I am also grateful the Lord has provided other elders in the church to tend the flock while he tends to his soul and family. Having had an elder leave our church recently in a less than desirable but sinless way, I was first concerned for his flock.

Having only read 3 sites, I have not read any negative thoughts on this. Thank you Pastor Philip for sharing some concerns! After trying to find anything negative about this, I do wonder how Piper could have allowed it to get to this? Perhaps he recently became aware of this sin. I think it is best to assume so.

However, a valuable lesson to be learned is to deal with our sin quickly and severely, assuming we are aware of the sin. I guess this requires the ever popular “no duh” response. Pride that affects our relationships is serious business, enough to incite the wrath of God against us. How much more for a Pastor in Piper’s position.

there is not anything ‘noble’ about breaking the sabbath, we need to repent. (myself included) this goes for however you choose interpret the law.

Frank and Brad,
Piper has allowed himself to be placed in that international spotlight. Possibly he should have said “no” to that and just tended to his sheep at Bethlehem.

Frank, and Brad,
Please don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mean to suggest that Piper should not be taking a sabbatical. I was only lamenting that such things are so infrequent among church workers in general.

This reminds me of a lesson given to me years ago by an older pastor. He was always energetic, keeping a fast and full schedule. Then he developed health problems, that forced him so slow down. He said to me that he had read the 23 Psalm a million times but only now did he appreciate that is says, “He MAKETH me lie down in green pastures.”
I recall times past (and I suspect every pastor has had this thought) I would visit someone in the hospital and secretly envy them, thinking, “It might not be that bad to break a bone or two and finally get some rest without guilt.”

Work can also become an idol. (I work in an extraordinarily workaholic setting, and I am vulnerable to the temptations of overwork myself, so I have reflected on this a LOT.) Being always on the go, with a planner always full, can become an end in itself. I can see as that would be especially dangerous for a pastor. I commend Piper and any other pastor who recognizes the need to let go, step back, and rest. Whatever the work is, God comes first. If He is not first, then the work is worse than useless anyway.

Our culture pushes a weird combination of hedonism and work-obsession, so it’s essential to have a healthy model in one’s pastor! Work and rest need to both be part of one’s life. Some people need to be encouraged to work more, some to rest more. We need mentors who don’t just tell us, but show us, what a balanced life looks like.

At the start of Lent, when I met with my spiritual director, my director ended up establishing that my Lenten rule be focused on letting go of working so much, and on including sufficient rest in my daily and weekly schedule. As he put it, “It’s a commandment, you know!”

Plus, I figure Pastor John probably gets done in four months what it take me a year to do anyway.

I suspect that you don’t have the pressures day to day that global fame puts on a man. My take on this is that if more guys at the exposure level which Dr. Piper finds himself at took a step back more often, there would be fewer evangelical car-wrecks, ethics and character-wise.

Don’t feed the trolls!

JT

Besides, what would one do? I can see it now, “Honey, I’ve decided to take a year sabbatical.”
“Oh?” she replies. “I anticipate that for a year I’ll have a house that’s all fixed up and spotless.”