Summary
There are many different tasks assigned to pastors today besides proclaiming God’s Word. A modern Protestant minister must be “a preacher, counselor, administrator, PR guru, fund-raiser, and hand-holder” all in one person (Barrett). According to Barrett, equally rare are cases where preaching the Scriptures is relegated to the back burner and Paul’s pastoral to “preach the Word” is ignored altogether. It is not challenging to see that such circumstances contradict at least the knowledge of several parts of the Bible.
John Owen, a Puritan pastor-theologian, emphasizes this trend and disagrees with the new prescriptions for a pastor’s responsibilities. Owen believes that preaching God’s Word to God’s people is a minister’s calling and essential duty (Barrett). People should note this great man’s words and analyze his pastoral pilgrimage and works. Indeed, he left an indelible mark on the history of theology. Despite many difficulties and obstacles, such as misunderstandings among some people and the unstable political situation after Cromwell’s death, Owen did not give up on his great goals and continued to preach God’s Word.
Through the Word, God brought about the Reformation and allowed individuals to live lives that glorified Him, and that’s the key theme of Owen’s thought. Owen’s essential ideas and reflections are reflected in the sermon text “Jeremiah 3:15,” which provides an exhaustive list of duties a pastor performs (Barrett). Hence, based on Owen’s life and activity, preaching God’s Word authoritatively is the foundation of any preacher’s work, upon which the Church in the first century was built, kindling faith in people’s hearts.
Like a shepherd feeds sheep, a pastor must “feed” people with knowledge through the gospel, the will of God, and the riches and treasures of Christ’s grace to the souls of men. A church grows and flourishes when a pastor fulfills his primary task and communicates a great understanding of spiritual things to the public.
In contrast, if the gospel does not ignite a pastor, he cannot help those under his care (Barrett). A pastor must first preach to oneself with a zeal for the glory of God, rightly divide God’s Word, and know his flock. He has to love God’s truth, pray and train constantly to lead God’s people in the right direction, and defend and preserve the truth and doctrine of the gospel against all opposition. John Owen suggests that modern pastors should carefully analyze these critical concepts.
Main Aspects
The article’s central message is that a modern pastor needs to focus on a specific activity rather than spreading himself over many. Barrett additionally emphasizes significant points based on individual John Owen’s concepts. Barrett’s article is based on John Owen’s advice and recommendations to pastors on direction and how to act toward themselves and others. There are brief conclusions and arguments as to why a pastor should primarily preach the word of God but not take full responsibility for raising funds or overseeing business meetings. Owen’s teachings provide food for thought, causing one to rethink and reconsider particular views on pastors’ responsibilities.
Work Cited
Barrett, Matthew. “The Duty of a Pastor: John Owen on Feeding the Flock by Diligent Preaching of the Word.” Themelios, vol. 40, no. 3. Web.