt 4:17), the chief duty of bishops is to proclaim the Word of God. They must give the people 'the taste of the word of God,' not any kind of taste, but the one that the Lord wants. They have also to become the providence of the people, their voice, and 'the eyes of the church.' As 'shepherds' they must be more than 'father, president, leader, or guardian.' Or rather, 'the shepherd not only has the task of leading, ruling, and serving, but somehow also being father.' This may be summed up in three functions: 'to feed the church with the food of the word, to protect it from Satan's incursions with the resources of the word, and then through holiness of life to show the way that should be followed by those who aspire and strive after the Kingdom of God.'" G.H. Tavard, The Starting Point of Calvin's Theology. Pg, 147.
2 comments:
It was certainly interesting for me to read that article. Thanks the author for it. I like such topics and anything connected to them. I definitely want to read a bit more on that blog soon.
Sincerely yours
I think there are alot of churchs that have lost the shepherd view of the gospel and have taken on the CEO view. Thank you for posting this...it makes me look at my ministers and their way of leading us.
Your sister Mary
PS - Hi Henry, how is the family? :)
Post a Comment