The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction

by Eugene H. Peterson

Book Overview

Any pastor who needs and wants to get back to basics will do well to absorb this book. Eugene Peterson, well known as "a pastor's pastor," here speaks words of wisdom and refreshment for pastors caught in the busyness of preaching, teaching, and "running the church." In The Contemplative Pastor Peterson highlights the often-overlooked essentials of ministry, first by redefining the meaning of pastor through three strengthening adjectives: unbusy,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802801145
• ISBN13: 9780802801142
• Release Date: October 1993
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
• Length: 180 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Contemplative Pastor

Peterson's The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction (Dallas: Word Publishing, c. 1989), is one of his best books. He begins by insisting on some "redefinitions," which reflect the Christian tradition rather than cultural conventions. Here he says the right title for him is "Pastor," a noun rich in meaning, which include being "unbusy, subversive, apocalyptic" (p. 24). First, pastors should be unbusy. "Hilary of Tours diagnosed our pastoral busyness as irreligiosa solicitudo pro Deo, a blasphemous anxiety to do God's work for him" (p. 27). We stay busy because we want to be thought important, But if pastors must study and pray in order to preach, they must devote large chunks of time to study and prayer, staying still long enough to hear the Word they need to proclaim. Here he compares pastors with harpooners portrayed in Moby Dick: "'To insure the greatest efficiency in the dart, the harpooners of this world must start to their feet out of idleness, and not out of toil'" (p. 33). Second, pastors should be subversive. Folks have been sucked into an unreal world, a temporal world of commerce and fashion and sin. They need to be brought into the real world, God's grace-based eternal kingdom. Our weapon in this spiritual struggle is truth, the truth which infiltrates folks' minds like Jesus' parables. Thus "Words are the real work of the world--prayer words with God, parable words with men and women" (p. 45). The words which give pastors an edge are profoundly poetic, so there's a sense in which pastors should be poets. "Is it not significant," he asks, "that the biblical prophets and psalmists were all poets" (p. 162)? Perhaps that's because good poets revere language and try to use it wisely. "Poets are caretakers of language, the shepherds of words, keeping them from harm, exploitation, misuse. Words not only mean something; they are something, each with a sound and rhythm all its own" (p. 161). Then pastors should be apocalyptic. Preachers need to reveal God through the truth of their proclamation. Like St John, pastors learn through prayer and speak through poems. Unfortunately, today's "pastoral work actually erodes prayer" (p. 52) because the academically-inspired models for preaching are too analytical and abstract. Having redefined "pastor," Peterson then reflects on the "Beatitudes," and their meaning for ministry. First of all, pastors must devote themselves to an ancient craft: the cure of souls. Mainly this means staying attentive to God's mysterious workings in the human heart, dropping hints and illustrating how to be a believer. We need to read creation as God's handiwork, following the lead of Annie Dillard, whose Pilgrim at Tinker Creek Peterson finds must instructive. Dillard studies the mysteries of creeks and mountains. The same care Dillard gives her world pastors must devote to theirs: doing exegesis. Doing exegesis is much like workin

A very helpful book

My husband is a very hard working pastor. He focuses more on other people than on himself. This book reminds him that he must spend time with God for himself first, then he can help others. A great find.

Profound Pastoral Insights

When I first started reading this book, I thought perhaps it was a waste of money. There was no meaty theological discussion, just basic, almost simplistic spirituality. Then it occurred to me that as pastors we tend to get so busy and so preoccupied with the "meaty" theological matters and the more "advanced" spiritual issues that we lose touch with the fundamentals. Here Peterson offers pastors a slower, change-of-pace that is refreshing and renewing.I especially appreciated his chapter entitled "The Ministry of Small Talk." There is a place in our busy lives as ministers to discuss more trivial things with other people. Through spending time conversing about smaller issues, we can make larger strides in relationships.This book is the first one I have read by Peterson. I don't plan for it to be the last. If you are a busy, burdened pastor, it will do you good to read this insightful work.

Should Be Required Reading By All Student Preachers!

If you are a pastor, thinking of going in to the ministry, seminary student etc. BUY THIS BOOK! Peterson's insights are just exactly what I needed someone to tell me 15 years ago when I entered the ministry. This is part of three or four books Peterson has written for pastors and if they have only half of the depth of this one they are all super. Peterson's books to pastors all have cumbersome titles but buy 'em, they're great. Worthy reading! The others are: 'Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work' 'Under the Unpredictable Plant' 'Working the Angles' Check this great pastor's pastor out. You will not be disappointed!

A refreshing walk with a fellow pastor

Eugene Petersons reflections on the struggle of Christian ministry touched cords in my heart. The pain, the joy, the doubts and fears are explored as if we were talking with a fellow worker in the vineyard. I wish I had read this book before entering ministry. Some of the dark times would not a felt so dark knowing that another had asked the same questions.Practical, interesting and a refreshing book to read.