The Reformed Pastor

The Reformed Pastor (Puritan Paperbacks), Richard Baxter. Banner of Truth Trust (ISBN: 9780851511917) 1974 (first published in 1656).

Summary: On pastoral care, beginning with care of oneself, and then of the people, emphasizing catechesis through visitation.

In the mid-1600’s, Richard Baxter was vicar of a church in Kidderminster, England. He took a town that was pretty rough around the edges and taught them to follow Christ as a godly people. Surrounding ministers in Worcestershire asked him to give a series of talks about his ministry in 1656. This book was the result of those messages and served as a handbook for generations of pastors who want to be diligent shepherds of their people.

The outline of the book reveals why this has been such a helpful guide. Firstly, Baxter stresses the importance of oversight of oneself before oversight of others. He is concerned that pastors have truly been converted and know the grace of God in their lives. Furthermore, he urges them to persevere in those exercises that keep grace “lively.” He would have them practice what they proclaim, and avoid the sins against which they preach. He argues for the importance of this oversight recognizing both the importance of working out one’s own salvation. Likewise, there are the vulnerabilities of our own fallen nature as well as the greater temptations of public ministry.

Secondly, he teaches on the nature and manner of the pastor’s oversight. He extends this to all the flock. It seems he has a parish or locality in mind. He includes seeking the conversion of those who do not believe, including those under conviction of sin. Then he addresses building up those who believe, including families and especially the sick. Oversight also means reproving those engaged in some form of sin, and leading the church in discipline of those who refuse to turn from sin. Throughout, his focus must be on the salvation of his people, and those things most necessary for them to enjoy all the riches of that salvation. He commends a series of attributes that set a high bar for all pastors: simplicity, humility, seriousness, love, patience, reverence, spirituality, and a deep sense of one’s insufficiency for this work and dependence on Christ.

Thirdly, he turns to how pastors may neglect their ministry. He speaks of laziness in preparation and study, indifference to the needy, and being caught up in material things. He also condemns neglect of the unity and peace of the church. Previously, he has encouraged unity with other ministers. Pastors are not to be fractious!

Finally, the latter half of the book turns to a major focus, the catechesis of people through visitation in homes. As important as he considers preaching, he argues that much of the work of seeing Christ formed in people occurs through this personal work. He personally set aside two days for this work weekly. Baxter begins by listing seventeen benefits of this work from conversion of the lost to better knowing the spiritual state of one’s people to revealing the true nature of the ministerial office.

He takes time to address objections and difficulties. One is that there are too few ministers to do this well in many situations. However, he does not see lay leadership as an answer for this apart from heads of families with their own families. Then he offers a detailed set of directions on both the content of their catechism and the “flow” of a pastoral visit.

While our language may differ at points from his and our culture may differ from the parish culture of Kidderminster, I think there is much any pastor or person involved in ministry. First is the importance of attending to one’s own spiritual life and the qualities of godly ministers. Second is the importance of evangelism. Have people experienced a genuine work of grace or are they just socialized Christians? Thirdly, Baxter raises the vital importance of catechesis, and the reality that pulpit ministry alone will not accomplish this. It may not be through extensive visitation, but some other structure. Today, the lack of Christian formation is evident in aberrant beliefs from Christian nationalism to syncretic/eclectic faiths. Fourthly, there is the issue of knowing one’s people. Wendell Berry has suggested that farmers shouldn’t farm more land than what they can steward well. Perhaps the same might be true in churches.

Many have commended the re-reading of Baxter periodically and I think this worthwhile. But I’d also commend those like Eugene Peterson who have also thought deeply about the integrity of pastoral ministry, something deeply needed in our time. Given so many scandals, regular self-examination, mutual care with other pastors, and hopefully, the humbling sense of our insufficiency apart from Christ, are all things to be commended.