So You Want to be a Preacher?
by Jefferson David Tant
There is no more noble aspiration than to be a servant of the Most High God in seeking the lost and encouraging the saved. After more than 65 years of engaging in this labor of love, please allow me to share some perspectives from my viewpoint. With my father and grandfather having been preachers (beginning in 1881), perhaps I can offer some worthwhile thoughts.
Preaching Is Not a Way to Get Rich
If you are looking to preaching as a way to line your pockets with silver, you have made a poor choice. While it is certain that in general preachers are supported better than they were in times past, preaching is not a path to wealth. I suppose there have always been those who looked upon it as a way of gain, as Paul had to deal with such attitudes in his day. “And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingers not, and their destruction slumbers not” (II Peter 2:3). In Romans 16:18 he wrote of those who “serve their own belly,” and then in I Timothy 6:5 he warned about those “who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.”
We are encouraged to trust in the Lord. “Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). One said preachers are to be humble and poor, and that we should depend on the Lord to make us humble, and the brethren to keep us poor. Paul said he had learned to be content with much or with little (Philippians 4:11-13). It would do well for every young man wanting to preach to read J. D. Tant, Texas Preacher and see how it was 100 years ago when most preachers had to farm and do hard labor in order to feed their families while they preached.
In my first work among the Choctaw Indians in Pushmataha County, OK, I believe I was paid $25 a week (1959). We lived in a little unfinished 4-room house in this community of 600. We drove about 25 miles to Talihina to do our laundry, and 37 miles to Antlers for doctor visits when we were expecting our first child. Gasoline was eating us up. The Castleberry church down in Ft. Worth increased my wages by another $25. It was still tight, but we were making it. After being there a year with increasing attendance and contributions, I approached the congregation for a slight raise. “What are you doing with the $25 we are already giving you?” (I had previously told them of the $25 from Ft. Worth, but I guess they had forgotten it.) After their question I dropped the subject and never brought it up again. In fact, in 53 years of preaching, I think I asked for a raise only one other time, and I believe that was for $5 a week.
At times I have supplemented my income with part-time work when we had high medical bills, but we never went hungry. I can remember when my father had to sell our car to pay the bills when the church could have easily increased his income, but a power struggle among the elders prevented a raise. But I never heard my father complain or contemplate giving up preaching. I certainly believe the Scriptures teach a preacher should be supported, and adequately, but “money-seekers” should seek elsewhere.
Preachers should be prudent in preparing for old age. Not many churches provide any sort of retirement package, and too many preachers become the object of charity because they have not been wise in preparing for the future. Solomon urges us to “Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8).
Preaching Is a Life of Teaching
If you don’t like teaching others, then this work is not for you. Over and over again Paul instructs the young preachers, Timothy and Titus, to preach or teach.
- “Prescribe and teach these things” (I Timothy 4:11).
- “And the Lord's servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing” (II Timothy 2:24).
- “Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (II Timothy 4:2).
- “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1).
Whom shall we teach? Obviously, we are to teach and encourage the saints. “Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers” (II Timothy 2:14). But what about those who are not saints? Some preachers seem content to “preach to the choir,” and don’t feel the need to heed the Lord’s charge to “Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain them to come in, that my house may be filled” (Luke 14:23).
I never knew a preacher that did not wish the congregation to grow. (I take that back. A church in Jamaica had six members. The preacher said, “That’s enough.” If the church grew larger, it would be harder to control everything. Thankfully, he no longer preaches.)
How does a church grow? There are three ways to grow.
- Members have babies and teach them to serve God.
- Members move in from other areas.
- Go out and win others for Christ.
Now, having babies is great, but not everyone can have babies, such as older folks, singles, and those who cannot afford more. Then the matter of growing through moving is not really a growth in the kingdom. That’s just a shifting of the sheep.
The people in the prophet Haggai’s day were lamenting “Is the seed still in the barn?” (Haggai 2:19). If the people were lamenting a lack of harvest, one possible cause is that not enough seed had been sown. That may well describe the problem in many congregations that are stagnant from a lack of growth. Most church buildings are full of Bibles. In the parable of the sower, Jesus said, “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). Peter declares that we are “born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God” (I Peter 1:23).
Preachers need to get out of the study and out in the field seeking the lost. After all, that’s what it means to be a disciple of Christ. "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). If we claim to be his disciples, then we must act as disciples. A disciple follows the example of his teacher. There are people out there who will listen. I find them all the time — in banks, restaurants, service stations, neighbors, grocery stores. For example, I have little accounts in multiple banks. I go from teller to teller until I find one who will talk to me, and then I seek to establish a relationship with that person. A few have been baptized as a result. What are you doing to find prospects? If you are not willing to go out and talk to people and seek to save their souls, then you need to find another line of work.
“And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2).
One thing is sure. If the preacher, who should have the time and knowledge, is not actively seeking the lost, you are not going to find many members fired up about doing it. The preacher’s example is a great motivator in this area. A preacher who is stuck in his study and pulpit may be tending to the garden, but he is not “sowing the seed,” which is the Word of God (Luke 8:11).
Preaching Is a Life of Serving
A preacher is often called a “minister.” That is an apt term and is the word oft used in the Scriptures to describe both spiritual and physical service. “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). There were certain women “who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him; and many other women that came up with him unto Jerusalem” (Mark 15:41). In these two passages, we have both spiritual and physical service under consideration.
I have discussed much of the spiritual ministering under the topic of teaching. What about the physical side? There are many situations where a preacher is called upon to be a servant. Sometimes this is abused, as some members are known to look upon the preacher as the “gofer” guy. He is the one called upon to run all sorts of errands for the members.
While the “ministering” concept can be abused, the preacher must also recognize there are genuine needs that he can fill when others are not available. By the fact that he is not tied to a 9 to 5 clock, he may be called upon to take someone to the doctor. And there are other situations when both a spiritual and physical need may be combined. I once was called at 2 or 3 a.m. to go get a young man and take him to the hospital. He had tried to commit suicide and needed to be admitted to the psychiatric ward. That trip entailed some 90 miles. Not only did he need hospital care, but he needed someone with whom to talk about some serious spiritual concerns.
Do you enjoy visiting hospitals? That may not be the most pleasant task — to be around sick and dying people. I do not suggest that visiting hospitals is the preacher’s job. All Christians share the same responsibility to visit the sick and give aid and encouragement. But once again, by reason of having time available, preachers often may be able to go when others cannot. And who knows what may be accomplished by such visits.
Once I was talking with a young woman we had converted. Her father was dying of cancer. I asked if he would talk to me. She asked, and he agreed. Coincidentally, he was on the same hospital floor where his daughter Jennifer worked. We had a pleasant visit, and I elicited from him the fact that he was not ready to die. He was a Baptist in his youth but had not practiced religion for some time. We talked about the plan of salvation. The room began to be filled with nurses and family. I said I would be back. Two days later I came to talk with him. He said, “Preacher, I don’t know you very well, but I would like for you to say a few words at my funeral.” I said I would be glad to do so, but I would also like to say something at his new birth. “OK,” he said, “I’m ready.” We made arrangements to baptize him in a pool in the rehab unit Friday at 11 a.m. He died the next day at noon. That was not the first time I had baptized someone in such a circumstance.
How often have you driven 100 miles round-trip to pick someone up for services? Or 50 miles? On more than one occasion have I regularly gone to pick up people who lived a good distance away. Sometimes others would offer to help, but it was usually my job. Was it sometimes inconvenient? Yes. But I suspect our Lord and the apostles also encountered some inconvenience on more than one occasion. Did you ever sit up all night with a sick child in the hospital so the parents could get some rest? Do you visit the aged and shut-ins?
Have you ever mowed a sick person’s yard? Have you had Bible studies in a jail? Have you gone to the jail to see a member’s son? One preacher told the congregation that if their son ended up in jail, they were not to call him. I guess he failed to see the word “service” in his job description.
Preaching Is a Life of Study
“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:14-17).
It is obvious that Timothy’s mother and grandmother (II Timothy 1:5) had thoroughly taught God’s Word to this young man, and now he is being encouraged to continue in these things. Another familiar passage is II Timothy 2:15: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” The KJV has “Study to show thyself approved…” “Study” is from the Greek “spoudazo,” which carries the idea of putting forth an effort, to be earnest in the project being discussed. While “study” does not have the same connotation it did in Shakespeare’s time, it is not inappropriate to associate it with the idea of one giving diligence to accurately handle the Word of Truth.
This is no greater responsibility than being responsible for the eternal souls of others. Therefore, the instruction to Timothy to exercise due diligence in handling the Word of Truth, lest he leads people astray and causes them to lose their souls. It takes time to study. It takes time to prepare lessons. The people sitting before you can tell whether you have studied, or not. I know of a situation where the preacher would on occasion simply read a text for a sermon. What a joke!
One problem in our modern age is the computer. While the computer is a wonderful tool for writing and research, it has become a thief of time and a major distraction. Some preachers spend hours in front of the screen. Perhaps they are doing worthwhile things, but sometimes frivolous things interfere, so they must use diligence in exercising self-control to control the use of the computer rather than allowing the computer to control them. One can become addicted to computers just as much as to any other material possession.
In the midst of discussing persecution, Peter encourages his readers with these words: “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (I Peter 3:15). The preacher needs to have a range of knowledge of various subjects. It is not enough to have 100 sermons on baptism (as one preacher claimed). We have challenges that our forefathers did not have. In my grandfather’s day, almost everyone believed in God. Humanism had not yet raised its head. Islam was not a threat to the peace of the world.
Preachers cannot be experts on every subject, but we need to know how to “make a defense” of the faith so we can “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3). Paul urged the young preacher to “Fight the good fight of faith” (I Timothy 6:12). Just as a boxer must know how to fight to use his skills properly, so must the preacher know how to “fight the good fight.”
How can the preacher feed the congregation good, wholesome food if all he has is stale bread? How can he inspire them to greater service and enrich their knowledge of God’s holy word if he does not first fill himself? I have found it profitable to read through the Bible, making notes of any word or passage about which I wanted to know more, and then dig into learning more about it. That not only makes it interesting for me, but it makes my lessons more interesting for the audience.
Preachers Sometimes Get Fired
Many years ago I was the recipient of the proverbial “pink slip.” During my five years and two months with the congregation, we had built a new meeting place, a new preacher’s home, had increased in membership from 48 to 150, and that year had baptized 22 souls. Then out of the blue, without warning, I was told my services would no longer be required at the end of a few weeks. I was given no reason, except that the elders (appointed a few months previously) felt there was a need for a change. Upon hearing about the matter, my father said, “Every preacher needs to be fired at least once.” (Comforting words!)
After the congregation was told what was taking place, several were quite upset and wanted to pull out and start a new group somewhere nearby. In a meeting with the men of the congregation, I said something to the effect that I had labored over five years to build that church up, and I would have no part in any divisive efforts. That was the end of any efforts to divide the church.
In time, I determined to move about 20 miles away and start from “scratch.” This had been in the back of my mind for some time, to go where the gospel had not gone before. The elders gave their approval and invited any members to participate in this venture. In the ensuing years, I have had a good relationship with this church, and have preached there on occasion. (I learned that a certain gossipy woman in the church had persuaded the elders that they would lose many members if they didn’t get rid of me. In later years she caused major problems in the church and was withdrawn from. The elders later apologized to me, as they realized they had been misled.)
All that, to say this. The Lord’s work is worth far more than any man. I question the wisdom of preachers who must think they are so important and mighty that when they are asked to move, they will divide the church before humbly accepting the wishes of the congregation or the elders.
Yes, I know at times a stand must be taken over some doctrinal issue, and division may result. But someone has observed that 90% of the divisions are over personality, and then some “doctrinal matter is dug up to justify the division. I guess it helps the ego of preachers if they have a loyal band of followers who are willing to divide the church in order to follow them.
Paul rebuked the Corinthian brethren for their divisive attitudes: “for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?” (I Corinthians 3:3). Before his crucifixion, Christ prayed earnestly for his followers. “I do not ask on behalf of these along, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21).
When the world sees churches divided and brethren squabbling, why in the world would they want to get involved in that? Our unity should be one of the signs to the world that we belong to Christ. At least, that’s what Christ prayed for.
God holds us accountable if we cause division over ego or pride, or just because we don’t want to move. It’s not as if there is nowhere else to preach. There are far more places to preach than there are preachers to go around. If you are fired, accept it in the spirit of Christ. If you see warning signs, why not go ahead the graciously resign and leave in peace, with brethren respecting you and bidding you Godspeed? I have also been in such a situation, and all worked out for the good, with continued invitations to preach for the church, along with lasting friendships. The kingdom will be blessed, and you may prevent souls from being lost.
Preaching Is Not a "One-Man Show"
What is a preacher? He is a servant, not the master. He is not the ringmaster of the show. He is not the “be-all, end-all.” He is just a humble servant, a sinner saved by the grace of God. Even the apostle Paul, as great as we think he was, did not have too high an opinion of himself. “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all” (I Timothy 1:15).
If there is one thing I have been careful of in my life of preaching, it is that I did not want the church to be “my church.” I am aware that there have been a few through the years who made such an accusation when things didn’t go their way, but their assertions were disabused by the vast majority of the Christians who were part of the body.
Obviously, there are situations in smaller congregations where the preacher must play many roles. There have been occasions where I have led the singing, served the Lord’s Table, preached, and prayed. Yet even in those situations, I did not set out to make arbitrary decisions. In beginning the work where I have been the past three-plus decades, we had about 12 members at the start. Besides myself, as I recall, there were four men—three young and one elderly. None had any experience in leadership roles, and in fact, some were fairly new converts. But in making decisions about the work, we discussed things together.
In the absence of elders, the temptation may be stronger for the preacher to make arbitrary decisions. But this will never help men to develop leadership qualities and lends itself to the “pastor” system that we see in so many denominations.
The large mega-churches that are growing are often cult-like in their focus on a charismatic preacher. These preachers get so full of themselves that they are setting themselves up for a huge fall. We have seen the headlines through the years—sexual immorality, financial shenanigans, dictator-style rule.
I consider myself an important part in the work of the congregation, but I am just one of many parts. In addition to being a preacher, I have also served as one of the elders. But I was not the “head elder.” When we had congregational meetings to present plans to the church or discuss certain matters of mutual interest, I generally let one of the other elders make the presentation. When we had a meeting of the elders and deacons, I was usually not the “chairman.” Nor did I feel I was the only one capable of making announcements.
On occasion, we have a young man sharing the responsibilities of preaching and teaching. I don’t have to preach most of the time. In fact, we share equally when I am in town. But in addition to that, we work to develop the talents of others. Every third Sunday one of our young men preaches. The youngest has been 12 years old, and he did a very good job. Including all males who have the ability to preach, we have perhaps 20, out of a total membership of about 130.
We cannot depend on the schools to train our preachers. We must depend on local congregations, and that may mean that the local preacher must step aside from the pulpit from time to time to prepare our young men to fulfill this stewardship. This will also involve some study time with these young men to instill both knowledge and skills. A doctor must spend much time preparing his knowledge and skills for his important role. And although it may not take six years to prepare a man to preach, it should be obvious that time is needed. And who better to do this teaching than one who is already experienced?
Pride or Humility, Which Shall It Be?
Some might think that is a dumb question. They would answer with a positive “Humility!” Yet while there might be a pretty universal agreement with that answer, unfortunately not all preachers act that way. But this is not a new phenomenon among religious leaders.
We can go back to the 1st Century and see what was going on during the time Christ was on the earth. We know the Pharisees were among the religious leaders of his day, and not all were exactly humble. Consider Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:5-12:
"But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries, and lengthen the tassels of their garments. And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called by men, Rabbi. But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”
We obviously connect that passage with Catholic “priests” who insist that they be called “Father,” but there are other applications just from the context of what Christ said.
I have known of preachers who like to be called “Pastor,” as the denominations do, even though they do not meet the qualifications that Paul gave concerning elders/pastors/shepherds in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1. And some like to be called “Doctors,” even though they do not have a medical degree nor an educational degree. But I guess it makes them feel special.
I have known preachers who are offended if anyone disagrees with them when they are teaching a Bible class, or mentions another view. How dare anyone question a learned Bible scholar! ☹
If anyone would have the right to feel deserving of honor, we might think of Paul. After all, he was a scholar, probably possessed a Doctor of Divinity from the noted school of Gamaliel, and he was also an apostle. And while the office of an apostle carried authority with it, yet as a person Paul exhibited a sense of humility. Note what he wrote to Timothy as he reflected on his past life: “Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (I Timothy 1:15).
And it seems our Lord had some words for us on the matter of humility.
- “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).
- “And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).
- “… and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time” (I Peter 5-6).
- “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
And consider what Jesus said about himself: “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
Respect comes not from demanding respect, but from acting so as to deserve it.
Preaching Is a Life of Facing Difficulties
I call as my first witness an early preacher — the apostle Paul. If you don’t recall his difficulties, get your Bible and read II Corinthians 11. I don’t think I could round up 1,000 preachers whose combined experiences could add up to what Paul encountered. Thankfully, most of those who read this live in a nation where we have freedom, and where we are financially comfortable.
That part about “financially comfortable” certainly was not true of an earlier generation of preachers. My own forebears, both father and grandfather, faced financial hardships in preaching. My grandfather, J. D. Tant, farmed to provide for his family, and my grandmother Nanny looked after the farm while he was often gone in gospel meetings and debates. On one occasion, he held a meeting the brethren deemed successful, and they invited him back the next year but said they would have no money for his wages. He offered a solution. Some of the members raised hogs. Grandfather suggested that each one take a runt of the next litter, feed it the leftovers from the family dinner table, and he would take that as his pay. They got their pencils out and did some figuring before announcing they could not afford that. Grandfather’s response was that if his preaching was not worth the slop from their tables, then there was no use in his coming back. (You need to read the biography J. D. Tant, Texas Preacher. It is a rich reading experience.)
I remember my father, Yater Tant, was preaching for a large church with 1,000 or so in attendance on Sunday. He was paid very little, which was partly due to a power struggle among the elders. We took in boarders and eventually sold our car to pay the bills. Thankfully, we lived on the bus line and were only a few blocks from the church building, so we could walk to services. My family has endured hardships along the way, such as living in a mouse-infested four-room house with three children and my wife’s sister, for whom I fixed a room in the attic.
Financial struggles are not the only difficulties. There are “brethren” difficulties. Many years ago while in New Mexico a local theater presented a live show featuring a “dance contest” with Chubby Checker, a popular rock-and-roll singer. I learned that one of our young teenagers was going to attend and possibly would enter the contest. After our Ladies Bible class one morning, I took the newspaper clipping to the mother of the girl, and quietly asked her if she thought her daughter ought to attend. Mom commenced to scream and shout that I should leave her alone and left the building in tears. The next night the two elders came to visit me and criticize my meddling in the affairs of that family. They opined that I was lucky her husband did not come and hit me. They instructed me to leave the members alone and teach the aliens while they would take care of the members. I replied that I was glad to hear that, as there was another particular family whose daughter was not behaving right, and they needed to talk to them. “Well, you preach about that from the pulpit. They know what’s right. So what else do you want us to do?”
We invited Mr. Roy Stevens for a singing school. The elders asked me to select men for him to work with. About the third night of the meeting, the younger elder told me the older wanted to fire me —that night! Why? Because I had not asked him to lead singing yet! And so it goes.
How does one respond to such situations? You accept it as part of being a servant of Christ. You do not throw up your hands and quit, nor do you in anger retaliate. You sometimes bite your tongue, and you pray for your brethren. As Paul detailed the hardships he had encountered in his travels, he concluded by writing “Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?” (II Corinthians 11:28-29).
“Take brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord” (James 5:10).
Preaching Is a Life of Godly Living
We have all seen the headlines about preachers who were charged with high living on funds embezzled from the church, or charged with low living with prostitutes. I well remember the Louisiana TV Pentecostal preacher, Jimmy Swaggert being caught with a prostitute several years ago. With great tears, he pled on TV for forgiveness. His ministry continued, and then later he was caught with a prostitute in his car in California. When questioned about this, he replied, “The Holy Spirit told me to tell you it is none of your business.” Some “spirit” may have told him that, but I am pretty sure it was not the Holy Spirit.
But such things are not confined to denominational preachers. Far too often gospel preachers are involved in such escapades. Within the past few weeks of this writing, I have learned of two gospel preachers who were involved in adultery, one of them with a prostitute. I have known of more than one preacher whose effectiveness was destroyed by adultery.
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity” (I Timothy 4:12). It is obvious that the effectiveness of a preacher depends much upon his preaching. But equally important is his “manner of life” — his example.
One “manner of life” has to do with finances. Yes, we might like to have all the nice things some of the members may have, but it is not always possible. One simply must learn to live within his income. In one place where we lived out west, a former preacher had left town owing various sums of money around town. It was a small town, so this was pretty well known. Of course, he had “moved on,” but his reputation stayed behind and cast a bad light upon the Lord’s church.
“Keeping up with the Joneses” is not what preaching is all about. It is about being open and transparent in our financial dealings. As Paul was collecting funds for his needy brethren, he went to great lengths to allay any suspicions. “And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches; and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness: Avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this bounty which is ministered by us: for we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (II Corinthians 8:18-21).
I suppose the most common “manner of life” issue has to do with relations with the opposite sex. There are minefields out there, and preachers should really exercise good judgment in such matters. Some have been known to be what I consider overly cautious. (One preacher told the brethren that if he saw their wives walking home from the grocery store in the rain, he would not offer her a ride if he was alone in the car.) But better to be overly cautious than to be stupid. Especial caution should be taken when counseling a woman whose marriage is not well. She may look upon the preacher as the kind of man she wished her husband was and may become emotionally attached to him. I am thankful that in over 50 years of preaching I have never been “propositioned” in such situations. Perhaps I am too ugly to be appealing, or perhaps I just have not given out “vibes” that I might be approachable.
At any rate, open doors are helpful, with someone else in the area. They don’t necessarily have to hear the conversation, but the knowledge that others are around is a great deterrent to inappropriate behavior. When immorality takes place, not only is the preacher’s influence compromised, but a huge mess is involved, marriages may end, and souls may be lost. It’s not worth it!
On Correcting Others
An “unpleasant” task that a preacher faces, is that of correcting those who are mistaken about something, or who are caught up in sin. Obviously, this is not only the preacher’s responsibility, as other Christians have it as well. the apostle Paul wrote: “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). That was not written to the preacher, but to the Galatian brethren in general. And it obviously applies to preachers as much as to any other Christian.
So, what are the guidelines? How do we approach those in error? Let’s begin with what not to do. I have known of those who approach a wrong-doers wagging their finger in the sinner’s face, with a stern look on their face, and a strong voice. Dear reader, that is not the best way to deal with errors. I have known of situations where the one on the receiving end of the scolding vowed never to return again and turned away from the Lord. That is not displaying the advice Christ gave when he used a child as an example to his disciples.
“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!” (Matthew 18:4-7).
Yes, some will turn away and refuse any kind of correction, but if I, by my behavior cause one to stumble, then I will pay a price. Now, while I might use many words to convey the point, the attitude and manner God has chosen get the message across.
“The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth” (II Timothy 2:24-25).
“My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).
Consider some of the words in the foregoing passages: “spirit of gentleness … looking to yourself … humbles himself … not quarrelsome … kind to all … with gentleness.”
Dear Reader, the aforementioned passages are God’s plan for dealing with the erring, and God’s way is always best. Now, if perchance you have driven someone away because of the attitude you took in correcting them, you need to do three things — change your attitude, pray for forgiveness, and go apologize to the one you drove away and plead for them to come back.
If your careless driving caused an accident in which someone was killed, how would you feel? And if your careless behavior causes a soul to be lost in hell, how would you feel? Of course, the one driven away bears some responsibility, but that does not excuse the one who caused the harm.
What About Work in a Difficult Field?
Yes, it’s nice to work with a large church with elders and a good program of work, and a nice house to live in. There are churches like that, and we are thankful for them. They are an encouragement and do much work in supporting gospel preaching. But there are other places in the world — little struggling rural churches or in the inner city. There are thousands of populated areas with no faithful church, or where the gospel has never gone. And there are vast regions on planet Earth that are in darkness because the “Light of the world” has not penetrated. “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life’” (John 8:12).
Some preachers look upon their “profession” as a progression from small to larger to even larger churches. They have then reached the apex of success. There is no wrong in going to work with a larger church, but if that is the goal or focus, perhaps you should stick with the corporate world.
In my preaching life, I have worked with five churches. Once I moved to a larger one. I usually worked with a small church, helped it grow, then to another small work. My last move was from a church with 150 members to begin a new work. Dave Bradford planted a desire in me to go where the gospel was not known as he did in Canada. The Lord’s church is now in the Czech Republic because three couples, Youngs, Earps, and Bynums moved there. Sewell and Caneta Hall, at an “advanced” age, left a large church to move to New York City and work with a small group thereafter Tom and Susie Beeler left comfortable Georgia to plant the church in that wilderness.
My wife and I moved to a town where, to my knowledge, the gospel was not known, as Paul stated his aim to “preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build upon another man's foundation” (Romans 15:20). Starting with a few, we struggled through the work of church building. After eleven years we were self-supporting, and we moved from storefronts, etc., into our own building and began supporting other preachers. Then ten years later we had filled our building and sent off a third of our number to begin a new work 20 miles away. And some years later we repeated that venture.
The Harkriders went to Australia; the Williams and Votaws to South Africa, the Reeves to England; the Halls and Earnharts to Nigeria; the Hintons and Nichols to Japan; the Haileys and Shropshires to Hawaii; the Buntings to Norway; the Harrells to India; the Turners and Ayres to Kenya; the Bracketts and Hartsells to the Czech Republic; the Braswells to Colombia, the Angelos to Jamaica; the Smelsers to China and Prague; the Copelands and Kingrys to China and Korea, where secular work enabled them to also labor in the gospel. For some, it was a lifetime commitment, while others stayed a few years to help. Others make shorter trips to encourage saints and teach sinners around the world—the Chandlers to Colombia; the Adams to Norway and the Philippines; Bob Buchanon and Ed Brand to many nations. My wife and I have worked in Jamaica, Europe, Malaysia, and the Philippines for many years, taking scores of young people for summer work in Jamaica. I could go on, but can’t name all the faithful saints who have heeded the Lord’s commission to “go into all the world,” recognizing that "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2). And there are mission fields right here in the United States.
Are there difficulties in such endeavors? Obviously! You are separated from family and friends. You are often faced with a strange language. There are inconveniences, such as difficulties finding suitable food, putting up with a lack of electricity and water sometimes, enduring hostility from locals at times, raising (and losing) support, loneliness, etc. Is it worth it? What is the value of a soul? If you have never tried it, you are missing one of the great experiences of life.
Don't be a Diotrephes
One of the problems that seem to come with preaching has been around for a long time. It is called “the Diotrephes syndrome.” While most preachers I have known have not succumbed to this disease, it is known to have been around for a long time. In fact, the apostle John wrote about this very problem: “I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, and he forbids those who desire to do so, and puts them out of the church” (III John 1:9-10).
Diotrephes was not the first, nor last, who sought preeminence. Christ spoke against the scribes and Pharisees who loved “the chief seats in the synagogues” (Matthew 23:9). And even before that we have Aaron and Miriam who seemed to resent the leadership of Moses and wanted a place of prominence for themselves (Numbers 12).
And so it is today that certain men want to be chief — to be the dominant preacher, not just in a local church, but in a whole area. Is this not what led to the apostasy in the early years? One man came to be the “head elder” or bishop in the congregation, and then those like him in other churches would get together for area meetings. Then the prominent one among them would meet with like men from other areas, and finally, we have a Pope!
While this may not be so much of a problem in the U.S., it is a real problem elsewhere. There are documented cases in Africa and the Philippines where one man comes to be the dominant figure in an area. He decides who will preach where, or who will not preach. Sometimes support to other preachers is sent through him and he doles out the cash. He is the one called upon for all special occasions. And sadly, some Americans aid and abet this. In an African nation, there is even one man who is more or less recognized as the head of the Church of Christ in that nation.
I have known of situations where one who considers himself to be a leader can become rude and abusive to the other preachers in the area who may not bow to his leadership. Such arrogance will surely not go unnoticed by our Lord. And I have also known that the attitude of a preacher in the congregation where he labors has discouraged some members so much that they left. Will God hold such a preacher accountable if a soul is lost because of his behavior?
Consider Christ’s words concerning those who cause others to stumble. “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:4-6).
While a man may be respected for years of fruitful labor, we must avoid elevating one man above others to pay homage to him. God strictly forbids such and will hold men accountable. If we are to respect the autonomy of the local church, then we must avoid the Diotrephes syndrome. It may be that a man whom others respect and honor must take the initiative to refuse to accept the prominence that others might accord him. I recall several years ago when a group of men visited the congregation where I was preaching. Among the men was James Cope, the president of Florida College. Before the service, he called me aside and asked me not to call on him for prayer, but preferred that I call on a lesser-known brother. I appreciated that spirit of humility in this good brother.
I lived and preached in the Atlanta, Georgia, area for nearly 60 years, and had a part in establishing or helping to establish different congregations in the area. I was there longer than any other preacher, but I did not expect to be known as the “bishop” of this area. There were many other gospel preachers around, and we were all on the same level — preachers of the gospel. Humility is a trait that God honors. The desire for preeminence is a trait that God dishonors. So “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time” (I Peter 5:5-6).
