Pastoral Theology

The Pastor in the Various Duties of His Office

Author: Thomas Murphy

Publisher: Old Paths Publications
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN: 1889058017
ISBN-13:
Pages: 509
Size:
Weight: 0.00

Book Description

Thomas Murphy, who pastored the Frankford Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA, saw that the pastoral ministry was no ministry at all without the primacy of the faithful and diligent preaching of God's Holy Word. With this comprehensive work of 1877, Murphy in his typical and authoritative style says, "In almost all instances the pastor will lose his influence and position of usefulness when he is not diligent in the labors of the study. It is nearly inevitable that it should be so. In innumerable cases the secret of the decline in the popularity of ministers is to be found here. The fact cannot be concealed from the people when their pastor is habitually negligent in his preparation for the pulpit. They will see it and feel it, even though they may never cast a glance inside the study. They will perceive it in the crudeness of his discourses, and in the repetition of the same thoughts, the same Scripture quotations, the same stories and the same illustrations month after month. And can they be blamed if their interest flags and they soon grow weary? They are not fed; they learn nothing; there is nothing for them to learn; and their attention must soon be gone."

"Many, many ministers should look to this as the cause of their unpopularity, and not to the unreasonableness of their congregations. If they would make diligent preparation, not only for each particular sermon, but also for the general work, by incessant thought and gathering of material, it is not often that the people would lose their interest in either the preaching or the preacher." Murphy's fervent zeal for faithfulness, diligence and integrity in the work of the ministry can be seen when he says, "There are special temptations to which, from its peculiar nature, the ministerial office is exposed...Some are liable to be led away by spiritual pride, and then to become impatient of opposition, and to show a domineering spirit that is most offensive...Slothfulness is one of the besetting sins of this office, and that because of the habits of seclusion and the possibility of postponing duties, and because there is very often no other pressing impulse than the voice of conscience." This book contains a scholarly introduction by Dr. David C. Lachman.