Mar
08
2010
About Justin Taylor
Follower of Christ. Husband of one, father of three.
Elder at New Covenant Bible Church. VP of Editorial
at Crossway. More…
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19 Comments
What is the purpose for these tours of mere men’s rooms for study? It looks for all the world to me like idolatry.
Did you watch the video?
Steve-
Learning from others- particularly those who have been serving for years- is wise not idolatry. There is always the temptation to make any man an idol. That can happen in a seminary class toward a professor, through a favorite author, or another preacher. However, learning from others should not be forsaken.
Steve-
Does this stike you as idolatry? How so? Because they walked through a room where Pastor Anyabwile works? Because he showed us the couches where he talks to people? Because he noted the books on his shelves? Could it be because he showed us a nice gift given to him that represents the love of his former church? Did you sense a lack of humility? Did he promote himself in any way or prize his study above the Gospel?
One of the beautiful results of the work of organizations like Together for the Gospel and The Gospel Coalition is the renewed call to pastors to be scholarly-minded, pouring themselves into the best possible learning so that they might, in turn, pour the best possible Scriptural work into the hearts and minds of their people. The men who speak at these conferences, including Pastor Anybwile, realize the high calling of role-model and teacher that God has entrusted to them. It is not simply their words that God is using to raise the next generation of pastors, it is their integrity, character, and the Gospel-faithfulness of their work and lives.
When Pastor Anyabwile speaks of his books as conversation partners, he’s not pointing out how great his books are or how great he is for having them. He is modeling what it means to remain faithful in reading in order to draw on the rich tradition available to us. When he holds a picture of his family and describes how they look down on him as he studies, he is giving a profound testimony for the priorities in ministry.
As a young pastor, I often wonder whether I am using my time and resources well. Pastor Anyabwile has been a role-model for me since I first heard him speak at T4G in 2008. So when I have the opportunity via video to learn a bit about how this man conducts himself in the office, how he structures his resources for the best possible use of what God has given him, I am encouraged and helped in my ministry.
That’s the purpose of these videos.
Thanks for sharing something very personal and important in your life. See you in April, 2010.
I just do not get the continued accusation of idolatry when we are given a tour of a pastor’s library. It’s absurd. I let the members of my congregation in my library all the time, and I even loan them books. I should quit that, lest they be tempted to worship me, or worse, fail to return my books!
These “tours” remind me of Jeremiah 7:4–”Do not trust in deceptive words and say, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!’” Do we really believe that as long as our pastor has a fine study that our church will be blessed? This sounds like Israel in Jeremiah’s day: “We’ll be fine as long as the Temple of the Lord is here!”
Move on, people–nothing to see here in these tours. My people know I need a place to study, think and pray. They do expect that I conduct tours through them to prove that I do these things.
These “tours” remind me of Jeremiah 7:4.
Really? Really?
Yes. Really.
I am genuinely interested in and blessed by these wonderful looks into the places where faithful men pray and prepare. I look forward to them when they appear. It spurs me on to be faithful with and thankful for the resources with which God has blessed me to study and prepare to teach and preach. As love believes all things and hopes all things, I think we can rest assured that the motivations of the godly men producing and participating in these study tours is honorable and for the encouragement of us all. With that said, I don’t know of a commentary on my shelves that would sustain such a regretful misapplication and implied accusatory wielding of Jer 7:4.
Steve, I did a bit of digging and found your church’s website and your blog. After looking over your blog, it looks to me like you have a lot of fine thoughts to share. You serve your people well for offering them your work there.
I noticed in the right column that you list a number of your “favorites.” Favorite blogs, churches, ministries, newspapers, etc. Even your favorite preachers get a section. All of these are complete with links so other can check out what you read and find the value you see in these other sites. On closer inspection, many of your posts contain quotes from Kent Hughes, David Wells, and other authors you’ve read. All very helpful and encouraging to those who look to you for encouragement.
Now since all of this is on the web and intended to be accessed by others who will look to you for pastoral leadership, can you please explain to me how this is any different from giving others an online tour of your study?
Applying Jer. 7:4 to these tours………………..FAIL.
Take #2 on the burgeoning Touring-(Certain)-Famous-Pastors’-Offices phenomenon:
I don’t believe it’s prima facie wrong to be curious about your hero’s stuff. So nuts to you, Jeremiah guy. On the other hand, I also don’t think it’s necessary to dress up such normal, human interest in pious language about being ‘spurred on’ etc. You can just say, ‘I read this guy’s books, I see him speak at conferences, I talk about him with my friends, I’ve taken a lot of his thoughts to heart – hey, wouldn’t it be cool to see his office?’ No harm in that at all.
Hence, I’m inclined to see these tours as nothing more than a fun curiosity on the part of these people’s fans.
Hi Justin S. – I said I found these tours interesting for what they were. I agree there is nothing at all wrong with being curious about one’s hero’s stuff. That I said I felt “spurred on” is something I truly feel – these tours make me want to get into my own study and spend time there. I was not not “piously dressing” anything up.
Fair enough – I’m not going to argue with your own self-testimony. I would still maintain, however, that what makes these videos worthy of inclusion on so venerated a place as JT’s blog is the fact that celebrities are fascinating to us. Again, nothing inherently wrong with that – but it is what it is.
Hey, I get books signed by theologians I like sometimes – being a fan is fun.
I totally agree. I’m a fan, too. I have some pretty cool autographs, myself. Now, if these tours would only “spur me on” to straighten up my study…
Where did all this legalism come from. Idolotry? Come on…let’s get serious. These are all humble men that have devoted their lives to teaching the gospel. I can’t imagine R C Sproul having an idolotrous bone in his body. Ease up out there and give these great men a break!
So as to be clear about the reference to idolatry, I never said or intended to imply that the men in these videos were idolatrous. Their room for study, however, is capable of becoming an idol in any man’s heart. I am really surprised at the comments being left here by those who believe in the depraved condition of the human heart. As we showcase these rooms for study, I suspect that there are some who envy what God has blessed these men with. Other men will likely be discouraged by what they don’t have in comparison. Some will wonder what good they can do for the Kingdom since they don’t have such a study.
Think that there aren’t men like that out there? Check your own heart first. And let’s think about what our Lord said about keeping private those things that need to be kept private (Matthew 6:6).
Obviously, quite a few disagree with me which is fine. I continue to see this “parade of offices,” though, as silly. I can see a little better now why non-Reformed people think that we Reformed are stuck on ourselves, for sure.
Hey Guys,
I enjoy these study tour videos greatly. It’s great to know what these men are upto when they are not on the pulpit.
Does anyone know who these intro songs are sung by?
Thanks!