tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859743654504906992.post2188455315698253985..comments2023-05-18T05:55:12.586-05:00Comments on Critical Thinking: Book Review: Brothers, We Are Not Professionals by John PiperJared Tottenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02281732280151894322noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859743654504906992.post-48534483237466917132013-10-09T17:02:23.148-05:002013-10-09T17:02:23.148-05:00I don't know why, but this book really irks me...I don't know why, but this book really irks me. I say that being a John Piper reader and having benefited from his other books.<br /><br />Here's why this one bothers me:<br /><br />From the point of view of a Christian engineer (myself) how does this book come across? It makes me think about whether or not I should label myself as a professional. <br /><br />Piper has unwittingly separated the pastors from the rest of us. They are "up there" with the special status. They can't call themselves professionals, but the rest of us can?!? It's ok because the rest of us don't have this special status.<br /><br />If pastors should not think of themselves as professionals, what are the rest of us "ordinary" Christians supposed to think of ourselves? Does John Piper have a problem with Christian engineers or Christian accountants calling themselves professionals?<br /><br />I understand that he is addressing pastors and the wrong mindsets towards ministry that often creep in. He certainly should do so.<br /><br />But think about the result of this book. Now the word "Professional" has this negative connotation.<br /><br />The word, if you just simply look at the definition means a type of career. in this sense a pastor is just as much a professional as anyone else.<br /><br />The book title should be "Brothers, We Are Not Merely Professionals". That would solve the problem he is aiming at without denigrating those of us who use this word proudly. There is nothing wrong with being a professional as long as one does so in a Christian attitude and heart.<br /><br />Just something to think about.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05785117370509117149noreply@blogger.com