Posted by deangonzales on February 2, 2010
Pastoral Theology is appropriately subtitled “The Pastor in the Various Duties of His Office.” In the book, Dr. Thomas Murphy carefully provides the reader a balanced mixture of theological exposition and practical exhortation. Each chapter seeks to address a unique area of focus common to those in pastoral ministry, providing instruction for how a man might faithfully and biblically serve God and His church in that particular area of ministry. Although Murphy deals with a wide spectrum of pastoral duties throughout the book, this review will restrict its focus to the chapters assigned for this course, specifically chapters two and three.
In chapter two, Dr. Murphy’s focus is “The Pastor in His Closet,” addressing the level of personal piety necessary for carrying out a faithful pastoral ministry. Murphy quickly makes it clear that the pastor’s piety is of the utmost importance, opening the chapter with suitably strong words: “Eminent piety is the indispensable qualification for the ministry of the gospel. By this is not meant simply a piety the genuineness of which is unquestionable, but a piety the degree of which is above that of ordinary believers.”
In the section that follows, the author enumerates a multitude of reasons that the pastor is to give great attention to maintaining his personal communion with God. It is clear that a pastor’s consistent, growing walk with the Lord is central to his being qualified to serve in his calling. In addition, this piety provides the spiritual power and godly example that will make his ministry effective. Murphy goes on then to outline how a pastor is to cultivate this increasing level of piety. The reviewer found this to be an immensely practical section, reminding even the most seasoned pastor of the crucial importance of seeking the Lord through His Word and prayer. Murphy bemoans the growing neglect of continual, fervent prayer on the part of pastors in his day. His words are more needed than ever in the face of modern evangelicalism in America:
The old ministers were not much better preachers than we are, and in many respects they were inferior, but there was an unction about their ministry, and success attended upon it now but seldom witnessed. And what was the cause of the difference? They prayed more than we do. If we would prevail and have power with men, we must first prevail and have power with God.
In addition to continual prayer throughout the day, it is essential that a pastor consecrate a time each day specifically for drawing near to God. Murphy suggests “that the pastor set apart the first hour of every day for uninterrupted communion with God”, providing the proper focus for the rest of the day.
Finally, if the pastor is to grow in his knowledge of the Lord he must maintain a regular practice of reading the Scriptures, mediating on them, and applying their truth to himself. Murphy concludes the chapter by providing a concise list of both hindrances and helps in developing the kind of personal piety that the pastorate requires. The author briefly reflects on temptations that are common to those in the ministry. From treating the ministry as simply a career to underestimating the forces of spiritual warfare, pastors must be on guard against these pitfalls. On the other end of the spectrum, Murphy reminds the reader of the great blessings that are afforded to those in pastoral ministry in that their livelihood provides them motivation and opportunity for pursuing godliness that are not available to most laymen.
As Murphy moves on to chapter three, his focus becomes “the pastor in the study.” If chapter two could be summarized as the need to cultivate the heart for communion with God through prayer and devotion, chapter three is dedicated to cultivating the mind for communion with God through regular, ongoing, systematic study. In making his case to the reader for the central role study is to play in the life of a pastor, the author goes as far as to argue: “God will not inspire a man without his own efforts, for the Spirit works through the diligent use of human means.” This is a much needed reminder that our diligent study to know God does not demonstrate a lack of faith in His illuminating grace, but instead avails itself to this very grace in the way in which God has commanded.
Murphy does not simply entreat the reader to devote himself to study, but provides immensely useful advice on how he might structure his time so as to give study the priority it deserves. The author even suggests times for when one might study and gives advice on the attitude and approach the reader should take during these times set aside for growth in knowledge. This down-to-earth, clear instruction was particularly helpful to the reviewer, providing a clear path forward for those ministering in a fast-paced, stressful culture which makes constant demands for one’s time and attention. For study to be effective, there must be a pre-planned system for ensuring it is a priority in the ongoing work of the minister.
Not only should there be an organized system for when and how the pastor studies, but he should also develop a strategy for what he will study. Murphy provides a suggested plan for gaining a broad knowledge of the whole counsel of God so that the pastor is prepared for whatever unique challenges and opportunities are presented to him. This includes a commitment to reading the Bible broadly and narrowly at the same time, diving deeply into particular books and sections of scripture while at the same time being able to place them in their context within the whole cannon. It requires the ongoing memorization of key passages of scripture, as well as a commitment to stay fresh with the original languages. Steadfastness in these areas will keep the pastor’s study from growing cold or dull, ensuring that he is continually equipped to carry out his ministry with competence and zeal.
Pastoral Theology is a tremendously helpful tool for pastors old and new alike. While it is written in a readily accessible style, it’s content is rich and transformative. Murphy lays a biblical foundation for each practice and then proceeds to provide clear direction on how it might be carried out. In a culture when pragmatism tends to win the day, this book stands as a resounding call to pastors to hold fast to what is most important by watching their “life and doctrine closely” (1 Timothy 4:16). Most importantly, Murphy reminds us over and over again that the key to a faithful, thriving ministry is not found in relying confidently in our talent or giftedness, but in being driven to our knees in utter dependence on God’s power and grace. It is as God’s under shepherds take this posture day after day that we live out Murphy’s prayer, found on p. 6 in the introduction to the book, that we might “contribute…to the promotion of the glory of Christ our King.”
Bill Streger
Pastor of Kaleo Church, Houston
Student of Reformed Baptist Seminary
If you’re interested, you may purchase the book at Trinity Book Service or Amazon.com for around $30.
Posted by deangonzales on December 3, 2009
It’s been a busy year. Student enrollment has increased to 60 students. Moreover, Dr. Gonzales has been working together with our sister seminary, Midwest Center for Theological Studies, as an adjunct professor of Old Testament studies, teaching elementary and intermediate Hebrew in the spring and fall. Additionally, he’s currently the sole elder of a local church (since Jeffrey Smith accepted a call from Emmanuel Baptist Church of Coconut Creek, Florida) and is working diligently with a pastoral search committee to find a new pastor for the congregation. Nevertheless, despite the pressures, God has sustained, and the increased demands of the seminary have actually prompted us to set in motion some changes that will serve to enhance the seminary training and make the distance-learning product we offer more efficient.
RBS Virtual Campus
On August 15, we opened “RBS Virtual Campus” (VC). VC is a website that utilizes Moodle learning management software to facilitate online distance-learning. Now students can login into VC and find course information, download course handouts and audio lectures, complete quizzes and exams online, and communicate with other students who are logged in. VC also features video tutorials for teachers and students, including a tutorial on how to use a special writing template to format academic papers. These video tutorials are on the home page and accessible to the public. If you’d like to get a feel for how it works, let me encourage you to navigate to our website (www.virtual.rbseminary.org) and view some of the tutorials. For those interested in auditing, we plan to make “guest passes” available for those who simply wish to download and listen to lectures.
Though much of VC is up and functional, we’re still uploading lectures and course information, as well as sifting out some of the initial “bugs” that show up in the first few months of utilizing learning management software. Please pray that VC will take theological training to a higher level.
RBS to Relocate and Expand
Because of the growth of RBS, the seminary overseers have realized the need to relocate the seminary headquarters and expand the ministry. Accordingly, the two founding churches, Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Covenant Reformed Baptist Church of Easley, South Carolina, have, after consulting with the advisory board, extended invitations to Immanuel Baptist Church of Sacramento, California, and Grace Baptist Church of Taylors, South Carolina, to join in the oversight of the seminary. Both of these congregations have accepted the invitation.
Because CRBC of Easley is a relatively smaller congregation and is in search of a new pastor, we believe it wise to relocate the seminary headquarters and dean to a larger church that can provide the extra human resources needed to administrate the seminary. GBC of Taylors has offered to serve as the new headquarters and can currently offer Dr. Gonzales the secretarial help he needs. GBC also has larger building facilities and is committed to construct a “virtual classroom” where lectures can be taught, recorded, and even streamed to students over the Internet. GBC and the overseeing churches also hope to partner with other sister churches to develop internship programs that can be offered to eligible students.
Lord willing, the overseers will meet in the early part of December to discuss the timing of Dr. Gonzales’s transition and many other ideas and plans for the future with reference to theological training. Please pray that the Lord will grant us guidance as we attempt to improve our program and better serve the churches in the needy area of providing theological training that is sound, affordable, and accessible to men who aren’t able to relocate to a traditional seminary.
The “Marrow” in Colombia
The “Marrow of Theology” program being offered in Bogota, Colombia, is nearing completion. In the last week of April, Pastor Jeffery Smith, with the help of translator José Alberto Garcia, taught the module entitled “Doctrine of Salvation II.” He dealt with the various topics covered by the theme Ordo Salutis (“order of salvation”) including effectual call, justification, repentance and faith. Late July and early August Dr. Richard Barcellos joined with translator Francisco Orozco to present a module on “Ethics.” The primary focus of the module was to demonstrate the abiding validity of the Decalogue and, in particular, the Fourth Commandment for the believer and the church. Then, in the last week of October, Pastor Andy Dunkerton teamed up with translator Luis Simpson to lecture on the subject of “The Covenants.” Here the theme was the Historia Salutis (“history of salvation”) as revealed through the framework of God’s covenants. Thankfully, we were able to get James Williamson’s new book From the Garden of Eden to the Glory of Heaven (Calvary Press, 2008) translated into Spanish and distributed to the students as a supplement to the lectures. In all of these modules, the 40 to 50 students who attend, many of whom are from non-Reformed backgrounds (i.e., Arminian, Pentecostal, Dispensational) are being exposed to some of the central tenets of the Reformed faith. And we’re happy to report that many of them seem to be embracing these truths and rejoicing in them. Our prayer is that their deepening understanding of Scripture and theology will produce not only positive changes in their lives but also in their families and churches.
God willing, Pastor Jeffrey Smith will present the “Doctrine of Salvation III” in the last week of January 2010. Then Pastor Gregory Nichols will lecture on the “Doctrine of the Church” in April, which will be the final module. We hope to schedule a special graduation ceremony during one of the summer months in which those students and pastors who successfully complete the entire three-year “Marrow” program will be awarded the Certificate of Theological Studies (C.T.S.). As this program in Bogota comes to a close, we are prayerfully considering requests to offer the Marrow again in other needy places. We’ve received a couple of requests and need wisdom and God’s provision of resources, so please pray for us. If you or your church is interested in helping to finance another Marrow program in a foreign country, please contact us. The cost is approximately $2,000 to $2,800 per module.
Phase Two of the “Marrow”
RBS chose 2 Timothy 2:2 as the verse of Scripture that best epitomizes its vision: “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” A careful reading of this verse reveals the idea of successive phases of teaching. What Timothy had learned from Paul he was responsible to pass on to faithful men. But that’s not where the mission ends. Once those faithful men are trained in sound doctrine, they must then become the teachers of others. And so the baton of theological education is passed on from one generation to another.
In the summer of 2007, I had the pleasure of participating in the graduation of 23 Dominican pastors from the 24-credit Marrow of Theology program. Several students graduated with honors, and three of those honor-students, Luis Arocha, Oskar Arocha Jr., and Juan Perez, have joined with Pastor Oscar Arocha to start the “Academia Ministerial de la Gracia” (Grace Ministerial Academy) as a ministry of Iglesia Bautista de Gracia (Grace Baptist Church) in Santiago, the Dominican Republic. These men have taken what they learned through the Marrow of Theology program and are not only indoctrinating the members of their church but are passing it on to other faithful pastors and ministerial aspirants.
In particular, the Academia Ministerial de Gracia (AMG) carefully screened several young men from various parts of Latin America who expressed an interest in relocating to the DR in order to attend the academy and enroll in the Marrow program. Seven were selected, representing Peru, Colombia, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, and they came to Santiago with the commendation of their local churches. Within the space of seven months of intensive training, these seven students successfully completed the Marrow program. And on October 4, 2009, I had the privilege of participating in their graduation. They all plan to return to their local churches and labor alongside their pastors. Some of them hope to continue their education and eventually begin ministerial academies in their own countries, so that they too might pass on what they have learned to faithful men who’ll be able to teach others also.
So not only did we have the honor of passing the baton of “sound doctrine” to faithful men in the Dominican Republic. We also rejoice to see those faithful men continuing to enhance their own education and passing the baton of biblical truth to others. Our earnest expectation is that God may continue to multiply our efforts and raise up an army of faithful men who will continue passing that theological training baton to others so that in 10 to 20 or 30 years, there will be doctrinally and practically sound ministerial academies all over Latin America. Presently, Luis, Oskar, and Juan (who’s the dean or principal of AMG) are seeking to complete their Masters in Theological Studies (M.T.S.) through RBS to further equip them as educators. AMG has already approved 10 students from various parts of Latin America for another round of their intensified training program, which will commence in the early part of 2010. Please pray for AMG and its partnership with RBS. Once again, if you or your church would like to partner financially with AMG and RBS in this endeavor, please contact Dr. Gonzales or Pastor Oscar Arocha (parocha@ibgracia.org).
Dean’s New Book Published
It’s finally available! Wipf & Stock has published my “theology of Genesis” entitled Where Sin Abounds: The Spread of Sin and the Curse in Genesis With Special Focus on the Patriarchal Narratives. Here’s what one well-known Old Testament scholar says about the book:
Although my library shelf holds many commentaries on Genesis, I eagerly anticipate turning again and again to Where Sin Abounds by Robert R. Gonzales Jr. In a fresh, comprehensive, and detailed theological exegesis, Gonzales empowers the patriarchal narrative, as well as the so-called primeval history, to express the spread of sin, its varied nature, and the divinely imposed consequences. Here is a monograph that the contemporary evangelical church, corrupted by the Marcionite heresy, needs desperately to hear.
—Bruce Waltke
Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary
The book seeks not only to demonstrate the thematic and literary unity of Genesis (thereby debunking source-critical views) but also to highlight the fact that the themes of sin’s spread and God’s curse permeate the entire Genesis narrative. Even the patriarchs and matriarchs to whom the promises were given did not escape the gravity of sin and the curse, which has important implications for the doctrines of sin, justification, and sanctification. If you’re interested in getting a copy right away, you can order through Wipf & Stock Publishers and get a 20% discount. If you can wait till January, the book is available through Barnes and Noble at a 32% discount and will be soon available through Amazon.com.
Support RBS?
Although RBS charges students a quarterly enrollment fee and tuition, the seminary is partially supported by the generosity of local churches and individuals. This is one more reason why RBS is a “church-based” seminary. We believe that training “laborers for the harvest” (Luke 10:2) is a vital facet of the Great Commission and, accordingly, that local churches should be willing to invest in those who aspire after and show potential for the ministry. In light of this, we would like you to consider supporting RBS financially. Students of churches that support the seminary for $2,000 or more per year may receive their theological education tuition free. For more information, please contact us.
Bob Gonzales, Dean
Reformed Baptist Seminary
Posted by deangonzales on November 13, 2009
David Giarrizzo, member of Grace Covenant Church in Gilbert, Arizona, coordinator of the yearly Building Tomorrow’s Church conference for Reformed Baptist young adults, and one of the contributors to the blog Ardent Cries, has written a helpful article on how the Christian and the church can employ technology for the glory of God. Enjoy! And feel free to leave a comment.
When I was ten years old,
I remember thinkin’ how cool it would be,
When we were goin’ on an eight hour drive,
If I could just watch T.V.
And I’d have given anything
To have my own PacMan game at home.
I used to have to get a ride down to the arcade;
Now I’ve got it on my phone.
Communication Technology
…So go the words of a silly song by Brad Paisely about the changes in technology over the past couple of decades. It is true that so much has changed about the way humans communicate in modern times just over the past one or two generations. As if a cordless telephone with PacMan on it wasn’t enough of an ingenious invention, it is almost mind-blowing to think about the infinitude of the World Wide Web.
Of course, as is often noted within the Christian community—and rightfully so, — with such a vast storage of information as the internet is, there are also many dangers. The sins of lust and adultery are commonly mentioned when discussing the dangers of the internet, and again, rightfully so. Additionally, the dangers that online communication and social networking pose to modern day believers have also been well documented. I agree with many of these identified problems that virtual communication presents. But while I understand that the use of modern technology presents potential concerns for Christians, I likewise believe that technology offers many wonderful opportunities. So I want to take a different approach in this post and briefly examine a few blessings that technology—especially communication technology such as cell phones, email, and the internet—provides for Christians today.
Consider for a moment the positive attributes of the internet with all of its wonderful means of communication and social networking: e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, blogs (like Ardent Cries), church and ministry websites, audio and video-recorded sermons, Christian book and music dealers, conference advertising, etc., etc. If you are reading this blog, you probably surf the web everyday and you already understand its many good uses. But allow me to illustrate a few simple examples of how communication technology can benefit believers.
- Formal and informal online education – Hundreds of thousands of people are now getting perfectly valid college educations via accredited online universities every year; in fact, more and more theological seminaries are beginning to look in the direction of the internet as a means reaching more people and increasing their student counts. The possibility for a lay-elder or church member to better his understanding of theology or the Bible languages is a wonderful prospect that our generation can hope to see more of through the increase in formal seminary classes offered via the web. Already we can observe the hunger of many Christians for the truths of Scripture as seen through the success and popularity of websites such as SermonAudio.com, Spurgeon.org, and the thousands of theological websites that comprise the Christian blogosphere. So for those who are serious about gaining a better understanding of theology or nouthetic counseling skills or Greek and Hebrew, may more seminaries offer this form of distance learning via internet courses as they remain firmly planted on the truths of God’s Word [editor: e.g., Reformed Baptist Seminary].
- Email and Blackberries [editor: and iPhones] – Just today I was reminded of one of the blessings of technology when I received an email to my Blackberry. The email was from our church elders asking for prayer on behalf of some church members with urgent needs. I don’t get these kinds of emails often because, thankfully, medical emergencies of this kind aren’t common. But when I received this email today on my phone, I was able to stop what I was doing and lift up my brothers and sisters in prayer. Sure, our elders could have called everyone in the church to update them; but because of the technology of email, and in my case, the technology of email direct to my Blackberry phone, the elders were able to alert the congregation of these urgent prayer needs more efficiently. As silly as it may sound, I thank God for blessing me with the luxury (as opposed to necessity) of a cell phone with internet and email capabilities that allows me to pray specifically for the brethren on a moment’s notice.
- Facebook and Twitter – Every time I attend a conference I inevitably make new friends. Thanks to Facebook, I have been able to stay in contact with those brothers and sisters months and years after those conferences are over. Facebook was designed for the purpose of social networking. For the Christian, however, social networking includes more than making new friends; it is fellowship, mutual encouragement, and a visible representation of the unity of the saints. Christians are more than friends; they are family members in the household of God. This is one of the reasons I appreciate Facebook: while I sit here in Mesa, Arizona, I can stay in touch with brothers and sisters in Ontario, California or Bremen, Indiana or Jackson, Georgia or even in Toronto, Canada! Twitter, like Facebook, allows me similar opportunities. But even more so, as John Piper pointed out [Why and How I Am Tweeting], these networking devices can actually be a means of evangelism, not narcissism. May we use Facebook, Twitter, and similar sites wisely, making the most of every opportunity to point others to Christ.
- Everything else – I am an avid news junkie. I was speaking to my grandpa about two weeks ago about the news. He asked me, “Do you get the newspaper at home?” to which I replied, “Yes. But we get it on the internet, not our front porch.” Just like my grandfather who reads his morning newspaper with a cup of coffee and toast and fruit, I check out the Drudge Report and my Christian blog lineup in Google Reader almost every morning with my cup of Joe. Again, this attachment to the outside world isn’t a need, it’s a blessing. Through the internet I can stay connected to far-away friends, register for an upcoming conference, watch James White contend for the Faith on YouTube, order Calvin’s complete commentary set, read Al Mohler’s insightful weekly postings, and stay in touch with current events on the other side of the world. These are some of the blessings God has given believers living in the 21st century. May we seek to glorify Him as we utilize the gifts and tools with which He has graciously supplied us.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Cor. 10:31
HT: “The Blessings of Technology” by Jason Giarrizzo
