Dangerous Calling, by Paul David Tripp

I want to thank Crossway Publishing and especially Angie Chetham for sending me an advance copy of Dr. Tipp's new book.  This book will be released for purchase on October 31, 2012.  But it can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com at this time.

This new book by Dr. Tripp is one that every Pastor should put in his library and one that they should make a point of reviewing (re-reading) at least every 18 months or so.  The book is an encouragement to Pastors about how serious the calling to Pastoral ministry is.  It is also a reminder that if we are not careful we will fall into some very bad habits and wrong thinking that will bring harm to the Kingdom and disrepute to the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This book is also one that every Elder Board should take a look at.  It will be helpful to remind them of the dangers of the Pastoral Calling and Ministry and what they can do as the church board to hold their Pastor’s accountable as well as bring encouragement into their Pastor’s lives.

The main concept that struck me most from this work was the idea that, “We do not teach well the word of God or serve the church well unless we are awestruck by the Power & Nature of our Lord and Savior.”  This was a central theme that was well developed, especially in Part two of the book.  Most Pastors enter the Pastorate because at some point in time in their life they were “awestruck” by the power and majesty of the Lord.  But as they continue to serve they often times find that the “awe” of the Lord starts to diminish.  In place of that “Awe of God” they start to have an “awe of themselves!”

The book is divided into three sections. 

·              Section one examines the “Ministry Culture” that Pastors fine themselves in. 

·              Section two examines the “Danger of losing your Awe, i.e. forgetting who God is.” 

·              Section three deals with forgetting who you (the pastor) are.

Dr. Tripp in section one deals quite a bit with reminding Pastors that they are taught in seminary that they should be a bit aloof from their congregation.  They should live in isolation because of their calling.  But he points out the dangers of this type of life style, how it has the tendency to cause the Pastor to feeling as though he is a bit above others, when in actuality we are the same when it comes to the chance of Satan hitting us with a bout of pride or arrogance.  Now, he isn’t saying that the Seminaries are teaching wrong things; he is just concerned that sometimes Pastors don’t get a good picture of their need for accountability and how to be transparent and vulnerable with their congregation in ways that are building for them and the Kingdom.

I found myself in such agreement with the many things that Dr. Tripp wrote, and also found myself convicted of where my own attitudes and life style have fallen short, that I have ordered a case of these books to be delivered once they are printed so that I can share them with many Pastors whom I care about and feel will benefit from this book.

This book is not written for laypeople, it is written specifically for the clergy.  BUT, if you are a layperson and you care about your pastor and the dangers that he faces on a regular basis you will also learn much from this well written text.  Maybe you could also purchase the book as a gift for your pastor and give it to him along with a note of encouragement from you that you care about his life and ministry.