The Minister as Shepherd Book

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free.
This is an OCR edition with typos.
Excerpt from book:
Ill The Shepherd's Opportunity You have all heard that the day of the preacher is gone. The printing press has taken away his occupation. He still goes on speaking, but it is to a dwindling congregation, and by and by all the pews will be empty. The decadence of the pulpit is one of the popular themes of our day. The contrast between the modern pulpit pigmy and the pulpit giant of a former age is a subject with which sportive spirits make merry. And now it is beginning to be whispered that the day of the pastor also is gone. The modern world has no need of a shepherd. The typical pastor of bygone generations is an antiquated figure for whom no room can be found on the stage of our modern world. The ancient custom of catechizing children 84 from house to house, and calling entire households together for Bible reading and prayer, the fatherly offices of counsel and admonition, and the gracious and intimate ministry of the spiritual guide—all this is a fashion which has passed away. The world has outgrown the need of a shepherd. Education has fitted men to think and act for themselves. Man is no longer a sheep. Every man is his own shepherd. Pastoral guidance is an impertinence. Wealth has increased and has brought with it a new sense of self-confidence and independence which will not brook interference from an ecclesiastical official. Men now have many helps which they did not possess in former days. A multitude of magazines and books furnish all the information and stimulus which are needed. The pastor knows nothing which it is not possible for the alert layman to know. He may, like other men, make social calls and chat about things of current interest, but the old need for pastoralattention is gone. Whatever guidance is desired will be gotten from leaders who speak in ...