Condolences to Baker Family

[Walkin' with Jesus]

(Caveat- I am not saying that any of the following is true of Pastor Baker. I know nothing of him other than what I have read on the internet and I am simply speaking of personal experience here. hopefully it will benefit a younger pastor or missionary.)

Speaking from many years of experience- being a pastor or a missionary is often the loneliest job in the world- even when you are surrounded by people.

The pressures are multiplied if you allow yourself to be put on a pedestal and do not grow a very deep personal devotional life with Jesus and His Word daily.

I find that my personal time with God is the only reliable cure for bouts of loneliness. Time with other ministry leaders can be helpful, but often it turns into a "dog show"- who has the best hair, the biggest church, biggest offerings, gives the most to missions, etc.

If you are a young preacher, the best advice I can give you is this- keep Jesus before you always. Everyone and everything else will fail you.

[Excelsior]

Originally Posted by Walkin' with Jesus

(Caveat- I am not saying that any of the following is true of Pastor Baker. I know nothing of him other than what I have read on the internet and I am simply speaking of personal experience here. hopefully it will benefit a younger pastor or missionary.)

Speaking from many years of experience- being a pastor or a missionary is often the loneliest job in the world- even when you are surrounded by people.

The pressures are multiplied if you allow yourself to be put on a pedestal and do not grow a very deep personal devotional life with Jesus and His Word daily.

I find that my personal time with God is the only reliable cure for bouts of loneliness. Time with other ministry leaders can be helpful, but often it turns into a "dog show"- who has the best hair, the biggest church, biggest offerings, gives the most to missions, etc.

If you are a young preacher, the best advice I can give you is this- keep Jesus before you always. Everyone and everything else will fail you.

That is good advice for all of us. Part of the problem is people who are like the children of Israel crying, "Give us a king!" We all need to focus on Christ above all. If that were so, then pastors could feel like one of the family.

[pastoroneal]

I have an idea, Bob, that this case has very little to do with his health and is more of a spiritual issue, involving his relationships with God, the devil, and people.

I do agree with what you said, however, about the pressures of the ministry. I've just written a little booklet called "Temptations of the Ministry" that is to be ready at the printer tomorrow morning, to give out to the preachers who attend our annual Preaching Jubilee tomorrow at our church.

May the Lord bless you in every way.

Originally Posted by Bob

He had to have something going on health wise to have done this.

[Trab]

Originally Posted by pastoroneal

I have an idea, Bob, that this case has very little to do with his health and is more of a spiritual issue, involving his relationships with God, the devil, and people.

And what is the reasoning behind this theory? Are you of the persuasion that clinical depression has nothing to do with brain chemistry and everything to do with sin?

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by tojasonharris

all indications are that he did.

This is a heart-breaking situation in which a godly man seems to have failed of the grace of god for a brief time. We can only imagine the burdens he was bearing.

But i would hate for the means of his death to overshadow the testimony of his life. He was a man who impacted so many of us. I trust we will demonstrate the grace which god has shown to us in our response to this tragedy.

what??????????

[pastoroneal]

I have heard reports about this pastor's particular situation that make me feel that this was not a health problem. I'm waiting for confirmation before I would say that as a fact. We'll see what time reveals.

Originally Posted by Trab

And what is the reasoning behind this theory? Are you of the persuasion that clinical depression has nothing to do with brain chemistry and everything to do with sin?

[Exposition]

So sad. Sometimes situations get huge and seem so big. I hate that for his family.

[Ransom]

Let's see . . . KJV-onlyist and strident anti-Calvinist. God continues to purify his Church, one false teacher at a time.

I feel sorry for Baker's family, though.

[Trab]

Originally Posted by pastoroneal

I have heard reports about this pastor's particular situation that make me feel that this was not a health problem. I'm waiting for confirmation before I would say that as a fact. We'll see what time reveals.

Ok. I see. Thanks. I was jumping to conclusions.

[Exposition]

Originally Posted by Ransom

Let's see . . . KJV-onlyist and strident anti-Calvinist. God continues to purify his Church, one false teacher at a time.

I feel sorry for Baker's family, though.

Horrible logic. Anyone who thinks they've got God cornered can look ugly in any circumstance. In that way, IFBxers and hard-core Calvinists have much more in common than either side would ever dream.