“There is a danger for men who are pursuing ministry to fall into what some have called “a romantic view of ministry.” Recognizing the high call of the pastorate, and knowing that God is doing His greatest work in the world through His ministers in the church (Eph. 3:10), many have come to embrace faulty views of the ministry. During the early days in seminary, I had foolishly developed something of “a romantic view of ministry.”

Without wishing to demean or diminish the value of the plethora of lawful and necessary vocations in the world, I would insist that being called into pastoral ministry is the highest calling a man may receive in this life. To be called by God to spend a life laboring to see Christ formed in His people, pouring yourself out to see lives transformed by the Gospel and participating in the ingathering of Christ’s lost sheep is a glorious calling, to say the least. This is not to exalt one man over against another. It is the office that is exalted. Nor is it to put a stamp of approval on any man who is called a “minister.” Legion are the numbers of charlatans, frauds and self-aggrandizers bearing the title “Pastor.” After all, the Apostle Paul told the church in Corinth that, there were and always would be “false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ…for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:13-15). The Apostle Peter also warned that “false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies” (2 Peter 2:1). In fact, the whole of the New Testament is set against the backdrop of false teaching and false teachers.

That being said, there is a danger for men who are pursuing ministry to fall into what some have called “a romantic view of ministry.” Recognizing the high call of the pastorate, and knowing that God is doing His greatest work in the world through His ministers in the church (Eph. 3:10), many have come to embrace faulty views of the ministry. During the early days in seminary, I had foolishly developed something of “a romantic view of ministry.” I had a burning desire to preach and longed to have a Spurgeon-esque type ministry to multitudes who needed the unadulterated preaching of the word and Gospel. During the first year of my studies, one of my professors said to the students in our class, “Get every wrong view of ministry out of your head. Get rid of every romantic view of ministry.” What I didn’t want to hear then, I now tell every man at New Covenant who express interest in pursuing a call to ministry. While the ministry is a most glorious calling, it is anything but romantic. Here are five things that foster “a romantic view of ministry:”

1. Benefits without Burdens. Many men preparing for ministry are protected from difficulties in a church while enjoying, what we may call, “the delightful parts of ministry.” This often comes in the form of a man teaching a Sunday school class the size of most local churches in America. Everyone in the class praises his teaching. He may have even been actively involved in the lives of the people in that class, visited them and poured out his energy, time and prayers for the members of that class. Still, he was protected from the mess of ministry. He had a pastor(s) on the front line–taking all the bullets. In most Presbyterian and Reformed churches, there is a session acting as a defense line to protect the congregation from having to witness much of the infelicitous parts of ministry. In short, such men have all the privileges without the responsibilities and challenges–the benefits without the burdens. I had that experience during my time in seminary. It helped foster in me a romantic, rather than a realistic view of ministry. The preaching, teaching and visitation are often the sweet and blessed parts of ministry. It’s everything else that helps strip away the romance. It is necessary for men to come to terms with this prior to entering ministry.

2. Historical Hero Worship. This is usually fueled by idealistic hagiography. Men preparing for ministry are spending time reading biographies of the great ministers in church history. They are speaking with friends about Augustine, Anselm, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, Owen, Spurgeon, Warfield, Murray et al as if they were gods. It is right for us to admire the theological genius and diligent labors of these men. It is right for us to sit at their feet and strive to emulate them where they were strongest. But, there is often the danger of putting them and their ministries on a pedestal, and so failing to realize that these men had spiritual, physical and ministerial weaknesses and burdens just like everyone else. It is partly the fault of biographers, who have often failed to paint them in all of their fallenness and humanness. Most of want a Spurgeon-esque ministry (preaching to 10,000 people and publishing vast numbers of books) without the emotional and physical duress experienced by Spurgeon throughout his ministry. While we want to learn from the great company of theologians who have gone before us and upon whose shoulders we stand, and while we should seek to follow their example of faith and the diligence of their labors for Christ, we must remember that thy were men with clay feet and often plagued with difficulties and challenges in ministry. Doing so, will help us get rid of a romantic view of ministry.

3. Contemporary Hero Worship.  This is fueled by Conferences and media. Many have come to terms with the fact that the modern phenomenon of the theological Conference circuits is both a blessing and a snare. It is not the fault of the men who speak at these Conferences–after all, they are doing a great service to the church by using their gifts to help better equip ministers and congregants. The fault lies with those who have often imperceptibly shifted into hero worship mode. It is easy to see the crowds and to have the conversations about the great men of our day without realize that they too often have great challenges, burdens, trials and afflictions in their own ministries. The glory of the Conference scene often veils the bitterness of life and ministry in this fallen world. We need to guard our hearts against seeking after the glory, even as we gratefully receive the ministry of these men. After the stages are broken down, the banner rolled up and the book tables put away, we and they return to the day-in and day-out ministry to people whose lives have been wrecked by sin, who don’t care what Conference you just spoke at and to some who may even cause you great harm in ministry. Coming to terms with this helps get rid of a romantic view of ministry.

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