Author: Luke Panter

Weary of “Well Done?”

/ Luke Panter / Leave a comment

The words I hate to hear – “well done.” Don’t get me wrong, I love whenever I get the opportunity to eat steak with my wife. But it hurts buying her a filet mignon when she treats it like that. I’ve tried to convince her to stop using those words and to venture into a far superior dining experience, but to no avail. I know you thought this was going to be a post about spiritual things and ministry, but.

Ok, it is. We pastors often say that we want to glorify God alone and simply do everything in life to hear the words “well done” spoken to us by the Lord. But is this really true? Is it consistent with our behavior? Is there something else that we long to hear even more? Doesn’t the evidence suggest that many evangelical pastors do things to be “well remembered,” rather than to hear “well done?” I think that it does. I want to list some reasons why we tend to live this way and encourage you to overcome these challenges.

Pastors who are actively engaged in their family, church, local community, and denomination make hard decisions each day. Each of these spheres brings unique challenges to decision making. The stress accompanying each of these ministry spheres has the tendency to influence pastors to create unique personas for each challenge. So, the local shepherd creates a podcast to engage in the latest denominational and cultural dialogues. He may write a book, serve on a denominational committee, speak on a panel, or just feel obligated to roll the dice on social media platforms. But whatever the outlet of engagement, the pastor begins to write his own story. Why? Because he feels obligated to do so. Every other pastor seems to be doing so, AND they are lauded for being so engaged. They are resected and praised for how much they seem to care about issues, people, and God. This tends to create a longing in other pastors who are motivated by hearing “well done” by the Lord, but who now feel they may not be cutting it. So, they enter the fray and stumble upon a new motivating impulse.

The result is that evangelicalism becomes flooded with pastors who seem more concerned with being remembered as one who fought hard for the Lord, than simply being an instrument in the Lord’s hands. The word “legacy” is often talked about among pastors and in denominational settings. Every pastor has their own cadre of ministry heroes; most of whom are perched neatly in bobble-head form on the shelves of their study. Calvin, Luther, Knox, and Spurgeon – men whom none of us knew personally. We have no idea how they were received into the Lord’s hands or what his words were to them. Why? Because their relationship with the Lord was personal and their stewardship from the Lord was unique. Truth be told, we don’t want to be like these heroes because we know exactly how they lived unto the Lord. We don’t have access to those details. We want to be like them because their public lives and actions are respectfully etched in the annuls of Christian history. So, while these men may be worthy of hero status, there are countless others who may also, but whose heads will never bobble on our shelves. Why not? Not because they weren’t faithful to do well, but because they were largely unknown during their time and therefore forgotten for the rest of time.

In sum, we pastors (and denominations) have a tendency, accelerated by contemporary impulses and exacerbated by well-meaning heroism, to engage in legacy-building for the Lord. We feel the pressure from within the church and without that we too must do something that will be remembered. We must leave our mark in such a way that nobody forgets our impact on the world for Christ. Anything short of accomplishing this is failure and disobedience. Unfortunately, in doing so, we essentially say to the Lord that we don’t care to hear “well done.” We would rather be worthy of bobble-head status; even if bobble-head legacy building comes at the price of our ethics, and even if it means we turn a blind eye to sexual abuse, for example. “But the kingdom of God needs me and my influence!” No sir, it does not. And your soul is on the line; better see to that first. See to the things in your heart, not the things written (or not written) about you in the headlines. Because on that day the Lord will not look you over for medals, bobble-heads, or twitter mentions and facebook followers. Your legacy won’t matter, because “from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things.” Only your personal faith in Christ will matter. Abide in Him and do not grow weary of anticipating the words, “well done.”

P.S. I have nothing against y’all’s bobble-heads. And I am thankful for the many media outlets and contemporary tools that pastors have made available to others like us.

Baptists: “A Great Mass of Ignorant People?”

/ Luke Panter / Leave a comment

Two hundred and fifty years after the first baptistic confession was penned by the seven London Congregations, the Southern Baptist Convention hosted a visiting English committee on American soil. As Southern Baptists gathered in Memphis on May 1889, John Broadus prepared to introduce this committee of English Baptists brethren to the messengers. Broadus, the president of Southern Baptist Seminary, was humbled and excited to be able to welcome the committee from foreign shores.

Among the committee members was one Dr. Parker who described his amazement at the organization and camaraderie of the SBC. According to Broadus’s letters, “American Baptists reminded him (Parker) of a herd of wild horses with heads erect, rearing and plunging and curvetting, but somehow moving on, all in the same direction.” Parker went on to critique the response of modern Protestantism to baptistic growth in America: “It was sometimes said by other denominations that Baptists had among them a great mass of ignorant people. This was true.” But according to Broadus, Dr. Parker also said that “he felt like replying to those who made this statement, “Why haven’t you a similar mass?'”

This is a great question for a denomination to ask itself, even today. Why do certain denominations not have more people around them moving in the same direction? Why do Southen Baptists have so many churches moving in the same direction? Can we tolerate theological ignorance, and sometimes convictional parity, among our contemporaries while pursuing common goals? John Broadus certainly did. Broadus was not only a respected churchman and scholar in the Baptist world. He lectured and preached at Yale, Cornell, New York, and he turned down countless job offers to serve as president of prominent universities across the U.S. He served on numerous boards and was well-respected by intellectuals across the nation. Broadus was neither ingorant nor anti-intellectual, but he was willing to join hands with other Baptists who shared similar core convictions for the advancement of the gospel. Rather than leading attempts to section off an intellectual affinity group from the larger mass of Baptists in America, he labored tirelessly to educate the ignorant Baptist mass whom he came to love as his family.

Like Broadus, we are best when we are neither pragmatic nor partisan.

As Southern Baptists continue to grapple with the ongoing difficulties of association and cooperation, it would do us good to remember the examples of people from our past like John Broadus. Let us use whatever wisdom and knowledge we possess to educate and inform the mass to which we belong, rather than use it to reduce our forces. Maybe we could come to recognize that we are all ignorant of something. Maybe we could, like Broadus, be at peace with the fact that being part of the SBC means that we will always be among the ingorant. But may we also, like Broadus, pursue theological education and convictional cooperation with tenacity and tireless devotion. And let’s do it together.

A. T. Robertson, Life and Letters of John A. Broadus (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1901).

Elders and/or Pastors

/ Luke Panter / Leave a comment

Southern Baptists are discussing the biblical and historical understandings of the word “pastor” today in ways that have direct implications for future cooperation among their numerous churches. A motion was made in the 2020 annual meeting in Nashville for the Credentials Committee to investigate the apparent ordination of female “pastors” within a cooperating and credentialed SBC church. The committee investigated and brought forth a recommendation to the body of messengers at the 2022 meeting in Anaheim California on June 14th.

To the surprise and dismay of many messengers, the committee concluded that the church was operating according to the spirit of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 because although they had ordained women as “pastors,” the women were not functioning as “elders.” The church in question claimed that they were not disobeying Scripture nor acting in bad faith toward their fellow SBC churches because they interpreted the word “pastor” to refer to a giftedness bestowed by the Holy Spirit on both men and women in the New Testament (Ephesians 4:11), while interpreting the term “elder” to apply to an office only to be filled by men (1Timothy 3:1).

So who are our pastors/shepherds? Are they people in our church who display skills or gifts of shepherding? Is there convincing evidence from Scripture that the “gifts” mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 are Spirit-given skills for people in ministry, or does the evidence support the claim that the gifts are actual people (officers) given to churches for the purpose of ministry.

Rather than reinvent the wheel, we decided to provide a link to an article written in 2019 by Denny Burk that explains how to examine the biblical evidence in this situation. We agree with Burk’s exegetical approach to understanding this issue which also continues the biblically conservative precedent established by Baptists long ago – that elders are qualified men gifted by the Holy Spirit to the local church to shepherd the people of God, and that shepherding is the unique responsibility of elders in the context of the local church.

Can Women Be Pastors But Not Elders?

“We Will Never Forget?”

/ Luke Panter / Leave a comment

Today is September 11, 2021. It is the twentieth anniversary of the worst act of terror ever perpetrated upon the United States of America. I remember how the churches filled with people in the weeks following that day, and how these words filled the vengeful air; “we will never forget.” For some, these words were muttered angrily, for others they were simply an expression of sorrow and disbelief. But, nonetheless these were the words on every American tongue.

Since then, Americans have made countless attempts to erase the past. They have destroyed and defaced statues of historical figures, and spun endless narratives about the history of the country. History has become offensive in and of itself as interest groups revise and reinterpret the past so as to change the future. In short, everyone has their own version of events so that history, for better or worse, is more about ‘what happened according to my feelings,’ rather than simply ‘what happened.’ So, as we look back at that horrible day, can we still claim that we will never forget, and can we expect future generations to remember as we have? Can we expect them to never forget?

The Bible is full of exhortations for God’s people to memorialize events. In Exodus 13:14;

“And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, “What is this?” then you shall say to him, “With a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.”

Jesus told his disciples to memorialize his death in the same way that they did the Passover meal; “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:14-23).

A memorial is meant to extend past one’s own lifetime as an ordinance for future generations. But sometimes we can take for granted the sincerity and seriousness with which each generation should commemorate such events. We also may try to control others in our own attempts to commemorate or memorialize. As time passes, the seriousness and sincerity of the commemoration wanes, and some people will become frustrated with an “ungrateful generation.” But this is just a fact of life, as the Qoheleth tells us in Ecclesiastes 1:11

“There is no remembrance of earlier things; and also of the later things which will occur, there will be for them no remembrance among those who will come later still.”

So there you have it – we WILL forget. Maybe your generation will remember, but future generations will certainly forget. Those who come after you and whose actions, or lack thereof, are far beyond your control will most certainly forget. They will not hold certain truths to be “self-evident.” They will not hold high the values of human life and dignity in the same way. They may not hate certain manifestations of evil in the same way. They will revise human history as they see fit in order to have a narrative with which they feel comfortable. How do we know this? Because we have done the same things. Every generation revises history with a certain set of biases and cultural values. Sometimes the nuance is so insignificant that it is unrecognizable to the untrained eye. At other times, it is patently obvious to all. Either way, people and cultures change over time, and therefore the overall memory of humanity changes. It wanes and disappears, and we change and forget.

But there is ONE who does not change, nor does He forget.

His story is from old, for He was in the beginning (John 1:1). He does not change (Mal 3:6). He is Faithful and True (Rev 19:11). He will not forget His sheep. He will not forget His promise to those near and those far off. His righteousness does not wane over time, nor does He grow weary of interceding for His people. So, “though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; and though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake with swelling pride,” “we will not fear”(Psalm 46:2-3).

So even though we fail miserably to remember and honor the people and events of our past, let us be encouraged in the Lord, Jesus. His memory is not fickle. He will never forget. Nothing can separate us from His love, and His love does not wane over time.

He is coming again soon, and He will not forget.

The Pastor as Public Theologian

/ Luke Panter / Leave a comment

Published in 2015, The Pastor as Public Theologian sets out to “hasten theology’s return” to the local church pastorate. Strachan and Vanhoozer write together as a plea for pastors to “recover their theological hearts.” They write to churches who need to “reclaim their heritage as a theological community created by God’s Word and sustained by God’s Spirit.” They decry the fact that “the vocation of pastor,” as well as church planter, “has been replaced by the strategies of religious entrepreneurs with business plans.” Altogether, the understanding of the ministry of local pastor needs revival, as it is “the world’s boldest profession.”

A few things bear mentioning in order to whet your appetite for this book. But even if this blog post doesn’t convince you, don’t let that stop you. It’s worth the read for every pastor, but especially for those who, like me, always seem to to vacillate between the two worlds of academia and ecclesia. It’s also helpful for pastors who just need encouragement and to be challenged. Here are a few nuggets from the book.

“A theologian is a minister of understanding. Pastors are not called to practice academic theology but to minister theological understanding.”

“At the very heart of the pastor’s work is the need to foster biblical literacy in the church. What is needed is canon sense: the ability to interpret particular passages of Scripture in light of the whole Bible.”

“Pastor-theologians must have cultural literacy: the ability to “read” or makes sense of what is happening in our contemporary situation. The most important task of the pastor-theologian is thus to ensure that the congregation wakes up and stays awake, becoming aware of culture and what it is trying to cultivate in our hearts and minds. When we truly understand our situation, we are able to do something about it. Gaining understanding produces know-how.”

“The seminary’s primary task is to form the mind of Christ in its students.” (I would add that the primary task of the seminary student is to be formed spiritually rather than educated theologically.)

“The sermon is thus a word full of grace and truth that takes sub-evangelical thought captive, exposing the emptiness of other narratives and false gospels that seek to colonize our imaginations.”

“Disciplined expository teaching, either of creeds or confessions, is the best way for a pastor-theologian to foster theological literacy in the local church.”

Canon sense, cultural literacy, and theological literacy are primary tasks of the public pastor-theologian. No one else can or will practice these disciplines in the church or in the public sphere. The pastor is a general practitioner while professors are academic specialists. The pastor must be nimble, much more widely adept than the specialist, and always expanding his knowledge. Pastors must embrace their distinct calling as the highest calling. We must reclaim our place as public pastor-theologians, and “build the house of God one human household at a time.”

There’s much more to be said of Strachan and Vanhoozer’s book. I found it convincing, convicting, and compelling. Now if I can just find a homiletics book to break me of habitual alliteration.

The Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision. By Kevin J. Vanhoozer and Owen Strachan. Pp. xi, 221. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2015. $22.00. 978 0 8010 9771 3.

A Pillar Among Pillars

/ Luke Panter / Leave a comment

Thanks to Bryan Jerry and Scott Gourley, Pillar pastors gathered at Phoenix Seminary August 2, 2021. It began with a tour of the new campus on Shea Blvd. in beautiful Scottsdale, followed by a meaningful time of discussion with President Brian Arnold and Professor Wayne Grudem. Kody Gibson pulled out all the stops and treated us like royalty. We even had lunch with David Hogg, a new faculty member and notable medieval Christianity historian.

Wayne Grudem encouraged a room full of pastors by stating unequivocally, “the Bible is completely trustworthy and inerrant, and has withstood every test levelled against it.” He shared his intense desire for God to bring revival to North America today, and reiterated the impossibility of “revival without repentance.” His greatest concern for the church of tomorrow- that her unwavering faith in God’s authoritative Word and his design for biblical manhood and womanhood would be met with great persecution from an increasingly secular society. More notable than his intellect was his strength of faith and spiritual warmth. His mind was sharp, his demeanor, pastoral. Dr. Grudem is a true pillar of the faith, and continues to encourage the church to trust in the Lord and in His Word.

Pillar is a network of churches in Arizona and across the world who make this confession together concerning God’s Word:

We believe the Bible, the canon of scripture, is the Word of God. The Bible was given to humanity as a gracious gift of God’s special and authoritative self-revelation. All of the Bible’s original manuscripts were divinely inspired, having been written by individuals as the Holy Spirit carried them along. Because God is the ultimate Author of scripture, the Bible and its individual parts are free from error and are totally true and trustworthy. The central theme of scripture is redemption. It shows God’s saving purposes in Jesus Christ. God’s Word has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. The scriptures alone are the infallible rule of faith for the church. A local church is disloyal to Christ if it strays from scripture in faith or conduct, because the church belongs to Him (Psalm 19:7; Psalm 119:105, 106; Matthew 4:4; Mark 13:31; John 8:31, 32; John 17:17; Acts 20:32; 2 Romans 10:16, 17; Hebrews 4:12; Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21).

Thank you, Phoenix Seminary, for hosting us this month. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

“With biblical conviction and biblical hospitality, Phoenix Seminary welcomed us to benefit from God’s gracious provision.” -Eric Stephens

“What a joy to be welcomed by Dr. Grudem, Dr. Arnold, and all the staff from Phoenix Seminary. True scholars committed to investing in the local church by encouraging and equipping the local pastor.” -Bryan Jerry

Phoenix Seminary was extremely gracious to us. They truly reflected an ethos that mirrored their vision of ‘Scholarship with a Shepherd’s Heart.'” -Scott Gourley

Theology in Community

/ Luke Panter / Leave a comment

“And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these things entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good fellow-soldier of Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:2-3

Prepositions are important things in Scripture. Paul tells Timothy in this passage that there is a chain of custody with the Word of God and the Apostolic teaching of the early church. Paul delivered it to Timothy’s ears with witnesses present, and he is in turn entrusted to give the same message to other men who will be faithful to do the same. The teaching comes from Paul, in the presence of witnesses (church), to Timothy, and on to faithful men.

But not only is Timothy to teach the Word with Paul; he is to suffer with him too.

As Protestant Evangelical pastors, and Baptists at that, we are rarely encouraged or challenged to do messy things together. We do fairly well to cooperate on a tertiary level by attending denominational meetings and funding missionary endeavors. But the theological and spiritual life of a pastor after seminary can be a lonely one. As the time in isolation grows, it can become even more difficult to engage with other pastors on a meaningful level. Conversations with other pastors are usually artificial. Meetings usually center upon ministry pragmatism as we listen to the “experts” tell us how to “pivot” in the midst of societal upheaval and cultural transitions. Prayer is something we do together in order to spiritually bookend our denominational pragmatism rallies. And theology? Just an outdated concept used only by those who are grossly out of touch with their mission field. This is the narrative prevalent in our circles.

Doing theology together is dangerous, but so is soldiering. It is a ‘hardship’ for pastors to do theology together. It takes discipline, accountability, humility, grace, charity, and love. Doing theology together is impossible without honesty and transparency. But we are theologians, and our churches need us more to be theologically well-sharpened than to be denominationally well-connected.

This blog has been created to fill a vacuum of sorts for the pastors and elders within Pillar Network Arizona. It will serve as a place for us to continue doing ‘theology in community’ on a higher level so that we can continue to mature in Christ, and be better theologians and shepherds of our churches. It will serve as an extension of our meaningful monthly gatherings. We will write papers and articles, review books, contribute devotionals, and share sermon insights in ways that are meant primarily to sharpen one another and serve our churches.

This blog is for the theological and spiritual development of Arizona Pillar Network pastors, and therefor the churches within our network. For more information about how to join The Pillar Network of churches, reach out to any of the pastors on the Arizona Pastors page, or click go to thepillarnetwork.com.