Words to Winners of Souls

This classic little gem on the Christian Ministry is a must read for any Minister of the Gospel and those who aspire to the ministry. It is doubtful that any faithful Christian Pastor will not be deeply moved by this brief short but powerful treatise. A good portion of the book deals with the Preachers life and is an indispensable guide in that regard.If a man of God desires the Lord's blessing upon his labours to ,to advance God's Kingdom,he must be godly and ever seeking to be more holy.His example whether good or bad will speak volumes to those who are under his ministry. In addressing 'the coldness' of those who are considered sound and faithful ministers the author writes on p.15 "Men cannot but feel that if religion is worth anything,it is worth everything;that if it calls for any measure of zeal or warmth,it will justify the utmost degrees of these;and that there is no consistent medium between reckless atheism and the intensest warmth of religious zeal." In one sentence Pastor Bonar summarizes what the heart,soul and purpose of the Christian Ministry is:that being ,to convert sinners(through the preaching of the Gospel)and edify saints.He exhorts ministers to examine their ministry in that light,has that indeed been the desire of their hearts,to see sinners saved and to give direction to the Lord's people. Under God's blessing 'Words to Winners of Souls' will instruct,correct and encourage with the result being a more fruitful ministry to the praise and glory of Almighty God.

I received a copy of Bonar's small volume while attending a Billy Graham School of Evangelism. Nearly didn't read it, but picked it off my "to read shelf" as an evening devotional. It is a superb touchstone for the faithfulness of one in full-time Christian ministry. Bonar provides a conscience for a pastor. It is as if he has been following the minister around and knows where he has been shirking his/her duty as a shepherd to one of God's flocks. Highly recommended for all pastors as an occasional check on our faithfulness and effectiveness as a shepherd.

Well, the first thing I should say is, put your crash helmet on before you open this slender volume. In fact, that might be the only thing I should say--but I'll push onward. Bonar opens the book with an appeal for ministers who are awake. That is, he laments the state of a church that has convention centers full of clergy, but barely a bathtub full of true shepherds. Did someone say, "ouch?" From there he moves on to paint a portrait of a "living ministry," that is, a ministry that is alive with passion and awake to the realities of heaven and hell, sin and salvation, meaning and futility. Then he proceeds to rub our noses in the picture that he's painted. Again, ouch--Bonar seems to have few hesitations about kicking a man when he's down--with golf shoes on, no less. In chapter 3 Bonar begins to name, with great candor and force, what he calls "ministerial defects." That is, those areas of pastoral ministry which are most vital, but most neglected. One has the sense that if he were to walk into the "offices" (as they have come to be called) of most pastors today--he would reveal his Scottish blood and take a broad sword to their hineys. In chapter 4, one of the most moving and inspiring (and humiliating) chapters I have ever read, Bonar quotes the Scottish Ministerial Confession of 1651. This is, in short, a corporate confession of the varied (and detailed) sins of the ministers of the church of Scotland. This alone is worth the book. It is telling, convicting (in the truest sense of the word), and I think, exemplary. In the final chapter, Bonar ends on a more hopeful note (the hug after the beating) and points us to a vision of revival in the ministry. So, why only 4 stars? Well, most simply put, I'm not sure that Bonar captures the fullness of the Biblical motivation for ministry. In fact, I'm sure that he doesn't. His motivation (at least in print--were we to have a conversation over blood pudding he might nuance a bit) is that the blood for lost souls is on the heads of negligent ministers. True, in some sense, but not complete. At times, his motivational powers come more from the heat of hell than from the warmth of the gospel. It is a fiery, penetrating, and exposing blow at ministerial laziness and presumption, but there are times when his fire can drive, not to Biblical ministry, but to despair, and to ministerial imbalance. So, read with this in mind. But by all means read. And re-read. Only make sure that your helmet meets Federal safety standards--you'll need all the help that you can get.