Editorial -- By: Richard L. Mayhue
Journal: Masters Seminary Journal
Volume: TMSJ 06:1 (Spring 1995)
Article: Editorial
Author: Richard L. Mayhue
MSJ 6:1 (Spr 95) p. 1
Editorial
The Master’s Seminary exists to advance the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping godly men for ordained ministry as pastors and/or trainers of pastors. Our President, John F. MacArthur, Jr., has appropriately articulated our “reason for being” from the Scriptures. I have included his biblical remarks here for new readers who may not be acquainted with TMS and as a reminder to those of us who have embraced this purpose at some time in the past.
Calling of God
It is a trustworthy statement, if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach…(1 Tim 3:1–2)
A Serious Calling
“The call to become a pastor is a serious calling. That is made evident by the way 1 Timothy 3 begins. The apostle Paul used the formula “It is a trustworthy statement” or “This is a true saying” five times in the Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim 1:15, 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11; Tit 3:8). Apparently that formula identifies an obvious fact; so we see the early church held the conviction that when a man aspires to serve in leadership, he desires a noble task.
Those early Christians knew that leadership is an essential part of church life (cf. Acts 14:23; 15:22–35; 20:28–31; Phil 1:1; 1 Thess 5:12–13; Heb 13:7, 17; 1 Pet 5:1–5).
God has always called upon leaders to guide His people. In 1 Sam 13:14 we read, “The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart.” God told Ezekiel, “I searched for a man…who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one” (Ezek 22:30).
Samuel Logan Brengle, an outstanding leader of great scholarship and spiritual power, notes that leadership “is not won by promotion, but by many prayers and tears. It is attained by confessions of sin, and much heart-searching and humbling before G...
Click here to subscribe