Years ago I asked a Methodist preacher friend in a small town where I lived why he moved every couple of years. I remember his reply very well. He said, "we don't want people thinking that the church belongs to the preacher. We want them to know it belongs to God." As I'm sure you suspect, I certainly don't agree with many tenants of the Methodist faith. However, from personal observation I think there is some merit to what he said.
Some preachers with big egos seem to think they own the church. They feel it is their place to make the decisions, throw their weight around, lead the eldership, dictate to the membership and draw disciples unto themselves by whatever means they have available to them. I'm fully convinced that some people are much more converted to a particular preacher than they are to the Lord, Himself. I had an aunt who was particularly fond of a certain well known preacher. We used to tease her by saying we thought she believed he was a part of the God-head, Himself. It was hard for her to begin a conversation about the Bible or anything to do with church without saying, "well, brother so and so says." We all laughed but at times you had to wonder.
We preachers need to be reminded occasionally that not a one of us is indespensible. Truth be told - most of us don't have nearly the following we like to think we have. I heard one man say recently that he could take such and such a number with him to start another church anytime. Not only do I doubt that to be true I also find it to be pretty arrogant. The apostle Paul put the matter into proper perspective when he said, "I planted, Apollos watered but it was God who gave the increase" (1 Cor. 2:7-9). Every preacher has a role to fulfill - a time to plant and water then let God bring the increase. I pray that all of us who preach will remember that we are merely "servants for Jesus' sake" (2 Cor. 4:5). Let's never forget that it is God who brings the increase - not us. May that reminder help us to keep our egos properly in check.
That's The Way I See It
Some preachers with big egos seem to think they own the church. They feel it is their place to make the decisions, throw their weight around, lead the eldership, dictate to the membership and draw disciples unto themselves by whatever means they have available to them. I'm fully convinced that some people are much more converted to a particular preacher than they are to the Lord, Himself. I had an aunt who was particularly fond of a certain well known preacher. We used to tease her by saying we thought she believed he was a part of the God-head, Himself. It was hard for her to begin a conversation about the Bible or anything to do with church without saying, "well, brother so and so says." We all laughed but at times you had to wonder.
We preachers need to be reminded occasionally that not a one of us is indespensible. Truth be told - most of us don't have nearly the following we like to think we have. I heard one man say recently that he could take such and such a number with him to start another church anytime. Not only do I doubt that to be true I also find it to be pretty arrogant. The apostle Paul put the matter into proper perspective when he said, "I planted, Apollos watered but it was God who gave the increase" (1 Cor. 2:7-9). Every preacher has a role to fulfill - a time to plant and water then let God bring the increase. I pray that all of us who preach will remember that we are merely "servants for Jesus' sake" (2 Cor. 4:5). Let's never forget that it is God who brings the increase - not us. May that reminder help us to keep our egos properly in check.
That's The Way I See It
