Tag Archives: preaching

Never Trust Your Preacher!

Bible General, Doctrine, Preaching, Sermons,

Why would a preacher tell you to never trust your preacher? Isn’t trust inherent in the job of preaching? I mean, if you never trust your preacher, who can you trust?

Gallup published a new poll last month which put preachers on par with journalists for trustworthiness. Only 37% of respondents rate clergy as high or very highly honest or ethical people.


“Gallup has measured Americans’ views of the clergy’s honesty and ethics 34 times beginning in 1977, and this year’s 37% very high/high rating is the lowest to date. Although the overall average positive rating is 54%, it has consistently fallen below that level since 2009. The historical high of 67% occurred in 1985.”

Gallup suggests the decline is, at least partly related to scandals in the Roman Catholic Church. Christianity Today cites many failures among protestant preachers too. All of this may be so, but my warning isn’t based on a survey.

There’s another reason you should never trust your preacher.

Never Trust Your Preacher Because He Is Human

Human’s err. The Bible is even stronger.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Romans 3:23

“If we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

1 John 1:8

“This is a faithful saying and worth of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV)

So if I put my faith in a man, no matter how good he may strive to be, I make a deadly mistake. He, like me, is a sinner.

Never Trust Your Preacher Because His Wisdom May Be Faulty

There is a real conflict between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom. The same clash happened in the first century too. Paul had much to say about it.

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. “

1 Corinthians 2:12, 13

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness,’”

1 Corinthians 3:18, 19

Surely we hope that our preachers are steeped in God’s wisdom. We expect and hope that their motivations and passions are driven by the Spirit of God. But remember, we are thinking of our own soul; that precious eternal piece of me that will live forever. Am I that sure that my preacher’s wisdom is divine?

Never Trust Your Preacher Because He Is Not Inspired

God’s word is inspired ( 2 Timothy 3:16, 17). It is infallible and must never be tampered with.

“You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.”

Deuteronomy 4:2

” I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. “

Revelation 22:18, 19

Your preacher is not inspired because he doesn’t need to be inspired. The word which you possess is from the very mind of God. It has been delivered to us today in a final and complete form. Jude writes that the word was “once for all” delivered (Jude 3).

I do not suggest that your preacher is not inspiring; I hope he is. But that is vastly different from being directly inspired by the Holy Spirit. As preachers, we have nothing new to bring to the theological table. We are spokesmen for what God has already given.

Never Trust Your Preacher Because You Can Understand the Bible

It’s nice to be wanted. It’s nice to feel needed. It’s nice to think yourself important. But when it comes to your knowledge of God’s word, you can understand it through your own study and prayer. You have no need for someone to tell you what the Scriptures say.

Solomon knew that study was hard (Ecclesiastes 12:12). But Paul tells Timothy that study is important.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

The command to Timothy is to study and to be a workman. The Scriptures were written for our learning (Romans 15:4). It is in the word that we find hope and comfort. The Christian was never pointed to a priest or rabbi but instead was always pointed to the word of God.

I know you appreciate, love and respect your preacher. You should. But your soul is far too precious to entrust to fallible men. Be sure and read our coming article on Fact-Checking Your Preacher.

Preachers and Roy Moore: A Teachable Moment

Culture, Daily living, Preaching,

politicsSince Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority swept Ronald Reagan to victory in the 1980 Presidential Primary and General Election, politics have become more and more intertwined with faith. Nowhere is this mixing more evident than in the so-called evangelical churches. The politics of faith has even made its way into the pulpit and preaching of some churches. The current controversy over U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore provides a powerful illustration of what can happen when personal politics blend with preaching the word.

Preachers have no business endorsing individual candidates from the pulpit. Our preaching upholds Jesus to the world, not men. We must preach the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) and avoid unnecessary entanglements in the affairs of this life (2 Timothy 2:4). However, Christians are the light and the salt of this world and must bring their influence to bear where possible (Matthew 5:13-16). I argue that the best way for preachers to influence is by teaching the Bible in all of its authority. God is the only legitimate moral lawgiver and, as such, his word controls our lives.

The current political fiasco involving Roy Moore is instructive for preachers. Some, who backed the candidate from the pulpit now find themselves in a squeeze: “God’s candidate” is accused of pedophilia and multiple counts of sexual misconduct. What’s an endorsing preacher to do? He must learn that using the pulpit to endorse any candidate is fraught with the danger of bringing disrespect upon himself as the proclaimer of the word of God.

I have no certainty that Roy Moore is guilty, nor am I certain that his accusers are lying. I just do not know. I do know that his opponent promotes abortion. So, I too am in a squeeze. I will vote so I will have to make a decision. The difference is that my decision will be private. The church for which I preach will not be sullied by my endorsement of anyone. Sunday morning, I will preach Jesus.

I hope my colleagues will stop getting all hot and bothered about the people who run for office. If we preach the word only, we will be good servants of our master. I call on fellow preachers to simply “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2) and let others play politics.

An old preacher once observed that being involved in politics is like reaching into an old stovepipe while wearing a white, long-sleeved shirt. No matter how careful you are, the shirt is going to get dirty.

God Said What!?

Church Bulletin, Preaching, , ,

It’s easy to prep a sermon when you don’t have to be bothered with things like honesty and truth. Sticking to the words of inspired Scripture forces a preacher measure his words and carefully present only what is actually in the text. It is a challenge. It’s especially frustrating when your wisdom dictates a sermon that cannot be taught from the Biblical text. What to do?

Some have taken to crafting their own message from their imaginations. Then they give it the imprimatur of truth by declaring, “God told me…” Recently a preacher wanted to weigh in on the homosexual marriage debate. I’ll not name him, ((I do not wish to promote or give any additional publicity to the man.)) but he said that God told him we should change our attitude toward the LGBT community and we should be accepting of them. I guess because God told him we should all hold our tongues and rejoice that the sin of the practicing homosexual is no longer sinful! God told him it was ok! Some have gone so far as to craft entire books of sayings and teachings given them by God, teachings that often directly contradict clear Bible teaching.

Sadly, some just follow along and accept whatever comes from the mouth of their preacher. Shame on them and their preacher! Let’s begin with a few passages.

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8, 9).

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.  (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

“For God is not a God of confusion…” (1 Corinthians 14:33)

It is clear that anyone who brings “new” teachings, not found in Scripture, to the pulpit is to be accursed. It doesn’t matter how that supposed revelation came to be it cannot stand if it contradicts Bible teaching. ((We note that both Islam and Mormonism were allegedly brought by the angels Gabriel and Moroni.)) Paul declares that one who brings such teaching is to be “accursed.” This precept is so important that Paul repeats it again in the very next verse. This teaching parallels other similar thoughts in Revelation 22:18, 19, Deuteronomy 4:2, 2 John 9, et al. The false teacher is deceitful and knowingly brings his illicit teachings to the mind of the student. Paul notes that these teachers have disguised themselves so as to infiltrate churches and destroy from the inside (Acts 20:29-31).

Our final verse notes that God does not create confusion. The context is that of chaotic, charismatic worship, but the fact remains that God does not create confusion. One who brings a new or altered teaching because “God told him to” has created confusion and therefore proven himself a false teacher.

New revelation, when sent by God, was always confirmed by great signs, wonders and miracles. The miraculous deliverance of Israel from Egypt and the attendant wonders at Sinai confirmed the coming of the Law of Moses. Likewise, the miraculous manifestations on Pentecost (Acts 2) and again at the home of Cornelius (Acts 10) confirmed the new church age and the extension of the gospel to the Gentiles.

Unless and until modern preachers can confirm their new teachings with Bible-caliber miracles, let them be silent or preach only from the established truth of Scripture.

 

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

 

Politics, Preachers and the Pulpit

Government, Preaching,

A_coloured_voting_boxOnce again some preachers are knowingly and openly breaking IRS regulations by endorsing specific candidates for political office. These preachers are wrong and should be removed from their pulpits and subjected to the appropriate penalties.

Religious bodies may choose to accept IRS rules and thus avoid paying taxes on  their contributions. They could choose to decline the tax exempt provisions and preach anything they want but instead these people are trying to have their cake and eat it too.

By law, a preacher may preach on any topic he so chooses. He can preach against abortion, against gambling, against various social issues and even against unbiblical  topics like the flat tax, fair tax or any number of arcane points of law. What the tax exempt provisions prohibit is campaigning for or against a specific candidate. The preachers and their churches agreed to the provisions they now seek to violate.

It is also the case that a preacher can personally campaign for anyone he chooses as long as he is not speaking for the church or using his position with the church to promote the candidate. There simply are no substantive restrictions on preachers. It is a contrived issue by some who may be more interested in politics than in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. The upshot is that these rogue preachers are bringing the rest of us into unneeded criticisms.

Here’s a thought: Should we spend precious pulpit time talking about a man other than Jesus? I didn’t think so. Preach the word!

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

Preacher Problems: Unmasked

Bible General, Church, Preaching

We’ve completed a number of articles on preachers and their problems. We think there is some useful information here which is worth your time to consider. You should know that I do not dislike preachers – I am one. But brethren should understand that we struggle sometimes just like they do. I hope this series helps.

The Preacher Unmasked: New Series.

The Preacher Unmasked: Preachers Struggle with Faith.

The Preacher Unmasked: Preachers Have Bad Days.

The Preacher Unmasked: Preachers Sin.

The Preacher Unmasked: Preachers Get Discouraged.

The Preacher Unmasked: Preachers Are Hypocrites.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

The Preacher Unmasked: Preachers Get Discouraged

Preaching,

face and hands of mime with dark make-upPreachers have it all together, right? They have the direct line to God and have all their problems worked out, don’t they? They preach about happiness, contentment and service to the Lord and they certainly talk about heaven. I guess that have it all figured out, right?

No.

I know a young man who once served his community as a police officer. Day in and day out he responded to one call after another. He finally quit his job. The struggles, crime and violence had taken a toll on his life. He was almost broken. This man who fought for law and order now found himself swirling into chaos. He had to get out.

I’m not sure preachers are much different.

Every day the preacher faces a world firmly in the grip of the evil one. He sees sin in his life and the life of others. Discouragement is not surprising. It’s the norm.

Do not be mistaken. We know what the Bible says about persevering and remaining faithful unto death. We believe that the Lord is in charge and that he will reward the faithful servants.

But we struggle.

Discouragement is probably rooted in our own expectations. When we expect a certain outcome, and it does not happen, we are discouraged.  In other words, if everyone lived the way I think they should discouragement would never come. Yeah, right.

Jesus discourages discouragement. In his thinking, discouragement comes when we drift away from him. In Luke 18:1 he reminded his disciples that they should always “pray and not be discouraged” (HCSB). Prayer can both prevent and repair the discouraged heart. But still, our humanness sometimes overwhelms the preacher and discouragement follows.

Congregations can help their preacher avoid discouragement.

  1. Be a source of encouragement. Pump him up from time to time and let him to know that you really care.
  2. Be honest with the preacher. Telling him he preached a great sermon when it wasn’t doesn’t really help.
  3. Seek his counsel and advice only if you are serious about needing his help. Helping those who struggle does not discourage us. But people who play games with their soul discourages the preacher faster than almost anything else.
  4. Require your preacher to take periodic breaks and vacations. He needs to recharge just like everybody else.
  5. Pray every day for your preacher. Trust me. He needs it.

Discouragement is just one of those horrible human traits that we all have to deal with sometimes. Preachers are not exempt. Help them so that they can help you more!

If you haven’t done so, please read my disclaimer.

The Preacher Unmasked: Preachers Sin

Preaching

face and hands of mime with dark make-upA preacher counsels a married woman and finds himself in an illicit relationship with her. Word leaks and soon both the preacher and the woman and separated from their spouses, children are stunned and embarrassed and the church is crippled by the public sin.

In another town a preacher’s computer is taken for repair and vile pictures of children are found on the hard drive. he is reported to police, arrested and tried for crimes against children.

In another city police stop a driver who is swerving and driving erratically. He is arrested and charged with DUI. Officers recognize the man as the local preacher. His mugshot is prominent on the front page of the newspaper.

Two common elements: Preachers. Sin.

Congregations like to imagine their preachers as bastions of virtue who stand strong against Satan and his ways. Yet preachers really are like everybody else. We are weak, wretched, poor blind and naked (Revelation 3:17). Preachers possess the same passions and desires as the average man in the pew. The same things that tempt you, also tempt us. There are some differences in the actual temptation but sin still calls to us as loudly as to others. While we should be strong and employ the right tools to reject sin, we often fail.

Media reports verify preacher weaknesses. From greedy business deals gone bad to homosexuality and other immoralities, preacher sins are well known and well documented. And because preachers are so visible the consequences of their sin is multiplied. If a member in the local church is caught in an affair it may be shrugged off by a society numbed to sin. But if that same sin is committed by the preacher it will be fodder for every gossip and for the media. Words like “double standard” and “hypocrite” will fly. Nevertheless, the weaknesses of the preacher are similar to those of every other person.

Sinful Preachers

Samson was a Judge of Israel for 20 years (Judges 16:31). He had a particular weakness for women and routinely chased after them. He violated God’s law by marrying Delilah, a Philistine woman. Her trickery led directly to his downfall and eventual death (Judges 16:4ff).

King David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), lusted after Bathsheba, pursued her and committed adultery with her. He then killed her husband in an attempt to cover up his sin (2 Samuel 11:2ff). David was driven by the same passions and lusts as the lowest servant in the kingdom and even the same lusts we face today.

Peter, the Lord’s chosen apostle, behaved in a racist, hypocritical way when he separated himself from Gentiles when Jews arrived. He was rebuked for his sin by Paul (Galatians 2:11-14).

Preachers Will Sin

It is wholly unreasonable to think that preachers do not sin. We do. Sometimes the sins are well known, well publicized and carry deep consequences. In such cases, preachers should remove themselves from public view and allow for healing. But let us recognize that preachers stumble too.

The world will heap criticism on the “hypocrite preacher” but the church must support and encourage him. Where repentance is made forgiveness must follow. Not too long ago a preacher was charged with drug related offenses. A spokesman for the local congregation was quoted as declaring that the man no longer preached for them. In my opinion that was a shameful response. Yes, the preacher should step down or be removed but the public face of the congregation was one of condemnation not love, encouragement, healing or forgiveness.

Be supportive of your preachers. Never condone sin but recognize that preachers are frail and imperfect. The very best preacher out there is still a sinner in need of a savior (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8). Help your preacher. Love your preacher. Respect your preacher but also know he is more like you than you may think.

If you haven’t done so, please read my disclaimer.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

The Preacher Unmasked: Preachers Have Bad Days

Preaching

face and hands of mime with dark make-upSome days stink.

You oversleep. You get a cold shower because your teenagers took all the hot water. Then you break a shoelace. The car is out of gas. You are late for the meeting with the elders. Your Bible is suddenly missing. In the middle of the meeting your wife calls to tell you that she has a flat tire. We’ve all been there.

Then a member calls about a problem that is important to them. Now what? Sometimes the preacher is so frustrated with the other things in his day that he doesn’t give attention to his members. He’s short and maybe even a rude. The member gets off the phone feeling unimportant and a bother. Later those feeling turn to anger over the way they were treated.

Preacher’s don’t have bad days do they? Everything is right in the preacher’s life and there should be no reason why shouldn’t be happy and chipper!

We know better. Preachers have stinking, rotten days just like everyone. And, like everyone else, we don’t always cover it very well.

Moses had a few of those bad days. The Israelites gripped about everything. In Genesis 16:1ff they complained about food. Numbers 14:1ff has the nation whining about the bad report from the land of Canaan. In chapter 17 they complained about Moses’ leadership.

It is amazing Moses did as well as he did. But he did have a breakdown once. In Numbers 11 the people were complaining about their troubles. Apparently they wanted everything handed to them on a silver platter. Moses could take it no more.

 Moses said to the LORD, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?  Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give their fathers?  Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’  I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.”

Clearly, Moses had a bad day.

Notice how God dealt with the disgruntled deliverer. Beginning in verse 16 the Lord gave Moses help. He appointed 70 elders to assist Moses with his duties. God saw that Moses was struggling.

Sometimes your preacher has a bad day. You will never know, nor should you, all of the trials he is facing. But understand that he is very human and some days just doesn’t feel like being Mr. Strength. Remember that he is well aware of his weaknesses but probably doesn’t want everyone to know it. Love him anyway. Be kind to him and encourage him. He needs it. When he is strong, he is able to help you. We are all in this together.

If you haven’t done so, please read my disclaimer.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

The Preacher Unmasked: Preachers Struggle with Faith

Preaching

face and hands of mime with dark make-upWhere are you Lord? Are you listening? Do you hear me? Lord? Are you real?

Where are you Lord? Are you listening? Do you hear me? Lord? Are you real?

Those words could come from your preacher. The Bible teaches that faith is the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1) but sometimes we forget to “walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). When we stand beside a small casket and watch a mom and dad weep uncontrollably we struggle as we grope for God.

When a fine Christian lady, one who works so hard and seems to be the rock of the congregation is taken by some horrible disease, we have no words to explain.

When false teaching runs amok in the community and in the church and we watch as false teachers prosper we are tempted to ask why. We wonder if our long and hard stand for truth is really worth it.

Paul trusted God even in the middle of trails (2 Timothy 4:6) but for us, it can be so hard. The problem comes because everyone expects us to be strong when they are weak. Preachers should always plenty of faith to share, right?

No. Preachers doubt too.

Recall that the disciples were rebuked for their lack of faith (Matthew 8:26; Matthew 16:8). Peter found himself in the middle of a great miracle but even then his faith lacked (Matthew 14:31). Even Abraham, the father of the faithful, struggled. He lied about his wife not once but twice (Genesis 12:10-20; Genesis 20:1-18). He failed to trust God’s protection.

It is often in the midst of doubt that strength grows. Consider Thomas who would not believe in the resurrected Lord until he saw the nail scars. Clearly he was a skeptic, even faithless. But when he saw the wounds in Jesus’ hands and in his side, Thomas declared, “My Lord and my God! (John 20:24-29).

We preachers are not that much different. We are not always strong. In fact we are probably more like Thomas than any of us care to admit. But out of that struggle comes strength. Give us room to grow. Understand our weakness and encourage us. I know I need it sometimes and I bet your preacher does too.

If you haven’t done so, please read my disclaimer.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.