Still Not Professionals
Ten Pleas for Today’s Pastors

Still Not Professionals: Ten Pleas for Today’s Pastors is a celebration and extension of John Piper’s Brothers, We Are Not Professionals. With two brief exhortations from Piper and eight others from veteran pastors, this short ebook aims to strengthen and challenge Christians in general, and pastors in particular, for the labor of everyday life and ministry. The contributors were asked to express their “heart of hearts” for fellow leaders. You’ll find these chapters tap into profound human themes, in both the pastor and his flock, and will be of use, we hope, beyond the North American context of the contributors.

by John Piper Modal , Daniel L. Akin Modal , Thabiti Anyabwile Modal , Mike Bullmore Modal , Sam Crabtree Modal , Ray Ortlund Modal , Jeff Vanderstelt Modal , and Douglas Wilson
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Full Text:
BROTHERS, WE ARE NOT SUPERSTARS
Daniel L. Akin
Jesus summarizes the purpose of his incarnation in Mark 10:45 when he says, “Even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
This profound and crucial statement—which weds the “Son of Man” of Daniel 7:13–14 to the “Suffering Servant” of Isaiah 52–53, and redefines what kind of Messiah-Savior our Lord would be—comes on the heels of James’s and John’s request that Jesus would give them seats on his right and left in Glory (Mark 10:37). James and John are crystal clear in their inten- tions and goal: They want status, not service. They want the position of a king, not the calling of a slave. They want to be looked up to, honored, and revered. They wanted to be super- stars, not servants.
Don’t Play the Ostrich
Tragically, today, when it comes to the ministry, the stan- dards and criteria for success are too often culled from the world, and not from the Word of God. To deny this is to play the
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Still Not Professionals Ten Pleas for Today’s Pastors
ostrich, stick our head in the sand, and simply ignore the mas- sive evidence that swirls around us. Allow me to share what I see. Evangelicals have their cult-heroes and cult followings.
This is true both inside and outside the local church. We have our groupies who pine after their “Christian rock stars.” Such stars are given almost infallible status, at least by their devoted fans, and if they are not careful, they may begin to believe what blogs, fans, and fellow superstars say.
Suddenly, the green monster of pride sneaks into their lives and an attitude of entitlement begins to transform a once gra- cious and humble servant into a hulk-like prima donna who less and less resembles the simple carpenter from Galilee. Sub- tly, over time, I convince myself that I deserve a six-figure sal- ary. I deserve to live in a big home and drive an expensive car. I deserve to have people wait on me hand and foot and respond immediately to my every request. Furthermore, they can expect to receive a quick and painful tongue-lashing if they move too slowly or fail to meet my exalted expectations. Why, I may even fire them for not measuring up to my personal expectations.
I become too important and my time is too valuable to meet with common people, people who cannot help me further my agenda. I am too busy in “my ministry” to respond to letters, answer emails, return phone calls, or schedule appointments.
And amazingly, I become almost...