For some reason, I started receiving a newsletter called Theology Matters a couple of years ago. It is a publication out of Greenwood, SC and appears to be from a Presbyterian perspective. I think it comes out quarterly. I don't always read each entire issue, but sometimes there is an article that catches my eye. In the Fall 2018 issue, they reprinted an essay from Eugene H. Peterson. You may know this author from his publication of The Message, a paraphrase version of the Bible written in modern English. I don't know much about Peterson except that he was a PC-USA minister and may or may not have leaned a bit left. In any case, they reprinted an essay from him entitled, "Returning to Basics," which discusses the ordination vows taken by - at least some - Presbyterian ministers. In particular, he focuses on the sixth vow: "Will you in your life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world?" Peterson notes that this seems quite odd to include in ordination vows. This may be something you would ask a person entering the Christian life, not a question for someone who is about to be ordained. This question seems so basic to the faith...shouldn't we assume that a minister would already be committed to this?
But Peterson notes that "[m]any a Christian has lost his or her [this is a hint a left leaning - MP comment] soul in the act of being ordained. This vow returns us to the basic vocation of being a Christian, a mere Christian." The essay goes on to discuss the vow, analyzing it according to each of the three sub-vows.
Over the next couple of posts, I want to focus on "Will you in your own life love your neighbor?" I think the subject of this vow is not only important for ministers as leaders, but for any Christian who is leading people in any context.
No comments:
Post a Comment