"Keepin It Real"

In the opening of Jon Pipers book “Brothers We Are Not Professionals” he makes a statement that has really left an impression on my heart. “Brothers, we are being killed by the professionalizing of the pastoral ministry. The mentality of the professional is not the mentality of the prophet. It is not the mentality of the slave of Christ…. The more professional we long to be, the more spiritual death we will leave in our wake.”

He then goes on to quote some verses and ask some questions. I will give them here.

There is no professional childlikeness (Matt 18:3)

There is not professional tenderheartedness (Eph 4:32)

There is no professional panting after God (Ps42:1)

Our business is to weep over sins (James 4:9) Is there professional weeping?

Our business is to strain forward to the holiness of Christ and the prize of the upward call (Phil 3:14)

to pummel our bodies and subdue them lest we be cast away (1 Cor 9:27)

to deny ourselves and take up the blood spattered cross daily (Luke 9:23) How do you carry a cross professionally?

We are to be filled not with wine but with the Spirit (Eph 5:18) How can you be drunk with Jesus professionally?

Is there a way to be a professional clay pot (2 Cor 4:7)

How do we carry in our bodies the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested professionally? (2 Cor 4:9-11)

We have become the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all things (1 Cor 4:9-13)

Our citizenship is in heaven, and we wait with eager expectation for the Lord (Phil 3:20)

Our goals are an offense, they are foolishness (1 Cor 1:23)

We are aliens, and exiles in this world (1 Pet 2:11)

…The strong wine of Jesus explodes the wineskins of professionalism.

There is an infinite difference between the pastor whose heart is set on being the aroma of Christ, the fragrance of death to some and eternal life to others (2 Cor 2:15-16)

God, please give us a heart that thirsts for You! One that burns with the life giving gospel, and breaks for those ensnared by sin. Rebuke us when we stray and cause us to return to the simplicity of loving You and loving the world around us. May Your grace keep us close to the cross, humble, even broken before You. May we reject every fig leaf of self righteousness and religion and cling whole heartedly to the righteousness You give us by faith. Send us into the world under the power of Your love and not from selfish ambition, or the desire to be known, or the need to be needed. May every idol of success fall before You and our only desire become to see You smile and say "Well done! You have loved Me well!"