In Light of the Gospel

I am glad Mark Jones is writing again at his blog, and he has a great post on pastors leaving their churches. Most of his post is a summary of John Owen’s position on this matter, and it is worth considering in a day and time when pastors look at themselves as professionals. Owen describes the problem in the early church: 

“…for when some churches were increased in members, reputation, privileges, and wealth, above others, it grew an ordinary practice for the bishops to design and endeavor their own removal from a less unto a greater benefice” (Works, 16:94). 

It sure sounds a lot like our own time period. Owen goes on to say that this idea of pastor’s removing themselves from one church to go to another church was severely condemned at the councils of Nicea and Chalcedon. Owen writes, “…they would not allow that a man might be a bishop or presbyter in any other place but only in the church wherein he was originally ordained; and, therefore, if any did so remove themselves, decreed that they should be sent home again, and there abide, or cease to be church-officers.”

We need to hear words like this in our day and time. Go read the whole post here.