Charles, H. B. On Pastoring. Chicago: Moody Press, 2016. ISBN-10: 0802414605. 208 pages.
H. B. Charles is the pastor-teacher at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida. He has been a pastor for over 25 years and speaks at churches, conferences, and conventions around the country. He is the author of It Happens After Prayer and On Preaching.
Summary of the Contents
The overall goal of this book is to function like a ministry compass to make sure pastors are heading in the right direction in the adventure of faith that is pastoral ministry. (15) The author addresses what it means to be a pastor and draws from various sources of learning experience, studying, teaching, and obeying the Word of God. (12)
The chapters of the book are arranged in three sections. The first section focuses on the heart of the pastor. The pastor is to be a Christian and has a vibrant relationship with God, seeks to please god only, and never stop being discipled while discipling others. His main concern is to be godliness more than gifts. Godliness will both glorify God and leave a legacy. The three most important things for children to say after their father’s death should be “I know my father loved God, my mother, and me unconditionally.” (41) Charles urges pastors never to seek prominence but to be faithful where God has put them. A pastor should plan to stay in a community longer as it has lasting benefits with people. The author warns pastors not to loosen their pastoral convictions for the sake of seeking to be hired and to watch out for being distracted by secondary matters.
The second section deals with the leadership of the pastor. The chapters offer practical wisdom for leading your church with integrity, wisdom, and love. He should put first what the lord says he should put first especially prayer and bible reading. From these also comes ministry effectiveness and the means by which to retrieve it if it is lost. To solve conflict effectively the pastor needs wisdom “knowing when to speak and when to hold peace, when to move and when to keep still.” (95)
In planning preaching in advance, the preacher is enabled to prepare ahead, and plan also for the days he is not preaching so that he can rest and rejuvenate. It is sobering to know that it is not only for the pastor, but his church needs a break from their pastor (102) and this will also help those you train to learn how to preach. Charles challenges readers “Pastoral ministry is not a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself for the long haul. Stay in the race. And finish strong. (102). In deciding whether to stay or leave it is important to pray (114), trust in the providence of God (115), know your priorities (115), get godly counsel (116), consider what fits you (117), follow the sense of divine calling (118).
The final section of the book entails the public ministry of the pastor. Many of these chapters address preaching and teaching, the definitive function of the Christian pastor. Our authority does not rest in our skill, knowledge, or experience. It rests in the word of God. (130). The author argues for expository preaching because it guarantees that people will hear from God, not from man. The pastor’s main job is to use time wisely to make sure he has time to think, write, and pray before he preaches. (149) In praying pastor needs God to guide his thoughts (151), his heart (152), and govern his words (153). This section makes it clear that whatever the area of ministry in the church the pastor is to use the Word of God as his main tool. The last chapter is pregnant with tips, truth, and principles gleaned from Charles's twenty-five years of pastoral ministry.
Reflections
H.B Charles, in this book it is clear that this book is to function as a ministry compass to both young and old pastors about what being a pastor is. Like Lectures to My Students or Criswell’s Guidebook to Pastors, this book is a practical assessment of pastoring. The author writes in a style where the reader feels like they are sitting across and getting a face-to-face lesson on pastoring. Like a good preacher, every chapter has a summary statement and there is a balanced use of Scripture, experience, and great illustrations and stories.
This book treats the subject of pastoring with due respect. Whether young pastors or seasoned preachers walk away from this book concerned about glorifying God in the preaching ministry, leaving a godly legacy, and fighting for Christian vitality daily. Charles’ chapter on the lessons he learned from his father will leave every pastor desiring and praying these are things their children say about them. The outstanding parts of this book are in dealing with seemingly small yet pivotal areas in pastoral ministry. Amongst many of these treasures is encouraging longer in pastorates, the advice for the pastors not to separate the opportunity to disciple and lead the church even in meetings. Every pastor falls into a pit of trying to evaluate Sunday mornings. Charles provides splendid questions to evaluate.
In Chapter Twenty-six Charles gives practical wisdom for counseling that helps the pastor from being stuck in an indefinite cycle of counseling. While this chapter is helpful it also leaves concerns in regard to the place where the pastor may partner with professional Christian counselors in the area to refer people, he believes have deeper problems like the gentleman who got angry after the pastor’s inability to meet. The parishioner’s concern is very legitimate representing many men in the church, it seemed brushed aside in this book.
Chapter twenty- Nine deals with the seven ways a church can encourage its pastor. These are prayer, understanding, financial support, regular attendance (174) attentive listening, encouraging, and obeying the word (176). While every pastor would be thrilled at the above, the author spends little time fleshing out how pastors should let their congregation know these sources of encouragement.
Overall, this is a great book on pastoring.