Though it was written 350 years ago, Baxter’s work is a practical, Christ centeredoutline for ministry and leadership in today’s church; the same concerns which heconfronted in Worcester in 1656 have re-surfaced and are eating at the marrow of 21
st
century evangelical/charismatic religion. As you read
The Reformed Pastor
, I encourageyou to take notes, notice where you and your church are failing, repent, and instituteBaxter’s methods. To summarize, they are:A) Ministers and overseers must commit to individual instruction within their congregations.B) Discipline within the church is an ordinance of God and must be re-instituted.C) Ministers and overseers must have personal relationships with their congregations,risking familiarity and contempt towards themselves to achieve a greater good.D) Personal, direct one-on-one ministry, takes precedence over study and preparation; anoverseer will learn quicker by hands-on work than by book work.E) Total commitment to the church is required of a minister or overseer. While theyshould be paid, they should also be willing to give it when required, even at their ownfamilies expense. A ministers life is not one of ease.Though I wish to, I will not describe Baxter’s life in further detail because excellent biographies exist already, and the purpose of this abridgement is to bring Baxter’s ideasto today’s church in a way which may be quickly applied; we can not wait .I have purposely condensed Baxter’s full work to 25% of the original, and strongly endorse theoriginal, and early 18
th
century abridgements. If I can be of any further assistance inimplementing Baxter’s methods, contact the publisher.Steve SimpsonSeptember, 2007OUTLINE-THE REFORMED PASTOR
Dedication
Leave a Comment
published goto http://store.clctx.org/index.php?main...