Blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, and preaches like Piper

Several years ago, during my second pastorate, I was part of a pastors' fellowship that met every month or so for prayer and encouragement. I always looked forward to it, not because I had established good friendships within that group, but because I saw that group as the one place I might be able to develop those relationships. Being a pastor, especially of a small church, is painfully lonely.

One of our monthly meetings took place during a time leading up to a large crusade that was being planned for the city. A very well-known, and well respected, evangelist was coming to town, and the churches were abuzz with excitement and anticipation. As we pastors met that month, we were talking about how we, too, were excited about the event. But then I made "the" comment. I said that the one downside of such a crusade was that it leads us and our congregations to think that the weekly ministry of Word and Sacrament isn't sufficient for God's people, that if people are really to come to and grow in the Lord, we need to have a mass event featuring a Christian celebrity. A safe enough observation around a table of pastors whose calling is the weekly administration of Word and Sacrament.

I was disheartened. Not only did my comment get dismissed as judgmental, but I was even prayed for as we concluded our meeting. I was never informed of future gatherings.

This came to mind today as I came across an article by Steve Burchett over at Gospel Coalition ("When Your Preacher Is Not John Piper"), in which he counsels parishioners who might wish their pastor would preach like Piper, or any other pastoral celebrity.

Christians, especially those of us in the Reformed camp, love our theological conferences. And we love the Reformed celebrities who lead them. And whereas I do not want to diminish any benefit that might come from such events, it does have a tendency to communicate that if our parishioners really want to be blessed, these are events are where it's at. There is where you get to hear such prophetic voices as Al Mohler, John Piper, R.C. Sproul, Sinclair Ferguson, et.al., and if we're not careful to temper our enthusiasm, we have the effect of diminishing the weekly ministry of the Word and Sacrament by very ordinary, and often, boring, men, of which I am chief.