Ministry After “The Shelf”

A young pastor proposes new programs in his first church. Some follow his leadership, but others resist change. After two years, the congregation “blows up” and the pastor is forced to resign. His early dreams of ministry have been shattered. He feels he has been “laid on the shelf.” He finds a new job selling life insurance. A senior pastor, respected by many for his sermons on marriage and the home, finds little time to nurture his own family. Suddenly, his congregation finds him gone, having taken the church organist with him.

Eternal Security

Evangelical Christians continue to be divided over the issue of whether or not truly saved persons can forfeit their salvation Certain biblical passages have been used to support each of the views. In this brief article, the major views will be presented, and the view which this author believes to be the correct one will be supported by an examination of Romans 8:28-30. View #1: Truly saved persons can forfeit salvation by sinning but may regain salvation by repentance. According to this view, sin destroys the believer’s relationship to Christ.