Comments on: Dude, You’re Not Mark Driscoll, and Other Ways to Find a Pastoral Identity

By: Prad Georges

Prad Georges — Sun, 17 May 2009 01:31:47 +0000

right on!

By: graceshaker

graceshaker — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:30:35 +0000

long ago i grasped the fact that i would not grow up to be an important pastor in the emerging church. im fine with that and i appreciate this post. trying to be someone other than who god made us will get us somewhere other than where god wants us.

By: owenstrachan

owenstrachan — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:47:11 +0000

Andrew, Zach, JohnMark, Ryan, and others, good thoughts. I think we’re on the same track here.

Ryan, glad you’re still kicking around on this blog. You are one of the originals.

Andrew, if you can find that jumper, those dreams might rise once more…

By: Ryan Hill

Ryan Hill — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:18:27 +0000

This post made me laugh because that happens so often and I have seen different ways it has happened in my life with different people I admire. Great post and reminder.

By: johnMark

johnMark — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:26:43 +0000

Good post. The flip side is that we are told in Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Not only do we have a tendency to imitate them, but we are told to do so. Sometimes, I fear, if certain leaders themselves don’t emphasis where we should not imitate them, then the cult of personality can build to unhealthy proportions.

Idolatry is so easy these days, but there are so many to choose from.

Mark

By: Links « Stones Cry Out

Links « Stones Cry Out — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:07:29 +0000

[...] Strachan has good advice for young pastors called, “Dude, Your Not Mark Driscoll.“ I remember in college when I first started preaching my Dad would tell me that many guys [...]

By: docdeer

docdeer — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:19:57 +0000

Great reminder for us as pastors to be ourselves. We can learn from our role models and influences, but we cannot be them. God made us who we are. He allows us to be shaped and mentored by our influences, but we are still who we are in Christ.

By: Zach Nielsen

Zach Nielsen — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:50:01 +0000

Owen,

Great post. I have thought much about this issue as well. I think might of the problem can be diagnosed as laziness stemming from lack of faith.

It’s much easier to look down the street at what pastor X is doing well and assume pragmatically that the same will work for me. Copying is much quicker and easier than actually getting on my knees and earnestly seeking God for what he is calling ME to specifically do.

We quickly forget that the reasons why certain ministries “work” (whatever that means) is because of a variety of factors. One of the primary ones being personality that God has given. All personalities are unique, so we should not assume that I can simply copy another ministry pattern and expect it to work.

This is not to say that we shouldn’t learn from others mistakes or take much advice from those who have greater experience and knowledge, but when it comes to our personal identity as a servant of God, I hope we are more shaped by our time in the Word and prayer than we are from listening to hundreds of sermons from our favorite preachers.

I am preaching to myself here btw… Much more to say, but I have a baby to feed!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:42:19 +0000

In all seriousness, good and sobering word. It also causes me to think of having a a strong community of other men who seek to follow Jesus closely and grow His church, men who will challenge me if I get too “me” centered. The danger is to be so focused on “my” ministry, forgetting the ministry of Christ and His body. Thanks for sharing that.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:39:23 +0000

ummm…so if I can’t be like these guys, what am I supposed to do with my life? my dreams were already ruined on the intramural courts, now they are being shattered in the church.