Dear Sir,
This is unfamiliar territory for me as, although I may have differing views from writers, I generally consider their points carefully and take to heart what is beneficial.
My comment is small, about a large and helpful article, ‘The call to full-time ministry’, but nevertheless it elicited a response from me.
The point at issue is in section 6. ‘A sense of one’s own inadequacy’. Roger gives a personal view suggesting that those involved in ‘lay preaching’ do so as a ‘kind of hobby!´ They do so in ‘self confidence’ believing that ‘preaching is easy, anyone can do it!’ This personal ‘argument’ takes up most of this section. The remaining comment in the section is good, but in context also suggests the ‘lay preacher’ is a comparative example to it.
In fact I believe section 8, ‘Regarding competency’, is somewhat easier to apply when each preacher is chosen specifically by gifting rather than a ‘ministerial title’.
This type of attack against other equally valid traditions within the evangelical churches in the UK is sad, if not divisive. I am sure I do not need to start listing many great men of God who were powerfully used in preaching who did not fall into Roger’s biased view of those called to a preaching ministry.
Yours in Christ,
