Book Review: Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson

In Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor, New Testament scholar D.A. Carson says his book is "a modest attempt to let the voice and ministry of one ordinary pastor be heard, for such servants have much to teach us."

He has succeeded in his purpose. This little book, obviously a labor of love, is a jewel. This account was pieced together using excerpts from his father's journals, the author's own memory, and recollections from friends and family. Carson follows the career of his father as he served as a pioneer Baptist church planter in French Canada from the 1930s until his death in 1992.

I enjoyed this book very much, but there were a few places where I found myself reading faster to "get to the good parts." I'll tell you what they were, then I'll tell you why my opinion doesn't matter.

A good portion of his father's life and career was affected by things that happened in his denomination during that time. Explaining these things was essential to understanding the rest of his father's career. They couldn't have been left out, but perhaps if I had been the editor, I would have shortened them a bit.

I don't, however, think that my opinion on this is valid. Why? Well, I'm sure D.A. Carson had lots of reasons for writing this book, such as honoring his father's memory, and perhaps to encourage other pastors. But I doubt he said to himself, I'm going to write a book about my dad in hopes of being an encouragement to thirty-something housewives in Missouri. I'm sure he doesn't mind if thirty-something housewives in Missouri read his book and are encouraged by it, but I don't think I'm the primary audience.

But church politics, whether it's denominational or just in the local church itself, are part of life (a sad part of life that reflects our sinful natures, but part of life nonetheless). I doubt there is a pastor alive whose life hasn't been affected by these things. To leave them out would leave the story incomplete.

And if I were a lesser person, perhaps I would have gotten bogged down in parts concerning Canadian church history. But that would make me an egocentric American. Since I am not an egocentric American, I didn't. Not at all.

But please don't let these things discourage you from reading this book. This is a 160-page book, and I'm quibbling over a few pages. It's a wonderful biography that can edify any Christian who is occasionally discouraged by the ordinariness of his or her life. There are plenty of books about people who thrill the world with great an amazing things. To read the story of a man who lived a lifetime of faithfulness in the small things, who labored diligently without seeing a lot of earthly rewards, is a refreshing change from most biographies, and the kind of thing there needs to be more of.

In our Purpose-Driven, Megachurch world, I think this book could be a fantastic edification for any ordinary pastors out there. Since only a handful of pastors in each generation receive any sort of professional notoriety, I think that would include most pastors you know (and the famous ones probably got review copies, anyway).

This thirty-something housewife from Missouri read the book in a weekend and enjoyed it. I think most of the readers of this blog (all five of you), would enjoy it, too.