There is a preacher I have known for at least 20 years. At one time he lived a few hours from where I was and when he started feeling down his wife would talk him into coming and paying my wife and me a visit because she felt that I could get him to calm down and in a better mood.<\/p>\n
For as long as I can remember, he has been one of those who when he is in a good mood can be a great guy, very influential at building brethren up, etc..\u00a0 But, he is also very moody and goes through periods of feeling down and depressed.\u00a0 When he is in that mood he can get downright mean!\u00a0 (Speaking from experience!)\u00a0 One time he said (among other things), “Any man who wants to be a preacher has to have rocks in his head”!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, I took exception to his remark and to make a long story short we ended up not communicating for about three years.\u00a0 I finally broke the ice and wrote to him, he very glad and excitedly responded.<\/p>\n
He currently is serving as one of the three elders where he worships.\u00a0 He preached for the congregation for quite a while and it was agreed that when he retired he and his wife could continue to live in the house that belongs to the church.\u00a0 He is now quite old.\u00a0 A year or so ago the other two elders requested that he retire.\u00a0 (They fired him!\u00a0 To use his words.)\u00a0 A few months later they hired a young preacher with a wife and children.\u00a0 He claims that the young preacher is lazy, his children are unruly, his sermons are boring with no “meat”, etc. \u00a0 Knowing him as I do, he will make life miserable for the young preacher, but to date, the other two elders disagree with him, so he’s angry with them as well.<\/p>\n
I have advised him to talk to his doctor about his problem but he refuses to do so.\u00a0 The following is a recent example of what he sent me:<\/p>\n
We did the best we could with worship. We got the usual basic lessons with no depth. I am dying on the content each week. Then some song leader after the massacre will say that was a great lesson or something to that effect. We got most of our wayward travelers back for at least a week or two before others go away for a week or two. We are to the point that we have to do one of two things, continue to live in the house and worship elsewhere or number two, move to another state and go back to the rat race of preaching. I am really dismayed about the church and how the brethren act. I want to just forget about the church and live what is left of my life without all of the heartaches of being a Christian. Please pray for us.<\/p>\n
I try to encourage him to do what he knows to be right and refuse to say anything about the young preacher one way or another.<\/p>\n\t
I would like you to look at the lesson “The Nature of Criticism<\/a>,” especially the sections on the cause of criticism and the “License to Complain” at the end of the lesson. Next, I would like you to look at “Ten Rules for Improving the Church<\/a>.” These two lessons should give you the Scriptural background needed to handle the problem.<\/p>\n When someone starts complaining, my preferred response is to ask the complainer what he is doing to improve the situation. If this fellow doesn’t like the content, then ask him how he is helping the young preacher get better. Has he suggested topics he would like considered? Has he had Bible studies with this young man? Has he offered to help with some of the mundane work so that the young man has more free time to study?<\/p>\n It is one thing to note existing problems, but unless something is done about improving the situation to the profit of everyone involved, it is useless to complain — more than that, it is sinful to complain.<\/p>\n I commend the tolerance of the other two elders. The attitude expressed by this man doesn’t belong in a congregation’s leadership. They are being very kind to this elderly couple in their later years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: There is a preacher I have known for at least 20 years. At one time he lived a few hours from where I was and when he started feeling down his wife would talk him into coming and paying my wife and me a visit because she felt that I could get him to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[1039],"class_list":["post-15201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-complaints"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4682,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/attitudes\/","url_meta":{"origin":15201,"position":0},"title":"Attitudes","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 24, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 3:7-16 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Many Christians understand that acts of immorality will keep them out of heaven, but many don\u2019t realize that our attitude or disposition is important in determining our outcome as well. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What is your attitude? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sometimes we hear someone say \u201che has an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54803,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/aged-preachers-seeking-an-answer\/","url_meta":{"origin":15201,"position":1},"title":"Aged Preachers \u2013 “Seeking an Answer”","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 6, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Travis Main via\u00a0Church of Christ Articles Baptisms and burials: over a lifetime, the preacher performed a great number of these.\u00a0 From Genesis to Revelation, his words carefully uttered the precepts of God.\u00a0 His hair was once full, and his face youthfully smooth.\u00a0 Now his hair sports only grey, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/elderlyMan-150x300.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":29544,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-there-a-conflict-of-interest-if-a-man-is-both-a-preacher-and-an-elder-or-deacon\/","url_meta":{"origin":15201,"position":2},"title":"Is there a conflict of interest if a man is both a preacher and an elder or deacon?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have a question that I am struggling with. I can't find any scriptural reasons against what has been done at our local church but still have an uneasiness about it. We have a smaller church whose membership has been trending down the past several years since our minister\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":32852,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-preachers-err-miss-the-mark\/","url_meta":{"origin":15201,"position":3},"title":"When Preachers Err (Miss the Mark)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 2, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Floyd Chappelear Sentry Magazine, December 2000 I love to preach. There is something about standing before an audience and expounding the word of God that energizes me. Again, I love to preach. Furthermore, I love to teach Bible classes. I regard myself as a director of a\u00a0class whose chief\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/missed-bullseye-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24720,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-dont-think-a-preacher-caught-in-adultery-should-continue-without-some-disciplinary-action\/","url_meta":{"origin":15201,"position":4},"title":"I don’t think a preacher caught in adultery should continue without some disciplinary action","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 9, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have been reading your many posts on marriage and relationships. I am somewhat confused in regards to your reply to\u00a0 \"If a minister has committed adultery, should he step down even though he has repented of his sin.\" It seems that you say that the preacher can continue\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":11293,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/shady-lane-the-preacher-and-the-boy\/","url_meta":{"origin":15201,"position":5},"title":"Shady Lane, the Preacher, and the Boy","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 2, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ken McDaniel via\u00a0Echo of Truth, Vol. 3, No. 29, July 16, 1995 During a recent gospel meeting that I preached, the local evangelist and I went calling on a few individuals in hopes of motivating some to faithfulness and setting up Bible studies with others who have not yet\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Two-Men-in-a-Boat-300x239.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15201"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15201\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}