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The Shepherd's Cross: The Pastoral Calling in Community Life
158 pages, Paperback
Published October 27, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 20, 2024
This is not an easy book. If you are looking for a guide on setting boundaries in ministry or hoping to get a pat on the back for your sacrifices, this is not the book for you. It is an observation on the way in which Jesus journeyed to and eventually took up the cross and surrendered to it. This is about what it looks like to follow His example.
At any given moment along the way He chose in His ministry to “go along” or “get away”. The troublesome thing is that there is no formula we can use for figuring out when to do what. Aside from the actual dying part, this is what makes it so uncomfortable. We want to be guided by something tangible. We want to use meters like joy and discomfort as the ruler by which we know what to endure or walk away from. But these are insufficient. Joy does not exclude discomfort. And, discomfort is not synonymous with “cross bearing.” Nor does it always justify throwing in the towel. Joy often comes on the other side of great discomfort. Suffering is sometimes part of the calling. Also, sometimes, the suffering I call “cross bearing” is actually just a discomfort of my own making - because I’m doing what I shouldn’t, or because I’m serving as a way of purchasing “pharisaical recognition” and the payoff isn’t worth the sacrifice. Ouch. We know the fruit of the spirit but, often the fruit of our ministry is tiredness, self righteousness, bitterness, and resentment.
So, how do we do it like Jesus?
How do we know whether to get away or lay down our lives? When do we leave that dysfunctional situation or, like Elizabeth Elliot and her friends, march into the jungle to minister to the people who speared their husbands to death? Jesus didn’t give us a formula. He gave us the Holy Spirit. We let Him lead us and at every step expose our hearts and intentions. Instead of being guided by self preservation or victimology, we let Him guide and correct us. Funny how often we burden ourselves by trading relationship for formulas and religion. We get nothing but empty pain and disappointment as a result. But when we walk in relationship with Him, even to the cross, the burden is light and the rewards are substantially more than this world can offer. I am not a pastor, but I am a mom. My husband and I have been involved in ministry for 20+ years, and I am a child of a broken home. I can’t begin to say how insightful and challenging this book has been. It’s not an easy message, but it is good.
At any given moment along the way He chose in His ministry to “go along” or “get away”. The troublesome thing is that there is no formula we can use for figuring out when to do what. Aside from the actual dying part, this is what makes it so uncomfortable. We want to be guided by something tangible. We want to use meters like joy and discomfort as the ruler by which we know what to endure or walk away from. But these are insufficient. Joy does not exclude discomfort. And, discomfort is not synonymous with “cross bearing.” Nor does it always justify throwing in the towel. Joy often comes on the other side of great discomfort. Suffering is sometimes part of the calling. Also, sometimes, the suffering I call “cross bearing” is actually just a discomfort of my own making - because I’m doing what I shouldn’t, or because I’m serving as a way of purchasing “pharisaical recognition” and the payoff isn’t worth the sacrifice. Ouch. We know the fruit of the spirit but, often the fruit of our ministry is tiredness, self righteousness, bitterness, and resentment.
So, how do we do it like Jesus?
How do we know whether to get away or lay down our lives? When do we leave that dysfunctional situation or, like Elizabeth Elliot and her friends, march into the jungle to minister to the people who speared their husbands to death? Jesus didn’t give us a formula. He gave us the Holy Spirit. We let Him lead us and at every step expose our hearts and intentions. Instead of being guided by self preservation or victimology, we let Him guide and correct us. Funny how often we burden ourselves by trading relationship for formulas and religion. We get nothing but empty pain and disappointment as a result. But when we walk in relationship with Him, even to the cross, the burden is light and the rewards are substantially more than this world can offer. I am not a pastor, but I am a mom. My husband and I have been involved in ministry for 20+ years, and I am a child of a broken home. I can’t begin to say how insightful and challenging this book has been. It’s not an easy message, but it is good.
February 5, 2024
This book is filled with practical wisdom gained from both biblical reflection and experience. It is intended for pastors (shepherds) but would greatly benefit all in church leadership. The main premise is that being a shepherd of Gods people requires much cross bearing, after the example of Christ. While the emphasis is on giving up our personal agendas and desires for the sake of Christ in service of others, there is also good advice on setting boundaries and not living in fear of man.
I would love to see more written on the application of Dane Ortland’s Gentle and Lowly to pastoral ministry and to the character and disposition of pastors. This book does some of that, though the connection is not explicit.
This is a short read, with 2-3 page chapters. Well worth the time.
I would love to see more written on the application of Dane Ortland’s Gentle and Lowly to pastoral ministry and to the character and disposition of pastors. This book does some of that, though the connection is not explicit.
This is a short read, with 2-3 page chapters. Well worth the time.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews