My Journey of Pastoral Scholarship
Finding Encouragement in the Words of George Matheson
George Matheson wrote the hymn O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go in 1882. The lyrics have been close to my heart for many years. Several times, when I have sung them with a choir, I have wept deeply. At least twice, the lyrics have pulled me from the brink of making life-ending decisions.
A biographical sketch indicates that George had lost most of his sight by age 18. He was 40 years old at the time of composition of the piece. He eventually became the pastor of the 2,000-member St. Bernard’s Parish Church in Edinburgh.
I am acquainted with several blind people who are members of the clergy; and I myself am also a member of the clergy. It is difficult for us to find placements due to rampant attitudinal and access barriers. Those who find placements with small churches feel very fortunate. Reading that Matheson served such a large church—and did so for 13 years—fills me with great awe!
This week I attended the Institute on Disability and Theology virtually. I have memory of when there were only a handful of books available in print on this topic and most were written by people who did not identify openly as people with disabilities. The only author I knew of at that time who wrote many books about theology and biblical studies was John Hull. I disagreed strongly with some of the things he had to say. (More on that in another post.)
Matheson’s writing about this hymn reaches deep into my soul. I have no idea what the experience was that prompted him to write the words. I know that I myself have had experiences that caused me to hold to those lyrics like a lifeline. His pastoral heart resonates with mine.
I spent the money I saved from not traveling this week on his books, available from Amazon. I feel blessed to have found them and cannot wait to dive in to his theology and pastoral writings! Perhaps I will find a way to blend my own work as academic and pastor.
Most of my graduate work is in ministry, but I also intentionally took extra courses in Hebrew, Greek, and other biblical studies topics.
Ministry and biblical studies often feel polarized to me. Biblical studies and theology are disciplines that rely on empirical research, and traditional work in these fields does not include personal narratives. Ministry is a field that includes practical research, and authors often write in the personal voice.
Integrating the two sides of my life has not always been easy. On one hand, I have taught biblical languages and related topics. I have particular interests in biblical theology and want to pursue those interests more deeply. I alos have other academic interests. That makes me an academic generalist.
On the other hand, I am at heart a pastor. I am not strictly an academic. I have reasons for my academic interests. I care about what these things mean for the ways in which we live.
Back to George Matheson… Discovering his books was like finding a gold mine. Perhaps some people might think that his collection was just a hodg podge: here some devotions, there some sermons, there some poetery, there—whoa!—some helps for studying German theology!
It’s not a hodge podge. This is the work of a pastor-scholar, teaching others through his writing. I want to be like him.
Here you will find a similar collection of writings. I don’t write much poetry. I do write sermons, devotionals, and teaching content. I also write commentary on theological topics. My primary topic is theology and disability. I have a few secondary topics. I hope you will subscribe and read about them.
I am a singer/songwriter. My music will be found elsewhere. However, a singer is never apart from music. Music is always in my soul. That is the reason for the title of this blog.
עִם שִׁרִי With my song ...may God be magnified.