NOTHING SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED OVER 2000 YEARS!!!!!

Paul lamented  about a tremendous need he saw in the Corinthian church, and I think he was expressing his concern for the whole of the New Testament church. In 1 Cor. 4:15 he says

FOR THOUGH YOU MIGHT HAVE TEN THOUSAND INSTRUCTORS IN CHRIST, YET YOU DO NOT HAVE MANY FATHERS, NKJV

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND WHO CAN’T WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WRONG, BUT THERE AREN’T MANY FATHERS WILLING TO TAKE THE TIME AND EFFORT TO HELP YOU GROW UP.    MESSAGE.

Paul had seen these Corinthian Believers born again, and felt they had been left to make it on their own, like throwing a baby into a swimming pool and saying “ok, now swim”.

I came to see that my major ministry was to cause  Believers come to maturity, through Biblical Discipleship and Mentoring, and then to see them begin Discipling and Mentoring.

Like so many Believers, I WAS NEVER DISCIPLED but through trial and error, pain and tears, 2 steps forward and three steps back, I began to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. With my call to ministry there came a desire within to disciple and fulfil the Great Commission, but sadly it took almost twenty years in Pastoral ministry before I really had a handle on what it truly meant to disciple others

I have said numerous times how much I love Facebook, it has been such a personal blessing to me, through the various posts I have read and pondered upon, and then the contacts around the world that come to you through FB. Interestingly there are ministries from particular nations that have wanted to relate to me. Especially countries like India, Myanmar, Kenya. I have had to learn (and am still learning) what is the person’s motivation, generally after ever the first conversation you know, because requests for finance are uppermost in their minds, but there are so many others who simply start calling me daddy.

I am writing this post, because just this week a Minister from an Asian country (who also heads up a great national ministry) asked to relate to me, as he so wants a father (Mentor).

I think there are many fathers in the Body of Christ (sadly most of them have never been Mentored like myself) so don’t know how to go about it, and are thus fearful to even contemplate such a ministry. Sadly, also in almost every generation there comes an attempt to do this, but it has become extreme and unbalanced, and we react and “throw out the baby with the dirty bathwater.

A New Testament and Early Church Fathers scholar, who is a dear friend, tells me, that although Paul modelled the Fathering ministry, with men like Timothy and Titus and John Mark etc. by the next generation the truth and practice had virtually  been lost.

My heart aches for the Asian brother I have mentioned and although face to face fathering is the ideal, I will seek to minister to him, and encourage him in his walk with God, and that by God’s grace, he will fulfil the purposes of God for his life in his generation.

As Margaret and I were driving to an appointment yesterday I mentioned to her  about this situation, she is encouraging me to consider writing a manual on fathering/ mentoring/coaching. WHAT DO YOU THINK? WOULD IT BE HELPFUL?  I would sure lay a strong foundation on the Biblical basis and the need for a relationship, (not a cold uninvolved connection).Starting right is essential, if we start right there is a greater chance of finishing well.

I am coming to see that most of my public ministry is coming  to an end because of age and health reasons.As a result of my last blog  on the Sovereignty of God numerous friends have suggested I need to prayerfully consider other forms of ministry that I can continue to do.  So I seek your prayerful guidance on all of the above. I sincerely ask you to write a response on this matter.