Guest Posts and a Recap of 2020 Struggles
When NBC aired sitcom re-runs back in the late 90s during the summer, they advertised using the slogan, “If you haven’t seen it, it’s new to you.” I always thought that was clever marketing. The slogan has come to mind each time I’ve bought a “new” car, by which I meant a used car that, because I hadn’t driven it before, was new to me.
As 2020 ends, I want to share with you my guest posts that were published in 2020 (list below). A “guest post” is an article written for another website. Sometimes I’m invited to write for these other websites, and, to be candid, sometimes I try to invite myself. Regardless, if you have not read the articles yet, well, they’ll be new to you.
Considering how difficult this last year has been, perhaps the first post might be the most interesting to you. The January article explores potential ways that 2020 might be a difficult year but, come what may, exalts God’s goodness and sovereignty. In the final paragraph I write,
We’ll have plenty of hindrances next year, but none too great for God’s love and power to overcome. As Paul says elsewhere, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37). A “no hindrances” mentality in 2020 means something more gritty than prosperity preachers teach and something more glorious than any politician can offer.
I had no idea what the “plenty of hindrances next year” might entail, though it did not take a prophet to see election troubles in the forecast. I had no idea one of my former pastors would take his own life. I had no idea our church would be maliciously cyber hacked. I had no idea we’d close down our in-person church services for thirteen weeks. I had no idea our pastor-elder team would spend dozens of hours discussing a piece of fabric placed over the mouth and nose of church attendees.
Speaking of masks, just last night before bed I received an email that another family will not attend church until our policy on face coverings changes. I’m glad the person emailed me back when I asked how they were doing and if they were okay because I hadn’t seen them lately. I’m glad the person responded because most people have ghosted our church.
Jesus spoke of shepherds who leave the ninety-nine to find the one missing sheep (Luke 15:1–7), but I struggle to know what to do as lead pastor of a church that fifty percent of our regular attendees do not attend regularly. Around 150–200 people are missing from our in-person gatherings each week. It’s hard to pastor people you can’t see. In fact, I have pretty much given up chasing non-members and decided to just do my best to pastor our members and those in front of me, and whoever comes back in the spring comes back.
I’m not trying to rant. I’m simply underscoring that when I wrote for The Gospel Coalition that I had no idea what hindrances we’d have this year, I really did have no idea. I’ve not even cataloged half of the struggles.
But what I said in my article about God’s goodness and sovereignty is also true: no hindrance is too great for God’s love and power to turn it for his glory and our good. I also take comfort knowing that, as Peter said, “the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world” (1 Peter 5:9).
My favorite article from the year—and perhaps my favorite piece of writing from all time—came out of the struggles related to Covid and other challenges in pastoral ministry. I titled the article “Bending the Covid Bow of Bronze” and wrote it for our church denomination, the Evangelical Free Church of America. If you read only one of my guest posts, I’d encourage you to read it.
Thank you for subscribing to my blog this last year. I don’t take it for granted.
Thanks,
Benjamin
Guest Posts in 2020
“Neither Sin nor Death nor Elections Can Hinder God’s Work in 2020,” The Gospel Coalition, January 2, 2020
“Expository Preaching and Anchoring to the Rock,” EDA MOVE, Evangelical Free Church of America, Eastern District Blog, January 22, 2020 (an audio reading of this post by Benjamin appeared on the EDA Move Podcast, here)
“An Interview with Chuck DeGroat, author of When Narcissism Comes to the Church,” Christianity Today, online February 17, 2020, and the March print edition
“How to Land Employment in the Local Church: A Brief Overview,” an excerpt from Don’t Just Send a Resume at the Gospel Relevance blog, February 25, 2020
“Bending the COVID Bow of Bronze,” EFCA NOW, Evangelical Free Church of America Blog, May 13, 2020
“Redeeming Pastoral Ambition,” 9Marks, June 12, 2020 [Also, reposted as “Redeeming Pastoral Ambition,” For The Church, October 6, 2020 and reposted as “Redimiendo la ambición pastoral,” 9Marks - Spanish Website, November 24, 2020]
“Know Where to Find a Pastoral Job after COVID-19,” The EFCA Leader’s Network, June 9, 2020
“Fathers, Ask for Their Heart (And, Preachers, Write a Poem),” EDA MOVE, Evangelical Free Church of America, Eastern District Blog, June 18, 2020 (an audio reading of this post by Benjamin appeared on the EDA Move Podcast, here)
“A Book Review Jesus Driven Ministry by Ajith Fernando,” 9Marks, July 30, 2020
“Book Review: Don’t Just Send a Resume, by Benjamin Vrbicek” a review written by Kris Sinclair, 9Marks, August 8, 2020
“10 Tips for Finding a Ministry Position During the Pandemic,” The Gospel Coalition, August 14, 2020
“Pastor, Why Aren’t You Preaching About What’s Happening? [Part I],” Gospel-Centered Discipleship, August 31, 2020
“Pastor, Why Aren’t You Preaching About What’s Happening? [Part II],” Gospel-Centered Discipleship, September 2, 2020
“A Book Review of Analog Church by Jay Kim,” 9Marks, September 17, 2020
“The Wrath of God Should Come into Our Minds More Often,” EFCA Now, Evangelical Free Church of America Blog, November 17, 2020
“A Book Review: A Little Book for New Preachers, by Matthew D. Kim,” 9Marks, December 3, 2020
* Photo by Matt Botsford on Unsplash