How do I tell people I’m not interested in preaching?
Question:
Hello,
Hope you can answer a question of mine that I need a biblical answer to. What to say to people who come up to you and ask you, "Why don't you preach?" I tell them not everyone is meant to be a teacher, and like it says in Bible not everyone is meant to be a teacher. Does this refer to preaching or coming up on the podium to speak from the Bible?
What I mean by "people who come up to you," are usually brothers of the church who are also preachers. It almost seems like they expect that everyone is supposed to be a preacher and that everyone should at least try it. I'm getting answers like, "You aren't preaching" or "You don't have to preach, just share your thoughts." My opinion is that the podium from which you hear sermons in the church isn't for everyone. We can share our thoughts, or what is on our minds, anytime we want. But the time in church at the podium is meant for actual preaching, which is not for everyone.
I wish I could preach and have that talent for understanding Bible in such a way that I could share revelations from it with people, but I don't see myself in this service. How should I approach this, or answer to people who try to push out on to preaching?
Thanks.
Answer:
I would take it as a compliment that these people think you are knowledgeable enough to share the gospel with others.
Preaching is far more involved than just presenting lessons on Sunday to the church. It is the active, devoted work of spreading the Gospel in all situations. "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching" (II Timothy 4:2).
It is true that not all Christians are able or willing to be formal teachers in the church. "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment" (James 3:1). A teacher is responsible for not only his own salvation but for the salvation of others who are listening to his teachings. Not everyone is ready for that responsibility.
Yet, on the other hand, teaching the Scriptures is an important aspect of the life of a Christian. We should grow to the point of being able to teach. "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:12-14). It is the only way the gift of life, given to us, is passed on to others. Mature Christians should be teaching.
