From Paul @ http://paulhuxley.blogspot.com/2006/12/when-were-they-pastors.html
Spurgeon: 17
Toplady: 21
M'Cheyne: 21
Wesley (C): 22
Wesley (J): 23
Baxter: 23
Edwards: 24 (preaching at 19)
Whitefield: 24
Ryle: 27 (Rector, was a curate first)
Calvin: 29 (Institutes at 26, but at least by 29)
Most of these never had 'secular' jobs before becoming vicars/rectors/pastors/preachers. This list would increase enormous if I included those who never left sacred/academic jobs before becoming pastors. I think virtually all of the greatest preachers and pastors would be included then.
What does that tell you about the idea that pastors must
get 'real world' experience before pastoring? What does it tell you about the idea that people under 30 are 'too inexperienced'?
Imagine that all of those men were told they had to go off and be shoemakers or carpenters for several years before they were allowed to become pastors? Toplady and M'Cheyne would probably have died first.
Not that the average evangelical-wannabe-pastor these days is even remotely comparable to some of those men of faith. But hasn't something gone seriously wrong if we no longer have the faith in God to chuck Godly men in at the deep end and allow them to grow into faithful, long-serving pastors?
Toplady: 21
M'Cheyne: 21
Wesley (C): 22
Wesley (J): 23
Baxter: 23
Edwards: 24 (preaching at 19)
Whitefield: 24
Ryle: 27 (Rector, was a curate first)
Calvin: 29 (Institutes at 26, but at least by 29)
Most of these never had 'secular' jobs before becoming vicars/rectors/pastors/preachers. This list would increase enormous if I included those who never left sacred/academic jobs before becoming pastors. I think virtually all of the greatest preachers and pastors would be included then.
What does that tell you about the idea that pastors must
get 'real world' experience before pastoring? What does it tell you about the idea that people under 30 are 'too inexperienced'?
Imagine that all of those men were told they had to go off and be shoemakers or carpenters for several years before they were allowed to become pastors? Toplady and M'Cheyne would probably have died first.
Not that the average evangelical-wannabe-pastor these days is even remotely comparable to some of those men of faith. But hasn't something gone seriously wrong if we no longer have the faith in God to chuck Godly men in at the deep end and allow them to grow into faithful, long-serving pastors?
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