Written by Eddie Gibbs
Reviewed by Jay Thomas
A favorite genre of pastoral literature for me is the “journey of ministry and how to be a faithful pastor to the end” genre. My life has been indelibly marked by pastor-authors such as Eugene Peterson, Kent Hughes, and now by many wise (albeit young) pastoral voices who address the theme of perseverance in ministry. I am often drawn to books and articles that teach me how to chart the difficult course of pastoral ministry with a firm evangelical resolve, a theology of suffering, and with a greater concern for personal character.
So when I had the opportunity to review a book called The Ministry Journey: Insights from a Life of Practice by Eddie Gibbs of Fuller Theological Seminary, I was encouraged. And yet, Gibbs’ book deviated from my expectations. Let me start with a weakness of the job. First, the book lacked a clear purpose. The title suggests that this book will describe challenges and offer wisdom about professional ministry. One might expect treatments on topics such as what vocational ministry involves, what the challenges are in these areas, and what a biblical and wise way to persevere and grow in these areas looks like. Yet the book did not address such crucial issues.
Second, the book lacked a coherent metaphor. Again, the title suggests the common metaphor of a “journey.” Thematic books like this do not require a running metaphor, but if the title suggests it and the early chapters use one, then the metaphor should be retained. The chapter titles begin with “walk,” then “obstacles.” So far, so good. But then we move on to “death,” then “team building,” then “networking,” and so on. We are now a long way from the travel metaphor. These other concepts are important, but the connection with the reason for the trip becomes distant. So we wonder what Gibbs is aiming for and how he plans to get there. Are we talking about professional ministry, ministry in general (professional and lay), or are we talking about Christian life in general? It wasn’t clear. At times the topic seemed very focused on the professional leader of the ministry. At times he addressed the Church in general. And at many times it speaks to the individual believer who is simply on the journey of life as a child of God.
Finally, each chapter (and even some chapter subsections) covered topics so broad that the subject might have merited its own monograph. Massive issues of contextualization, leadership culture and communication were given very broad attention, and then the reader was propelled to the next topic. Gibbs should have covered fewer topics and gone further and with more nuance. It was almost as if four different semester-long courses that Gibbs taught at Fuller were crammed into this book. This became frustrating and counterproductive.
Let me then offer some praise, which is indeed deserved. The journey of ministry, although scattered in its vision, is full of good ideas. The subtitle “insights from a life of practice” is indeed accurate. If you can overcome the lack of focus, mixed metaphors, and breadth of each topic, you’ll discover some gems.
Firstly, Gibbs is very basic and simple. There are no strange spiritual prescriptions, nor clumsy means by which he recommends pastoral disciplines. He offers simple advice, taken from the Bible and illustrated from his life. Most pastor readers won’t learn anything new, but this book, at just the right time in a struggling pastor’s life, could provide reminders and encouragement that will do deep soul work.
Second, Gibbs’ tone is seductive. I’ve never met him, but from his writings he seems like a grandfatherly figure that one would like to spend time with and draw wisdom from. Some of the best mentors I’ve had rarely gave me new perspectives on ministry and life, but instead constantly pointed me back to the glory of Christ, the truth of Scripture, and the future joy of heaven. I appreciated Gibbs’ tone, and what the book lacked in incisiveness and clarity it made up for in its modest, organic wisdom and warmth. For example, although the pastor’s marriage was not a direct theme, the way Gibbs spoke about his wife was both a challenge and a lesson about the centrality of a healthy marriage to ministry.
Third, the lack of a defined audience, pastor/lay leader/individual, has actually opened the door for a wide range of people to glean this book. You don’t have to be a pastor to relate to most of the chapters. But the educated pastor will have good information on contextualization, the evolution of leadership culture in the West, the place of formal learning versus relational learning, etc. There is something for everyone in the book.
Finally, the book is very anecdotal, and therefore narrative, which brings abstractions to life. Concepts that implied a certain depth of sociological and theological understanding were simplified by the way Gibbs illustrated the idea in his life while also showing the importance of the concept for practical discipleship. Although I often got tripped up by non-sequiturs or inconsistencies in the book’s form, the book commands attention through heartfelt, touching, and often humorous accounts of Gibbs’ life.
What is the result of this criticism? Is the book worth reading? Yes. It will be particularly useful to lay people who are increasingly interested in some of the broader issues of formal ministry in a postmodern world. The person who needs to understand the broader issues of personal discipleship and ministerial life will benefit from this book. Is it for the veteran pastor who wants a very clear focus, with a depth of insight and theological depth akin to a Puritan work? Probably not. Regardless, if one’s expectations are adjusted and one focuses on the sincerity and wisdom of the writer, this provides a useful introduction to long-term life and ministry.
Jay Thomas
Jay Thomas
Chapel Hill Bible Church
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States