Is This What Preachers Do?
Before I write the bulk of this article, permit me to offer a bit of a disclaimer. I am NOT complaining about these matters, but rather I rejoice knowing that God provides opportunities for me to do good (Galatians 6:10). Are these times always convenient, or even within my physical ability? Not always, but they nonetheless grant me experience in learning something I might further develop and use for the greater good at some future juncture. Could others fill these requests with greater prosperity than I can provide? Certainly, and with much less effort and with abundantly better results than my feeble efforts could ever accomplish. But the point is they’ve asked me to help them in their time of need, and as a brother in Christ, I must oblige such opportunities to the best of my ability!
We preachers are expected to preach and teach the gospel. And though there are no “signed contracts” (usually) there are those occasions where we are asked to be “all things to all people” in very unexpected ways. From taxi service to babysitters, from carpenters, mechanics, plumbers, and electricians, to farmers of grains and farmers of animals, from gardeners and lawn groomers, to simply someone to talk to, being all things to all people that by all means we might save some, can be a cumbersome occupation. (see 1 Corinthians 9:22)
Yes, our primary work is to preach and teach the gospel! Everything we do in addition to that work is secondary at best, but very seldom are these “other duties as assigned” outside the scope of helping those of the Lord’s church. Sometimes, we must be a consoler to the grieving, or an encourager to the downtrodden, or a disciplinarian to the mischievous, or an experienced mind to the wayward. While some honest and sincere preachers can speak from personal experiences of the depths of sin (drunkenness, sexual immorality, lying, stealing, etc.) these also speak with experience regarding the painful journey from such sin to the obedience of the gospel, and the struggles they continue to have in remaining faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10). From who better to learn such righteousness than those who have “been there, done that, got the t-shirt?” Those of us who have never experienced such depths in our lives, even when we were without Christ as sinners, can only help those in such serious conditions by reasoning with them, praying with them and for them, and leading them to the more experienced and/or professionals whose knowledge and training can help these precious souls.
Some gospel preachers have willingly acquainted themselves with how and what to do in various situations that involve some brethren. For example, some have attended classes concerning marriage counseling. Others have studied how to deal with addictions, or sexual immoralities, or child-rearing. While all preachers should know how to teach the erring how to turn from wickedness to serve the living God, the particulars of some souls and their situations are not so easily converted! Thus, it is wise for gospel preachers to gain a little knowledge about all such matters; but they must remember they are NOT, as preachers, experts in any of them!
Common sense is a valued tool for preachers as well! Their study of God’s word must be so diligent, and so intense as to give them the firmest understanding of truth and righteousness. (Romans 10:17) Such astute knowledge does not come in a year or so of diligent study, nor will it conclude after a few decades of repeated study. It is a lifelong commitment to reading, studying, learning, and obeying God’s word, and doing so without the complication of man’s considerations! Let the preacher find God’s word alone to be its best commentary and its best dictionary. Granted, as he studies with others, their input will enhance his study as these discussions are the fruition of Proverbs 17:17 and Jude 20 – 23. But even these experiences cannot exceed the value of the wholesome study of God’s word and only God’s word. From such a study, common sense is a valued gained commodity.
Is all this a “preacher’s responsibility?” YES! And it is the responsibility of EVERY member, one toward another! Every one of us needs to understand what “being all things to all men that by all means we might save some” really means! No, we can’t all be counselors of various mental health issues: but we can be good listeners when such souls need to be heard. No, we can’t all be great marriage counselors or child-rearing coaches; but we can all study the Scriptures and learn what God has to say about being good husbands, wives, and children. No, we can’t all be gospel preachers; but we can all study God’s word enough to know what to say and how to say it to those who are lost and need to be led to Christ and His saving gospel! Failure to learn these basics is sin – sin to our souls for not studying and learning, and sin to those who need us and can’t depend on us for the answers they need to save their souls! (2 Corinthians 4:3)
Experience is a marvelous teacher, but it is no substitute for the knowledge of Christ and the power of His resurrection. As stated earlier, God has blessed me by permitting me to learn from experts a few things that may help others with various worldly problems. But these experiences don’t make me an expert, and they certainly don’t make me a “better” Christian or preacher. They merely grant me a bit of information that lets me understand where the sinner is so that I might help him/her get to where they need to be, SPIRITUALLY!
So, is this what preachers do? Yes, at least this one. I find it is simply being accessible to those souls who hope to find me helpful to their needs, especially those of spiritual nature! Isn’t that what Jesus did – did He not go about doing good? (Acts 10:38) If helping souls see their need for Christ is accomplished by what I say and do (Colossians 3:17) then I’ve done my best and can rest while God does His work on those needy souls (Hebrews 4:12 – 13).