John Mark Comer on the Role of a Pastor Amidst Today’s Expectations, the Church as an Alternative Society, and Cultivating Peace Despite Circumstances
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John Mark Comer joins Jason for the second time on our podcast to share about his reflections and learnings from this past year and what his future looks like as he transitions out of his pastoral role at Bridgetown Church.
They start off reviewing the ways this past year has caused trauma, hurt, fatigue and division in the church and what the pastoral task is in the midst of this. In the last few years, John Mark highlights how he has felt a distinct shift in people’s expectations of him and the increased criticisms pastors are receiving. No longer is enough nuance, a relaxed presentation, and deep cultural analysis and study enough to avoid attacks being hurled at teachers and churches. In light of this, pastors need a deeper conviction than ever on what Jesus has called them to, not just what people want from them; John Mark sees this as primarily centering around a sort of spiritual director and shepherd for people.
Jason asks what the role is of the church amidst these cultural conversations. John Mark unpacks the idea of the church as an alternative society, not meant to shape all of culture itself, but rather to give an alternative culture where people experience the kingdom of heaven on earth. Part of this calling for pastors to form these communities is to suffer on behalf of their people, or as John Mark defines it, pastoring is vicarious suffering.
To do this, our inner peace must be based on the truth’s of Jesus and not our outer surroundings.
John Mark wraps up by sharing about his upcoming sabbatical, his next book “Live No Lies” and some of his top book recommendations from 2021 so far. We loved this conversation and hope John Mark’s words will encourage and serve you well.
“I’ve been learning to say, ‘God what would please you today? Because there’s no way I’m going to please everybody.’”
His Book Recommendations for 2021
How to Reach the West Again by Tim Keller
Into the Silent Land by Martin Laird
A Beginner's Introduction to the Philokalia by Anthony Coniaris
Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman
John Mark Comer
John Mark Comer lives, works, and writes in the urban core of Portland, Oregon, with his wife, Tammy, and their three children, Jude, Moses, and Sunday. He is the pastor for teaching and vision at Bridgetown Church. A church built around the very simple idea of practicing the way of Jesus, together, in Portland. As for education, John Mark holds a master’s degree in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary and is the author of Garden City, Loveology, God Has a Name and The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. You are welcome to follow more of John Mark’s teachings via the Bridgetown Church podcast or This Cultural Moment, a podcast he co-hosts with his friend Mark Sayers on following Jesus in the post-Christian world.
Coming Up Next
Episode 61: Vijay Krishnan
Vijay Krishnan is the Lead Pastor of The Well, one church with 3 congregations in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. Vijay began his career working in the Toronto business community for 10 years doing CPG and Retail marketing. During that time, he helped launch The Well and in 2009 transitioned into the Lead Pastor role. Vijay is passionate about seeing the unchurched, de-churched and post-everything people of the GTA come to know and love Jesus. Vijay, his wife Jenn and their three boys are thrilled to be in ministry in the local church. Vijay’s other passions include playing sports with his kids, listening to loud music, reading crime novels and snowboarding the mountain-less terrain of Ontario.