Inverted Calling

I just read an article about Gary Collins, a seventy-three year old speaker/author who stays young by working out several times a week, actively seeking opportunities to hang with young men and women and constantly asking great questions. He stays extremely well informed regarding current trends in ministry – three of his recent reads: UnChristian, Off Road Disciplines, and The New Christians.

I really appreciate guys like this. I think it displays incredible humility and a passion to keep learning.

On the other hand, as a young minister I think I have a different calling than Gary. I’ve read all three of the books he mentions, and while I learned a lot from each, they really just reinforced what I already knew. I’m not saying that I don’t have to work to stay informed but at twenty-nine I think I am just naturally more in-tune with current ministry trends.

In fact, I have begun to realize that I am an information junky. I am constantly downloading and listening to podcasts, reading blogs & magazines, or searching for the latest trends in music, culture, and religion.

I think that a younger minister’s calling is really the inverse of Gary’s. I have to discipline myself to spend more time reading the “classics” – Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Bonhoeffer, Chesterton, etc. I need to find the time to sit down with older men and see things from their perspective. I also need to make a conscious effort to limit my information consumption and focus instead on prayer, scripture reading, and meditation.

I think things like this probably come more naturally to guys like Gary – which is why he must discipline himself to stay informed on the current trends.

Comments

[Paul Kelly]

I have been thinking about this more and more lately. Upon taking in all of these current books, blogs, podcasts, etc... I find myself more and more just relating to what everyone is saying. It is more just reafirming what I already know. I really feel I need to start focusing more of my time on the deeper issues like what you have stated above. I feel like a lot of our generation is finding themselves trapped in the same rut we are. We have grown up with information at our fingertips and we are trying to pack as much as possible in the littlest amount of time. We become oversaturated. When what we might need to be doing is going deeper with less. I am rambling now but this has really helped me think through some stuff. Thanks

[Rob Edwards]

Paul,
You nailed it when you said the challenge is to discipline yourself to get familiar with the classics. One of the most important classes I took in seminary was a survey of the classics of Christian devotional literature. As a 21 year old student I read books then that are my companions on the journey today.

Awesome insight!

-Rob