I intended to post about Friedman's "flat world" theory so that I could discuss some of the implications for missions and evangelism with some of my pastor friends. I think I will eventually do this but I ran across a quote from E.M. Bounds that demanded attention. Bounds wrote:
"Too often Christian leaders shut themselves in their studies and become students - bookworms, Bible experts, and sermon makers. They are noted for literature, thought, and sermons; but the people and God, where are they? Out of heart, out of mind. Preachers who are great thinkers, great students, must be the greatest of pray-ers. If they are not, they will be the greatest of backsliders, heartless professionals, rationalistic, less than the least of preachers in God's estimate."
Pastor friends - What do you think?
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About Me
- Matt Snowden
- My wife's name is Meredith and together we have a beautiful daughter named Molly Katherine and a tough little guy named Wes. I am the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Waco, TX. I received a B.A. from William Carey College an M.Div from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.Min from George W.Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University.
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15 comments:
Dr. Shaddix required us to read Bounds. I am so thankful that he did. Bound’s writings are convicting, challenging, and inspiring. The threat of contemporary pastors becoming mere professionals and visionary leaders is real. I think the issue of being praying pastors is urgent for our time. We have been writing and discussing about the issues surrounding the reclaiming of the shepherd model of pastoral ministry on the KFB. I think that becoming a praying pastor requires us to be a shepherding pastor. Why? I think that the passion required for the level of praying Bound’s is proposing demands an innate and intimate love for the people. This level of love comes from the personal involvement of a pastor investing his life into their lives. Also, passionate prayer increases the love we have for the people we are praying for. Lastly, our effectiveness for kingdom work will always directly correspond with our spiritual condition.
Perry,
I appreciate your insights. I agree with you totally.
Jan,
Thanks for the kind comments. I would also like to welcome you to the blogging conversation. I think you know Perry - maybe some others will join us on this one.
As E. M. Bounds has put it, ‘The man, the whole man, lies behind the sermon. Preaching is not the performance of an hour. It is the outflow of a life. It takes twenty years to make a sermon, because it takes twenty years to make a man.’
E. M. Bounds, Power through Prayer (London: Marshall Brothers), p. 11.
BTW Matt, I posted a comment on the August blog about the role of the evangelist.
I also like -
"The voice in silence dies; the text is forgotten; the sermon fades from memory, but the preacher lives." E.M. Bounds
I get a lot of studying done @ Starbucks. Maybe it is because I'm ADHD but I find it keeps me around un-churched people. I am also entergized when I'm around people!
Kevin,
What about Waffle House?
I do not mean to sound like a degenerate, but truth be told, some of my best sermon outlines were put together while sitting on the throne... no kidding.
If you are sitting on an American Standard you must use a NASB. They gave us one at NOBTS.
Bill,
And you were concerned with us discussing having a post-nasal drip??
Matt,
Forgive the diversion that I may have created, but if I may get back on the topic of praying pastors, I would like ask for your interpretation of 1 Thes. 5:17 as it relates to this discussion.
I had a professor while studying at SEBTS who would wake up at 3am to pray for 2 hours before starting his day at 5am with a regiment of indepth Bible study. That is no joke. Now that is how some people view prayer.
I on the other hand would probably be spewed from EM Bounds mouth for my lack of discipline in the area of prayer.
Yet, I do not consider myself to have a deficiency in my prayer life. The reason I feel okay about my prayer life despite not praying for more than ten minutes tops per day of traditional prayer is because of 1 Thes. 5:17. I walk in a constant state of prayer. I am always talking to God throughout the day. Anytime I talk with someone else I am aware that God is watching me and I am mindful of how what I do is viewed by God. I call this a Godwardness. I have substituted a Godwardness for a traditional notion of prayer. Do not get me wrong, I have Bible study, and I often sit in silence in collective thought, but I have moved away from a time of personal ramblings with God for the most part.
It may sound like I am arguing against prayer but I am not. I feel that before I would pray for a time and then be off to the races for the day. I would report back in at the end of the day and that was the extent of my praying. I had a bookend approach.
Now I feel that the majority of my day is spent in communion with God and it has transformed my spiritual life.
Bill,
I understand your "Godwardness" approach. I do think Paul had something like that in mind in the verse you mention. I also think we need some extended times of more focused prayer. We need a "Godward" heart in the bustle of the city and long wilderness visits from time to time. Thanks for your insights.
I guess what I am talking about is more focused prayer. I spend about 10 minutes in focused prayer and I spend the rest of the day in responsive prayer. The time of prayer you are referring to I would suggest occurs in a season of prayer. I have entered into seasons of prayer at particular points in time. My other point is that prayer is a 24/7 kind of thing and not a morning and evening kind of thing.
Bill,
I'm with you. Dallas Willard talks about having a, "conversational relationship with God." I think that describes your point.
Spot on Bill! I wish I did spend more time in focused prayer. However, I do not think that the length of prayer time is the issue. I just wish I did more focused praying. I have come a long way with the constant praying. I try to lift an immediate prayer everytime I have a convicton or burden on my heart.
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