A Most Dangerous Profession [Hardcover]

Description: Every Christian is assailed by the gales of temptation, but those in professional ministry face fiercer storms than the rest. As C. H. Spurgeon warned, contrary to what is often assumed, our dangers are more numerous and more insidious than those of ordinary Christians. This perspective was shared by the unified voice of the historic church, leading some patristic church fathers to initially flee the call to ministry. The same dangers were repeatedly identified in the writings of the early English pastoral theologians as they sought to mentor their prot?g?s in successful ministry. A Most Dangerous Profession surfaces these gems so often overlooked in historic Christian literature, and ends with their practical advice on how to overcome. As both a pastoral and spiritual theology, A Most Dangerous Profession is bound to add an important voice to the ongoing dialog about pastoral self-care. Endorsements: Eric Sorenson has done an important piece of work in retrieval--making available for us the pastoral wisdom of the ecumenical and historical church. He reinforces work done by others on Gregory of Nazianzus, John Chrysostom, and Gregory the Great. His recovery of the pastoral theology and practice in the English church in the centuries following the Reformation is both timely and refreshing. We owe the author our gratitude for his digging in the good soil of ministry past, and for his handing it on to us. --Andrew Purves Professor of Reformed Theology Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Assembling an array of pastoral voices, drawn primarily from the Church Fathers and the English Reformation, Eric Sorenson explores with great skill the 'dangerous' work of ministry. He reminds us again of the high and hazardous call to ministry which demands attention not only to the normal stresses of a high-demand job but to the special dangers of pastoral ministry and the need to develop those habits of spiritual health that will sustain pastors over the long hal£x