Unfortunately, the ministry is not exempt from self-seeking glory hounds who long for attention and strive to climb denominational ladders. Even among the truly faithful, God assigns some to large churches with many resources….and he assign others to labor in obscurity with few sheep to his charge. Those with worldly eyes immediately see the “mega-church” pastor as successful and the “mini-church” pastor as a failure. But thankfully, pastors (indeed all Christians) stand or fall based upon the judgments of the Lord Jesus Christ, rather than the judgments of the world. And Jesus judges by a different standard. Ultimately Jesus commends faithfulness over flair, perseverance over pomp, and service over stardom. Believe it or not, in this world of pastors seeking superstar status, Jesus loves the “ordinary pastor” who slaves away for His master amid ridicule, mockery, and persecution. Such a man was Tom Carson.
In the book: “Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson”, D.A. Carson tells the story of his dad, who faithfully served as a Baptist missionary/pastor in 20th century French Quebec Canada; a place which was overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. Through those hard years of ministry, Tom and a handful of others faithfully preached the gospel in the midst of much spiritual darkness, with very little visible fruit to show. A normal Sunday might have 20-30 people in attendance. A good Sunday (which was rare) might have 40. For many years the Carson family lived in the same building in which they ministered. The kitchen and bedrooms would double as Sunday School classes. Tom and his devoted wife Marg would disciple the men and women they led to Christ. And they would sacrifice much to get the gospel to Quebec.
Ironically, out of this obscure Baptist household would arise one of the greatest New Testament scholars of our day. D.A. Carson (Ph.D. - Cambridge University) serves as Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. In addition to this, he has lectured and preached in over 70 countries throughout his life. I first heard him when he delivered a series of lectures at my alma mater, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2000. What you immediately discover upon hearing Carson speak is that he is no “ivory tower” intellectual who is removed from the messiness of pastoral ministry. While his diction and grammar are erudite, his messages frequently cut to the heart. I have been richly blessed by his preaching, as well as his writings…this book included.
I would recommend this book for any Christian to read, especially pastors. We desperately need a Christian America that rejects equating success with numbers. In truth, God doesn’t grant every Pastor a “mega-church.” Indeed he grants it to very few. Most are called to faithfully shepherd their “few sheep.” Some, desiring to grow at any cost, have chosen to turn the church into a marketplace; polling the unconverted masses upon what they want in a church. But the church doesn’t belong to the non-Christians…nor does it belong to the Christians. The church belongs to Christ and if it is to remain a legitimate church it must submit to Him alone and faithfully teach truth; accepting that God may grant you many….or He may grant you few who come and worship among you. The faithful man of God must be content to persevere, leaving the numerical results to his Lord and Master. In short, faithfulness equals true success. Always has…always will.
Tom Carson was faithful. According to D.A., Tom was not a fantastic preacher, nor a charismatic personality. Through his ministry he was given at times to depression and discouragement. He held himself to an amazingly high standard, then berated himself for falling short. By the end of his days, he had served both full-time and bi-vocationally; and had done much as a layman watching other men bear the fruit of his labor. Yet he never bemoaned this. He rejoiced to see the gospel go forth and the church grow.
His last several years were spent in nursing his wife through Alzheimer’s disease. D.A. Carson writes of what a tremendous example he saw in his dad’s care of his mother. He never complained. He never lost patience with her. He nursed her to the end. Then a few years later, he too went to be with His Lord.
Tom Carson was a man who would have never been known, were it not for his famous son. But Tom Carson is the type of minister that should be emulated. Perhaps by God’s grace, America will see many young pastors who aspire to the faithfulness of a Tom Carson as opposed to the fame of the latest faddish clerical superstar. Faithfulness is necessary for genuine success. And what the world calls genuine success doesn’t always include faithfulness.
Read this book and be inspired by a normal man….who was yet extraordinary in his devotion to his Lord and his family. As the title indicates, Tom Carson may have been an “ordinary pastor” – but let us pray that God gives his church many more like him. Men willing to be considered ordinary, so that Christ might be seen through them as the extraordinary Savior that He is.
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