The problem with preachers today is that
no one wants to kill them!
Well, that’s a shocking statement, isn’t it? This statement was made by a modern day Bible teacher as he was talking about the Puritans of the past. The statement took me a little by surprise, especially with all the violence today in our own backyards, but the more I read this statement, the more I was getting what this Bible teacher meant. And he’s right. What, you say?!? Think about it. The quote hit me squarely in the heart. This quote is not just for preachers, or Bible teachers, it is for all of us.
I’m not a preacher hater, I love preachers, and I’m certainly not saying they should be killed, you know that. After pondering this statement for a few days, I will say I understand the message the stater was trying to convey and it should make us stop and think. Stephen was stoned. Philip and Thomas were crucified. Matthew died by the sword. James and Matthias were stoned. John was hanged. John the Baptist was beheaded. Why? Because the folks they were talking to didn’t like the message. You know, kind of like “kill the messenger” only these folks and more brought Good News, not bad news.
“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. John 15:18-19
We, I mean I, have really tried to make the Good News too good news. I’ve tried to spin the message to make it a much more palatable message, you know, only the good parts. I’ve picked the easy parts to espouse – God is love, full of grace and mercy – and that’s so true, but that’s not all there is to the Good News. I’ve only thrown softballs. To tell someone only half of the Good News is not Good News for them. That part would be the half that they easily swallow, but what about the rest of the story, the rest of the Good News. The whole Good News. God sent His Son, His name was Jesus, to die in our place to atone for our sins. Yes, we are sinners in need of a Redeemer. We must be reborn. We must be changed people. We must repent. That’s the whole Good News.
Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. John 15:20-21
Here’s what I’m wondering. Does anyone want to harm me for the message I bring to the world? Does the Good News I speak of offend others? Does it stick in their crawl? Does it make them think? Is my message a warm and fuzzy message that has no hope of actually saving anyone, it just makes them feel good? Does anyone hate me because I love the Lord?
The whole point is that Jesus told us we would be despised and rejected, just like He was, maybe even to death, just like He was. And I find myself back at the question — does the world love me or hate me? That’s kind of the litmus test here. If they love me is it because I’m speaking only half truths – half truths are lies by the way. I look at our world and think about how desperately it/we need(s) a Savior. Will I complain or will I proclaim? Jesus concludes His message to His disciples as follows:
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me. And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning. John 15:26-27
Preachers should be bold, truth speakers, Word deliverers, preparing the way for the Lord. But, they aren’t the only ones – we are too.
P.S. Yesterday, outside our office, was a preacher – a young guy. He carried a small amp and microphone. He stood on the corner proclaiming the Word of the Lord. He didn’t look like the usual suspect. In fact, you may have passed him by on the street without as much as a hello. He read from his Bible, reached His hands to the Heavens and simply proclaimed the Word of the Lord. It seemed effortless. The Spirit of the Lord was in him. He was speaking Truth and testifying about the Lord. He was boldly proclaiming the Word of the Lord. He was preparing the way of the Lord. Once again, I was hit squarely in the heart.