Poor Preacher

POOR PREACHER

I had a fellow come out of church one Sunday and tell me a story of how a little boy came out of church and told the pastor that as soon as he could he was going to get a job and give him half of his salary. The pastor was amused at this and asked why? The little boy said it was because his daddy said that their pastor was the poorest preacher he ever heard. While this is humorous, it is true many people think their preacher is a poor preacher because he doesn’t preach the way they think he should. But I would remind you if the man is called of God to preach the Gospel he is, or should be, doing what he can for the cause of Christ. Many preachers are the poorest in the aspect of worldly things but they are rich in God’s eyes for their obedience.

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Notice Paul instructs Timothy to preach the word. He did not tell him how to do that. He never said you have to be monotone, or shout to the top of your lungs, or hack (grunt) every 3rd or 4th word. He simply told him to preach the word, whenever and wherever. I had a good friend that was always telling me about what a great guest preacher that they had at their church. How they ran the aisles, jumped over the pulpit and other things. But when asked what he had preached they didn’t really know. Now before you get to thinking that I am putting down loud, hard, fast preaching and the preacher getting excited and the like, I am not. In fact that is the kind I like as long as he is preaching the Word. What is the Word? It is Jesus Christ. I don’t care what style it is as long as they are in the Bible and preaching Jesus. Just because the preacher does not preach in the mode you like does not make him a poor preacher. A preacher needs to stand and proclaim “Thus saith the Lord” which appears in the Old Testament 413 times. We need to tell folks that sin is still sin, and that God has not changed. Man may change but not God. We need to preach hell hot and heaven sweet. Preach “ye must be born again” and that salvation is available to all. If your preacher is doing this he is not a poor preacher, he is fulfilling his call.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

I would suggest to you that the speaker who preaches a message to gain popularity or to make everyone feel really good about themselves is a poor preacher. I use the term preacher loosely there. I see people flocking to men that tickle their ears and tell them what they want to hear. I want the truth and nothing but the truth. If the message you are hearing week in and week out is, you‘re ok and I’m ok and we’re all ok. I see that as a problem. I don’t know about you, well really I do. We are all made out of the same mud. We are not all ok. I have my problems and you have yours, and we all need a closer walk with Jesus. I’m not saying we are lost but I need the Word preached to me on a regular basis, I don’t need a feel good message all the time.

Christian before you go saying the preacher is poor, examine what he is saying. If he is preaching out of the blessed old book and telling you the truth, he is not poor but he is rich in the things of God.

Have a great day