And when the chief This commitment was allow Ood's word to step on

Shepherd shall be manifested, contagious. our toes. We always needed

[the good under-shepherd] Oreg Bahnsen liked it.
shall receive the crown of nothing better than to be in An often neglected part of
glory that does not fade away. the pulpit preaching Ood's a pastor's job is to confront
On Monday, December word. This is where he really and ultjmately discipline
11 at approximately 4:15 came alive. Though some those who are wandering
PM, Dr. Oreg Lyle Bahnsen were better than others, I from the fold. Dr. Bahnsen
died in St. Joseph's Hospital never heard a mediocre never skirted this thankless
from heart failure, six days sermon from his lips. AU and difficult task. As all good
after he had surgery on his were full of rich content and pastors, he was firm in his
dysfunctional aortic valve. delivered with conviction. belief that church discipline
On that day the church of Dr. Bahnsen often told his was necessary to maintain the
Christ lost one of her purity of the
great leaders, his four r-----
I
------.-I'------,--.." church, lead the
children lost a loving f)ee;u tory Rel I straying sheep to
father, his parents repentance and
lost their first born, on vindicate the
a 'My Dea r Pae;tor
companion. On that Miohael ,/'5u'i;ler so reluctantly and
overcast December with a heavy
day I lost my pastor, congregation that he had heart. Only the Lord knows
the man who watched over already preached the sermon how many tears he shed for
my souL to himself. We knew that those who strayed from the
Though Dr. Bahnsen had this was not a rhetorical trick fold. My guess is an ocean
been my pastor for only three to make the bitter pill of what fulL
short years, his ministry had he was going to tell us go
more impact on my life than down easier. He had a
all of my previous pastors broken spirit before Ood and
combined. A good friend a very tender heart. He
told me after the memorial never come to us
service that knowing Oreg hypocritically. When he
Bahnsen was preached on attitudes or
life-transforming. Indeed it actions that he personally
was. Not only was his struggled with, he would tell
ability to teach Ood's word
unsurpassed, but his counsel,
his care, and his devotion
bore powerful testimony to a
life that was fully committed
to taking everything captive
to the obedience of Christ.
us.
His congregation always
knew it was in for it when he
would preface his exhortation
by the words "I don't mean to
step on anybody's toes, but ..
" He would then proceed to
Incredibly, Dr. Bahnsen '
was sometimes criticized by
his detractors and people who
did not personally know him
for being cold, abrasive and
quick to condemn. I've even
heard a few of people say that
he did not have a pastor's
heart. These are cavils from
base and weak men. I knew
him to be nothing but warm
and genuinely concerned.
Though he was an extremely
busy man, he always had
time for those Ood entrusted
to him.
January! february, 1996 THE COUNSEL of Chalcedon 21
His personal life was full
of heartache and
tragedy. He was .
lonely and
sometimes
depressed. He
often confessed this
sin to us. 'Despite
the broken heart he
waS always ready
to minister to
others. 'The
congregation's needs were
placed above his own.
Dr. Bahnsen's pastoral
ministry alSo went e l l
beyond the confines of
Orange County. Many
people (inc!udingpasfors)
arourid world looked to him
for theological help and
pastoral advice. Not only did
they receive wise counsel, but
also were ministered to by his
personal concern for their
spiritual health.
There IS much more to say
about Dr. Bahnsen as a pastor:
he was a great presbyterian,
he worked extremely well
with his Session, he was"
generous and hospitable, he
gave comfort for those who .
grieved, he always had the
right word to say. Again; I
could g(i) on. But I will end
with what is perhaps the
most poignant testimony of
his pastoral care.
From December 4 (the day
he was admitted in the '
hospital for surgery) to
December 11, the hospital
waiting room was always
I crowded by members of ,hiS '.
congregation. Many took
several days off from work,
some stopped home-schooling.
their children, and others let
holiday errands go .undone.
Several members spent more
than one night on
uncomfortable hospital chairs
or pacing hallways. Prayers
were ceaseless and eyes were
rarely dry. The love that his
congregation had for their
pastor will forever remain one
of Dr. Bahnsen's chief glories . .
As Paul said of theqalatians,
his congregatioh'was ready to
pluck their eyes out for their
dear shepherd.
I will miss Dr. Bahnsen. I
will miss him as my
theological mentor arid my
good friend. But I will miss ,
him most as my pastor. I .
know there Will be others; Out
there will only be one qreg
Bahnsen. When he was
buried last December a piece
of my heart was buried with
him.
On the last day when the '
Lord lays all things bare
before him arid he metes out
22 THE COUNSEL ofChalcedon * January!- February, 1996
I
punishments and rewards, I
. ' have no doubt that
Dr, Bahnsen will
be wearing a
crown of glory,
And as one who
was never
enamored with his
own
achievements, he
~ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ' will promptly take
it off and lay it at
the feet of the One whom he
loved more than life itself.
For to Dr. Bahnsen to live
was Christ and to die was
gain. n
Philippians 1:21