Pastor Paul: Nurturing a Culture of Christoformity in the Church

In this wise work, New Testament scholar McKnight (The Jesus Creed) uses the ministry of Paul to guide pastors in their vocation. With deep affection for a pastor’s “complicated calling,” McKnight explains how pastors are nurturers of “Christoformity,” meaning that they are meant to conform to the principles and disposition of Christ. With this focus on spiritual formation, he emphasizes that the central activity of pastoring isn’t preaching, but rather it is listening to God. McKnight warns pastors against being tempted by the celebrity and image-driven world of social media. Instead, he writes, pastors should focus on the heart of Paul’s ministry, which he categorizes into seven themes: a culture of friendship, siblings, generosity, storytellers, witness, world subversion, and wisdom. While McKnight holds up Paul as a lodestar for living faithfully, he also criticizes some of Paul’s choices, such as his rift with Barnabas and John Mark: “I confess that I think Paul was just too hard-nosed.” McKnight frequently digs into the Hebrew or Greek of the Bible to better expose the true meaning and context of passages, but his tone remains conversational throughout. Though best suited for those in the pastorate, general Christian readers will relish McKnight’s insightful exploration of Paul’s letters. (Sept.)