Jerry Vines Blog
When I announced my retirement as pastor of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, I received a letter from a brother who severely rebuked me. He told me that nowhere in the Bible do we find where preachers can retire.
He was exactly correct, of course.
What the brother failed to understand is that God sometimes re-assigns his servants.
Dr. Charles Swindoll spoke at the Thomas Road Baptist Church “Refuel” conference last week. Swindoll is said to be the second most influential living preacher, after Billy Graham, in a recent LifeWay Research survey. The 75-year-old preacher said some interesting things (for a more complete article on his message, check out Friday’s Vines Lines membership section).
Among them, he said he had no plans to retire. He challenged pastors against pursuing the American dream of retirement.
Swindoll said, “I don’t want to hear a one of you say ‘I’m living for the day I’m going to retire.’ A pastor doesn’t retire.”
Speaking from the Bible picture of a pastor as a under rower, he said, “We got to keep that oar in the water. When they think of you let them remember you kept your oar in the water.” (The Christian Post, 5.20)
Of course, Swindoll himself has been re-assigned on a few occasions. From his church in California to the presidency of Dallas Theological Seminary and now again to a pastorate.
I resigned as pastor of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville. Does that mean I have resigned from the ministry? No.
Have I retired from being a preacher? Nope. It just means I have been re-assigned.
I have “re-tired” and I’m still rolling for Jesus!
