Preachers

Preachers

There are far too many preachers, but true laborers in God’s kingdom are few as Jesus also said: “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Matt. 9:37.

Most preachers are slaves of sin—despite everything that seems to point in the opposite direction. If they are not addicted to swearing or smoking or imbibing intoxicating drink, they nevertheless are subject to laziness, love of money, and their bellies. Therefore they inevitably say what people like to hear, and so they have this commendation from the apostle Paul that they are not the servants of Christ. Gal. 1:10.

The preacher has just two ways of making a living—either as a laborer who toils as other people do, or as a “tourist” who is driven by his lusts. If he really works “in the sweat of his face” as God has commanded us, then he should live by the gospel. If he really imparts spiritual treasures to souls through his work, it is nothing great, nothing extra if he shares their earthly goods.

On the other hand, if he neither works nor sacrifices himself for the sinners’ conversion, nor is able to lead the church onward in truth, but just holds some meetings with music and song and spirited speeches so that the listeners end up in a good mood, thinking they’ve had a pleasant time, then it is a shame that others who labor in the sweat of their face all day long throughout the year shall pay with their hard-earned money in order to feed such a lazy and useless comedian— who only lives as a parasite.

Most believers are cowardly and weak when it becomes a question of power. In their heart of hearts they are grieved by such parasitic guests even though they support them against their own free will; nevertheless, in spite of everything, they smile at them and bow to them because they haven’t the strength to do anything else.

Unfortunately, people are quite adept at smiling and playing the hypocrite. However, they manage to do very little or nothing when righteousness is to be executed or when the truth has to be spoken to one’s neighbor’s face.

I would like to see and hear men who, in the name of uprightness, truth, reasonableness, and mercy, are able to show such people the door and show them the words of Scripture about working in the sweat of their face instead of spending their time on things that don’t concern them. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 and 2 Thessalonians 3:11. The state of affairs in our country is sad, with hundreds of tourist preachers and almost no laborers.

They travel around by boat, railway, and automobile, viewing lands and seas, mountains and valleys, forests and meadows, stately buildings, etc. There are welcome meetings and farewell meetings, new faces, pleasant hosts, praise, flattery, and enthusiasm; the best lodgings and the best food; comfortable sofas on which you can lie down and take a nap after a full-course dinner, until a cup of coffee, or several cups can wake him up again so that this so-called worker can be in a suitably good mood to go for a walk in the fresh air and enjoy the marvels of God’s nature.

Of course, this would without any particular difficulty contribute to the “worker’s” suitable mood and frame of mind for his daily work—namely, to speak enthusiastically about God’s goodness at the meeting. And in order to save his strength, he feels it is best to have one or two free days in between performing such “daily labors.”

This is quite comfortable for the natural man. But what about the conscience? It certainly needs a sleeping pill if this idyllic state is not to be disturbed. Preferably this pill is in the form of a scripture because there is hardly anything else that has an effect on the conscience. “No good will He withhold from those who walk blamelessly” seems to lend itself nicely for this purpose. Such a word is applied brazenly even though it fits badly, for blamelessness before God is in short supply. Even if the person were blameless, it is not fitting to use this word because such laziness and such wanton living cannot be said to be “good.” It is evil!

How could a person be blameless before Him who hates unrighteousness when a person lives in such gross unrighteousness all year round?!

The preacher doesn’t think that God denies such “goodness” to him. Yet the amazing thing is that the other children of God are denied such “goodness” even if they could truly be called blameless.

Instead of enjoying such “goodness” themselves, it is the others’ lot to pay the expenses for all this “goodness” for these idle creatures.

This is a senseless charade: the diligent person has to pay for the honor of witnessing laziness.

May God help and strengthen His people that they may be wise in what is good. Amen.

Solomon says that he who hates gifts shall live. There are certainly not many in the various assemblies who have been exposed to preachers who hate gifts, who have refused to receive a collection when it was offered to them, or who have in their turn given the gift to the poor because they thought that he was in greater need of the money, even in much greater need than themselves—or something similar.

We can say that money isn’t the main thing, that it would be sin if we kept it back, seeing that the preacher gives us spiritual treasures—if he really sacrifices body and soul and lays down his life for souls; then it is certainly true as Paul says that it is not a great thing if he reaps their material things—then it wouldn’t even be too much if we tore the clothes off our backs and gave them to him.

If a person has been blessed by God and is happy, and is an eloquent speaker besides, it is normal for him to live off God’s promises, as the saying goes, to be an evangelist. This is a totally scandalous practice. A person is not at all qualified to travel as a worker in God’s kingdom because he is happy, has experienced God’s power, and is an eloquent speaker. He may have good intentions, but he will succumb sooner or later, just like his predecessors did, to food and drink and idleness, to praise, flattery, and the desire for money: a powerful root for evil.

Therefore we also hear once in a while that preachers succumb to adultery, and it happens even more often without it being known. However, even if it doesn’t end up that badly, most of them become pitiable creatures, worse than the ones they profess to edify and lead. Because of wanton living, flattery, and constant changes, it is easy for such a person to shine, which will be viewed by most people as being happy in the Lord, giving the appearance that this person has received so much from God. The preacher would certainly appear in a totally different light if he had to work hard all day long in order to earn a living; then, when he came home tired and worn out, he had to hurry up and chop wood besides doing other things, wash up, and quickly change clothes and swallow a little bit of food in order to get to the meeting on time, take part in the meeting for a few hours, contributing generously to the collection for all the visiting preachers, and then invite them to his home to be a burden night and day to himself and his family and still be able to think that he is blessed because God sent such blessed workers his way.

Every preacher should think carefully about this state of affairs. It would certainly be a practical and useful topic of conversation. The preachers should compare their work to the work of those to whom they are a burden.

It would also certainly be very good if the majority of preachers would go home as quickly as possible and get themselves a proper job. Then they could much more easily put themselves in other people’s circumstances.

The assemblies should also do their part to help them see the light. This can be done in a practical way by assigning them a modest lodging with correspondingly modest food: much porridge together with gruel, also bread with cheap margarine and nothing else on it, and on top of all that, plenty of really useful, hard and simple physical labor.

Why should one do such a thing? Is it to inflict evil on them? Not at all! Woe to him who wants to do evil! It is for their good—for their own good and the good of their fellow man—in order to contribute to their salvation, in order to test them, in order to see what is on their heart: whether it is a comfortable and pleasant existence or righteousness and the souls’ eternal well-being.

This is how Paul tested those who gave themselves out to be workers in God’s kingdom. In this way he cut off the hirelings who served their own belly more than souls. 2 Cor. 11:12.

I would hereby heartily like to recommend this wise and caring way of proceeding in the love of Christ. “Let all that you do be done with love.” 1 Cor. 16:14. In such cases we have an opportunity to show our genuine love for God and for people.

The angel of the church in Ephesus received the recommendation from the Chief Shepherd Himself that he had tested those who said they were apostles but were not, “and have found them liars.” Rev. 2:2. It is also of the utmost significance what Paul writes to the Philippians about this matter: “For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2:20-21. These “all” were sure to make brilliant speeches; otherwise they would have had absolutely nothing to offer. These speakers could certainly please most of the listeners with jubilant song and music, but they could not please Him who loved righteousness and hated iniquity more than His brethren (Heb. 1:9); neither can they please them who, like their Master, hunger and thirst for righteousness. Amos 5:23-24, 6:4-6.

It is also important to read what the apostle writes to the Colossians about his fellow workers: “These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision [among the Jewish people]; they have proved to be a comfort to me.” Ch. 4:11.

May God drive out laborers into His harvest whose tested faithfulness is known. Yes, may God mold many of them so He can have some of them to drive out, for He cannot drive them “out” if they are not “in.”