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UNION GROVE CHURCH OF CHRIST, CLEVELAND TN. |
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"HE’S A GOOD PREACHER"
What member of the body of Christ has not heard or made the above statement? I personally am grateful to the Lord for allowing me and my family to be acquainted with so many great gospel preachers. It has truly been a wonderful blessing and great encouragement to us. When people make the comment, "He’s a good preacher," what do they usually have in mind? Do they mean that a particular preacher is good looking? A good speaker? Good with kids? Good at not stepping on anybody’s toes? Let’s consider some criteria that people sometimes have in mind when they refer to a person as "a good preacher." To many, a man is a good preacher if he is a Powerful/Dynamic Speaker. In their mind, if a man is a good speaker, then he is "a good preacher." Tertullus, who before Felix "led the charge" against Paul in accusing him of wrongdoing, was an "orator" (Acts 24:1). Granted, he was not a preacher, but regardless of who he was, his being a wonderful speaker did not change his false statements into the truth (Acts 24:5,6). The sad reality is the religious world is full of folks who are extremely talented public speakers that deceive the hearts of the simple "by good and fair speeches" (Romans 16:18). Many congregations of God’s people have been led down the wrong path by hiring a preacher who impressively delivered two sermons on "tryout Sunday." Some have found out too late that the impressive speaker whom they hired is not prepared or willing to preach the truth of Jesus Christ. Some of the change agents in the church are outstanding speakers, but what value is that when they preach a perverted message? (Galatians 1:6-8). May God help us to see that being an effective communicator in the pulpit ("a good speaker") does not automatically make one "a good preacher" in God’s sight. Yet others seem to think that every Persuasive Preacher is a good one. It is true that God’s preachers must be able to reprove, rebuke, and exhort (2 Timothy 4:2). However, being a persuasive speaker does not make one "a good preacher" in the eyes of Jehovah. Some of the denominational preachers on TV can really turn on the crocodile tears and get folks worked up, arousing multitudes of gullible listeners to send in the big bucks to support their "ministry." Are they persuasive? You bet they are. Why? Because Satan is a pro at getting people to accept perverted messages that are preached by persuasive speakers (Galatians 3:1; 5:7). Of some the Holy Spirit said, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:13,14). While preachers ought to do their best to sharpen their skills at public speaking, it is a fact that not all persuasive preachers are good ones before God. More than a few consider the mark of a good preacher is to be one that Produces Growth (More People). We all rejoice with the angels of heaven when people obey the gospel, or when erring members of the church are restored to their first love (Luke 15:7,10). But if a preacher is able to preach in such a way as to get more folks to fill the pews, does that necessarily make him a good preacher before the Lord? No. Some who fill pulpits in churches of Christ are entertainers that are simply masquerading as evangelists. They can keep folks "cracked up" and happy with jokes and stories, and that is appealing to a lot of worldly-minded people in our society today. We thank God for scriptural baptisms and genuine restorations that cause true growth in numbers in His kingdom. But let’s be careful not to give too much credit to the preacher when such growth occurs. At the same time, let us be cautious in pointing an accusing finger at him if such growth is slow in coming. We all need to recognize that there are many factors involved that affect a congregation’s numerical growth, or lack of such. Please take note: an increase in attendance at services does not prove that the preacher is doing a great job, nor does a decrease in attendance prove that there’s something wrong with the preacher. Could it be the case that some evaluate preachers on the length of their sermons, so for them a good preacher is one that Preaches Short Sermons? Wouldn’t we all like to know at what time Paul began his lesson that went until midnight and during which Eutychus went to sleep and fell from the third loft (Acts 20:7-9)?! The truth is, there is no biblical evidence for stating that the good preacher is one that keeps his lessons short. We fear that today in the church some want a preacher that is Pretty Good At Not Stepping On People’s Toes. Yes, to them that is what makes a good preacher. They don’t want to hear any preaching on such moral issues as drinking, gambling, or divorce, ‘cause those topics and others like them might get on people’s toes. Those who serve as preachers need to speak with kindness and without any desire to intentionally be offensive to their listeners. But each of us must realize that the gospel of the Christ is offensive to some people. Look at the treatment the first century preachers received from those that didn’t like the gospel’s message (Cf. Acts 4,5,7,8,9,12,14,16,19). If the reasoning of some were true, since people got upset about the preaching done by the apostles, Stephen, and others, then those brothers would just not be good preachers! God’s Book indicates otherwise. We hope that it is now obvious that before we label someone as "a good preacher," we ought to consider other matters than the ones that we noted above. We suggest that it would be in order to ask the following questions to help us determine if a man is "a good preacher." First: Does he live a godly life – does he live the truth? Preachers are charged to be a good example for others (1 Timothy 4:12), to take heed to themselves (1 Timothy 4:16), and to act as "a pattern of good works" (Titus 2:7). If a brother falls short in this area, then despite everything else that might be said in his favor, he is not "a good preacher." Second: Does he preach the truth, the whole counsel of God? God’s preachers are instructed, "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1). "Preach the word" is the clear message to all that strive to "do the work of an evangelist" (2 Timothy 4:2,5). The apostle Paul told shepherds from Ephesus, "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:26,27). The church needs more preachers who stick with the Bible and preach the whole counsel of God. Those who don’t are not "good preachers." Third: Does he preach the truth in love? It is one thing to preach the truth. It is another matter to preach it with a sincere love for those that hear it. The compassion of the Master must be in the heart of every gospel preacher (Mark 6:34), as preaching the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) surely characterizes God’s "good preacher." Fourth: Does he work diligently for the sake of the kingdom when he is not "in the pulpit?" It appears to me that for some time now in the church we have been moving toward a special class of men whom some call "pulpit ministers." The mentality of some is that all a "pulpit preacher" does (or needs to do) is get two sermons ready each week for Sunday and be prepared to teach a Bible class or two. We readily recognize the need for preachers to spend time, a great amount of time, in studying and preparing themselves to deliver public lessons. Shame on preachers who do not put forth the necessary effort to be prepared to stand before others to teach or preach Jehovah’s word. We further understand the importance of public preaching "in the pulpit," as we call it. Gospel preachers are willing to preach from the pulpit of a church building, under a tree, on the street, or wherever else people will attentively listen to the saving gospel of Christ (Romans 1:15,16). Evangelists must not allow themselves to think of Sunday and the day of mid-week Bible classes as their only work days. We need preachers who are always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58), and that includes being active in the kingdom when they are not standing before an audience. Thanks be to the Father for sending to earth the model preacher of all ages, Jesus Christ. Now HE was a good preacher! -- Roger D. Campbell |
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