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HARD ON PREACHERS

10 Sunday Jan 2021

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“What do you expect from your preacher?”

“Well, I expect him to preach twice on Sunday, teach a Bible class on Wednesday, spend five hours each day in the office, five days a week.”

“What kind of sermons do you want him to preach?”

“His sermons need to be of the type that encourages us in this dark and depressing world in which we are currently living. I am afraid that if he preaches too much negativity, he will drive people away.”

“What if he were to preach like Jeremiah preached?”

“Oh no! To do that is sure to drive some of our members away, and certainly those who come visiting from the community. Both will wonder if there is any good in this world! Preaching like Jeremiah may have its place, but too much of it is counter-productive to the growth of the church.”

“So, you think the Lord was mistaken when He had Jeremiah do what he did?”

“Not mistaken, but perhaps there could have been a better way.”

*****

What kind of preacher do you want? What kind of preacher does the Lord want? As a preacher there are many who interpret what he does to be a life of ease or, if not ease, not so much strain like ordinary people in life experience. The preacher does not work very much, some think; he works only an hour or two each day to put Bible class lessons together and prepare two sermons. Because he does not work that much, he has time to do many other things; perhaps he can coach youths in a sport, be a part of the local community in some outreach way, surely his hours in the evening are made able to us who might have to call on him to help us in times of trouble and anxiety; his family understands and, if they don’t, why are they so selfish?

How hard can all this be?

Maybe you don’t think this way. I hope that is the case. On the other hand, if you do, you can’t be more wrong. One of the best ways to get an appreciation for what a preacher does is to study the words and life of Jeremiah (and Paul). Jeremiah’s words (above) give a small indication of what a preacher must deal with. In Jeremiah 6, the Lord’s preacher (prophet) was called upon by the Lord to preach a message of warning to those who aligned themselves on the Lord’s side.

Though they aligned themselves on the Lord’s side, the Lord looked at their alignment and saw they were terribly out of alignment! Unfortunately for them, they deceived themselves into thinking all was well, so when Jeremiah preached the Lord’s warning of an invading army, they refused to accept the fact the Lord would send a heathen people against the city of David. The Lord’s patience ran out (Jer. 6:11).

The people of Jerusalem (and the surrounding area) had no time for the Lord’s preacher and message (6:10); the young and old were greedy for gain (6:13) and there is no wonder to this approach because the governmental leaders, the religious leaders, and people of affluence—it was all about what they could get; it mattered not at whose expense. The preachers and the priests of the religious community were especially called out by the Lord’s prophet. They proclaimed that all is well, when nothing was well at all. It was like they looked at the physical body, saw no wounds, then judged the body to be perfectly healthy. They looked at their community the same way. If there was physical sickness, they would yell, “Quarantine, Quarantine!” (Lev. 13-15), never thinking about the pitifully poor health tearing up their spiritual well-being. They were soon to find out the Lord’s remedy for the spiritually failed diagnosis.

But before they were to experience that, the Lord called them to come back to the old paths (6:16); they would find rest for their souls, their spiritual health would be much better because the Lord’s “balm of Gilead” would heal when applied to their heart (mind) and body, the Lord would protect them. They did not want to listen to the Lord’s watchman (6:17), so the Lord was going to apply a surgical procedure to the land and tend to matters how He wanted to; it was not going to go well for them (6:18-21).

This was the message of the Lord’s preacher to the City of David. Does that appear to be an easy message to carry? It doesn’t to me. The preacher is very much aware the message he preaches is going to affect the lives of so many; he knows the lives of the many affected, that their lives turn for the good; he also knows (as Jeremiah knew) that stubbornness and the slowness of response will turn out for them in such a way that it can only be interpreted as disastrous and heart-breaking. 

If a preacher is any good at what he does, he spends an inordinate amount of time in preparation to know the Lord’s word, gain an understanding of it, make application to it, then help others do the same. Years ago, while on the golf course in Illinois, a young man told me as he was in a Methodist Seminary his preparation for his class that quarter was to read a number of books. I asked him about the Bible as a text book. I was disappointed in his response. This Methodist Seminary student could help a person understand many things, but not the Bible.

In Jeremiah 6:13, the Lord was especially hard on the preachers. They dealt falsely because they had no knowledge of His will. Those who did have knowledge, they took that knowledge and used it for their own purposes. Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment (James 3:1). RT

The Bible?

18 Wednesday Nov 2020

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             It was early in the 19th century; a young Baptist preacher and his friend were on a preaching tour, that is, they were going from community to community to preach what they believed to be the Gospel of Christ. Both young men were preachers; one said to the other, “Brother Sewell, I am sorry to see you carry the Book with you to church. Young Sewell asked: ‘Why?’ His companion replied: ‘I am afraid the people will think we learned our sermons out of it.’ This was exactly what young Sewell had done” (Biographical Sketches of Gospel Preachers, H. Leo Boles, p. 181). 

What was “the Book”? It was the Bible.

From that time, Jesse Sewell set his mind in a more diligent fashion to see what “the Book” truly said; he was determined that from it only would he preach. This did not go without a response from the church of his heritage. They responded when they gathered: “The vote was put, about half a dozen of the forty members present voted to exclude him from the Baptist Church; the others did not vote. The announcement was made that he was excluded, and the assembly arose and left the house in confusion” (p. 183). One man wanted it to be said about Jesse Sewell that he was excluded from their fellowship because “it was for teaching heresy.”

Imagine that! Teaching heresy when one uses only the Bible from which to preach and teach!

I remember when I was much younger my mother saying something to me that was similar. It was her thinking, at the time, that I should not have learned to preach from the Bible, but that I should have been preaching what the Lord’s Spirit gave me, apart from the Bible. Evidently, she learned from others this way of thinking (she later rejected that way of thinking). Since that time, I have not come across too many people who think this way, though I have read of preachers who believed they were guided by the Holy Spirit to say what things they were saying, apart from what the Scriptures actually said.

When a person preaches from the Bible, there is going to be a response. A good many people will like it and like it very much. There will be many more, however, who stand opposed to one’s firm resolution to preach what the Scriptures teach. One does not have to look far, as in our socially conflicting society, to see that. Paul said of himself, For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith (Rom. 1:16-17). What did it get him? It got him much in the way of trouble! He was stoned, flogged, ostracized and incarcerated. Still, he would not change what he did, For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed (15:18).

            There are many who say what Paul did, but as one looks around, all saying the same thing Paul did, there is still much confusion. Who and what are we to believe? It was John who wrote to the saints, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world (1 John 4:1). How can this be done? In Berea, the Scripture teaches us: Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so (Acts 17:11). The Bible is The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple (Psa. 19:11). RT

Why Churches Grow

17 Thursday Sep 2015

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It seems that each generation thinks of itself as being smarter than the previous generation. This applies in just about every area of life. Congregations, or many of them anyway, of the Lord’s people think they are more spiritual than previous generations because they spent time in prayer, studying the Scripture, and coming to learn that the previous generation might have been mistaken in their understanding of Scripture.

Thus arrogance!

I bring this up because that which encourages a church to grow today is the same that encouraged a church to grow over 50 years ago. In the February 1957 issue of 20th Century Christian, Mont Whitson offered 6 contributing factors to a church growing. I would like to speak of two of those he mentioned.

First, the local church will grow when people within and without see the spirit of love, unity, and understanding amongst those attending at, in our case, the Highway Church of Christ. The word love pertains to one’s response to God first and foremost (cf. 1 John 5:1-3). The word unity is associated with that which Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, that is, keeping the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). The word understanding, in my view, is in understanding that we are not all at the same level of spiritual knowledge/understanding (cf. Romans 12:3-8; 14:1-13).

Second, the church grows when the members within are willing to work. That means they are all willing to work. It is not the “job” of the elders, the “job” of the preacher, or the “job” of someone else. It is my job, and yours also (perhaps it is better to say it this way: “It is my privilege and responsibility.”). What is it that you are doing to make a difference in the growth of the congregation? Are you teaching others?

Third, though not mention by brother Whitson, it is certainly worthy of mention – the local church that belongs to the Lord must (not optional) preach and teach the purity of God’s word. There is no room for opinions that correspond to a “thus saith the Lord.” If any man speak, Peter said, let him speak the very words of God (1 Peter 4:11).

The Limited Commission with Practical Applications (Luke 10:1-20)

14 Tuesday Oct 2014

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As the apostles had been chosen by the Lord for special instruction and a special commission, the seventy that had been chosen might represent the larger spectrum of the disciples (Luke 10:1). One man wrote in regards to this: “In addition, the marching orders for the seventy are by their very nature applicable to every Christian” (Michael Wilcock, The Message of Luke, p. 120). The seventy that had been chosen needed to be made aware of a number of things.  First, they had need to understand the mission that was ahead (10:2). They had to understand the harvest was great, but the workers were few. Consequently, an unfair load would be placed on those who love the Lord, engaged in this “business.” The burden of this load meant they could very well have been forgoing comfort and leisure (Wilcock, p. 119).

Second, they also had to understand the dangers that were lying squarely in their path, and even those that sprung from the brush to attack (Luke 10:3-4). There are quite a lot of people today who embrace Christ for reasons that are not all that substantive. For instance, one reason some embrace Christ is because it brings the promise of peace. The promise of peace is very much biblical and accurate (Romans 5:1), but that peace promise is one’s relationship between the saved one and the Lord; many, however, look upon it as peace from afflictions in life. Without clearly understanding this, the parable of the soils fits aptly (Matthew 13).

Some practical applications to this we can make. The message we take with us in our hearts and behaviors is the life of Christ. Let us be sure we tell people that He came, and He is coming again (Judgment Day). Until He comes, though, we want to communicate that He established an institution wherein all the saved are “collected” into His godly body, the church (Eph. 1:22-23). The “collected” ones in this body are called out of this world to be holy. Since man has altered the teachings of Jesus relative to this body, the Lord’s saints are sent out to preach, seeking to restore that which the Lord originally taught. It is not a good thing when any part of that which the Lord taught is altered or corrupted.

Man and God’s Wisdom

04 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by in Corinthians, God, Wisdom

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Each time I read Corinthians, I can’t help but to reflect on the wisdom of man in relation to the wisdom of God. Frankly, the Lord looks upon the wisdom of man as but child’s play because man’s wisdom has its origin in that which is not understood. The way in which many look on man’s wisdom is in relation to their educational attainment. We seek to gain what we can from those more educated than ourselves and implement their wisdom in our respective lives.

Of course, this is not to say that man can’t have wisdom, knowledge, or even understanding about the various things of life. It is to say, however, that in ultimate matters of life, what is it that man has in understanding that the Lord has not already said a word (or two) about? Has any man been able to cross the threshold of death and tell us about it? Has anyone been able to tell us what happens to those who engage in evil behavior, and what about those who suffer because of man’s wisdom engaged in wars, political maneuvering, etc.? The questions multiply, and so do unanswered questions.

It is clear to right-thinking people that what man thinks is simply inadequate for the occasion. “Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it’” (Isaiah 55:6-11, NKJV).

The Lord’s Desire

09 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Amos, Leadership, Preaching

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                The Lord’s prophet, Amos, was a man chosen for a task that was very much a burden to the people. It was to Amos that He spoke the words to Israel (the northern kingdom with its capital in Samaria), “Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” (4:12). Though the Lord addressed His words to Israel in particular, it is worth notice that the Lord’s pending judgment was toward those outside of covenant relationship.

                The Lord identified seven nations that had judgment against them; not only did He identify these nations, but He also described the problem. Syria was merciless with its army of destruction, the Philistines were the same, Tyre failed to honor its treaty with others, Edom was plagued because of jealous rage, Ammon killed innocent children (a form of abortion), Moab exhibited desecrating destruction, Judah because of their failure to hear and obey the Lord, and to Israel because of slavery, greed, and perversion. The importance of noticing this is because the Lord responded to evil wherever it may have exhibited itself, not simply to those within covenant relationship.

Our country is not in covenant relationship with the Lord; when people speak about this country being a “Christian nation,” what is in view, historically, is the moral foundation put in place that was to guide us. It is clear that the moral foundation put in place has disintegrated. How can we change the direction that our community is traveling? A hard thing to do to be sure, but there are some things that can be done. First, be devoted to the Lord and His way of righteousness. Second, be sure to be a positive influence on those who do not know the Lord’s way. Third, never let your personal politics trump the Lord’s way of righteousness. Fourth, continue to pray for our leaders and our country. These are things that can be done, but in all things the Lord’s desire will be done!

A SALVATION SHOW

23 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by in Man-Made Churches, Preaching, Presumptuous, Teaching

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A good number of years ago Neil Diamond wrote and sang a song that still resonates with me today. That song: “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show.”  I suppose a number of people can interpret it any number of ways, but I interpret it as both humorous and as a slight against preachers who have more interest in promoting themselves with their “healing” services than they have in promoting the gospel of Christ. The Scriptures are rather plain-spoken about such people – and they need to be called out (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 John 4:1).

“It has been said that God has performed many miracles through Chiles,” we are told. During the days of the prophet Isaiah, God’s prophet was preaching to and against the charlatans of his day. The standard by which any and all preachers were to be judged was the written word of God (Isaiah 8:20). The subjective feelings of a person were only accorded respect when that person lived by the Lord’s expressed word. For the individual or individuals eternity hung in the balance!

It may seem harsh to some to call out preachers who promote things contrary to the Lord’s written words, but it is necessary (Jude 3). It may be that these self-promoting preachers are doing many good things in the community and, if so, there will be nothing negative coming from me in that regard. On the other hand, whatever good may be done or may have been done does not allow a compromise of the Lord’s written Word. In fact, the good deeds that is (or are) done by any and all will not be that which judges us on Judgment Day; it will be the words spoken by the Lord Himself 9(John 12:48).

The challenge, therefore, to all religious folk is to measure everything by the Lord’s word (Romans 15:18; 1 Peter 4:11). RT

Jeremiah’s Mission

13 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by in Jeremiah

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Christians who make a habit to read the Scriptures on a regular basis can’t help but to reflect and admire Jeremiah the prophet. He was a man chosen by the Lord before his birth to do the Lord’s bidding (Jeremiah 1:5), and when Jeremiah thought his youth would prevent him from engaging in the Lord’s work, the Lord reassured him that his youth was exactly what He wanted (1:7). Jeremiah spent many years proclaiming the Lord’s message to a people determined to walk the broad path that leads to destruction. What was Jeremiah’s mission from the Lord to a people so determined? His mission is stated for us in Jeremiah 1:10. “See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (ESV). When the Lord said to Jeremiah that He had given him authority over nations and kingdoms, He was referring to the peoples of those nations and kingdoms. If Jeremiah’s word could penetrate the people, then perhaps the nations would be spared the Lord’s wrath (3:22). Let us briefly consider these points: to pluck up, to destroy, and to build up.

To pluck up. The old KJV uses the phrase “to root out”. The idea is to dig deep and remove the root that anchors itself in, in the context of Jeremiah, in false ideology. The false ideology (doctrine, teaching) is that associated with the idolatry of the nation. Idolatry is very damning, and many people are plagued by it without even knowing it. They know it not because they know not the Lord. Those of Jeremiah’s day were soon to learn what they did not know.

To destroy. Since the Lord was going to root out the depths of their anchor, what would He do with what comes up? He plans to destroy it and to start again. In the context, that which the Lord was going to do was that which was done to the northern kingdom already: Israel had been taken away into captivity by the Assyrians and, unfortunately, Judah refused to heed the warning the Lord gave, and because she refused to hear and heed there was one verdict pending.

To build up. The Lord, however, was not one to leave a land (heart) vacant. If there was a desire on the part of one (or the many), as there was in the context of the Jeremiah’s prophecy, the Lord would provide a solution to one’s despair. However, the one who was in despair needed to respond to the Lord’s offer. The Lord would not accept anyone one according to the dictates of their own heart (3:17), but He would accept if they came to Him humbly and contrite.

God’s preacher – that is what Jeremiah was. Will any follow Jeremiah today?

Oratory Style

23 Wednesday Oct 2013

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Powerful preaching of the gospel is an attractive thing. Exactly what is meant
by that varies with the individual. What is generally in view is strong belief
in the word of God, forthrightly delivered, delivered passionately, and with
much confidence. With that being done, it is still possible for another to not
like that style of preaching; to them, it might sound arrogant, condescending,
or even bullying. However it might be interpreted, the point of emphasis for
God’s preacher is not in his delivery style, but the content of preaching
coupled with the life lived. Paul said, “For Christ did not send me to
baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of
Christ should be made of no effect” (1 Corinthians 1:17, NKJV). Paul said
he wanted to preach the gospel, with the power being in the gospel of the cross,
not the style, oratory, or even the baptism.