“Our books may come to be seen where ourselves shall never be heard. These may preach where the author cannot, and (which is more) when he is not.”
This statement produces tremendous conviction for me as I realize that my words are not my own. As as pastor, I am called to be a steward of the mysteries. The Second Helvetic Confession reminds us that,
The Preaching of the Word of God Is the Word of God. Wherefore when this Word of God is now preached in the church by preachers lawfully called, we believe the the very Word of God is proclaimed, and received by the faithful; and that neither any other Word of God is to be invented nor is to be expected from heaven: and that now the Word itself which is preached is to be regarded, not the minister that preaches; for even if he be evil and a sinner, nevertheless the Word of God remains still true and good.
The calling for all pastors, great and small, is to preach in season and out of season, which means “where he is not and when he is not” through the use of the pen – or in this case the internet. Luther once commented that “Satan hates pens.” May the Lord redeem the internet as a medium for the expansion of His kingdom in our day as He did the printing press in a former day. May he truly grant us to be a church which is ecclesia semper reformans, semper reformanda.
This forum is mean to be a place where the preaching of men who are, neither here nor now, may be heard again.
All Preachers, Great and Small 