KILLING THE PREACHERS

KILLING THE PREACHERS!

By ROLLAND C. STARR, Pastor

CORNERSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH

P.O. BOX 438 - BELMONT, MA 02478

I recently read an article by E.M. Bounds, written one hundred years ago, on "Killing the Prophets." I thought that this is a much-needed message today when many preachers (I am speaking of Fundamentalists) are being killed, if not physically, spiritually and emotionally.

In old times it was dangerous to be a prophet in Israel; many of them were manhandled and killed by the people of God. It wasn't the heathen who killed them. Jesus said, "O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killeth the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee . . .".

Before I get into that aspect, and the heart of this article, let me say that many preachers are "killed" because of their own disobedience or lack of genuine spirituality. Some have been "slain" by the lust of the flesh and immorality.

There are those who have been "killed" by the love of money. Not a few have had a little success in the ministry and were "killed" by pride. A goodly number have "died" because they fell into the sin of slothfulness. The ministry is a place where that is easy, since no one is immediately over you. I have known many lazy preachers and also missionaries. We need to pray especially for preachers.

However, there is another aspect which is far more destructive. The average pastorate is less than three years. Why would that be so if the Pastor and the Church had a happy relationship? I don't see how three year pastorates could be the will of God.

Much, if not most of the blame must go to the Church members (though pastors are not without their faults). I have been in the ministry for 45 years and I am sure unspiritual believers "kill" more of God's servants than anything else. We give the devil credit for a lot of things he never did; Church members "kill" more preachers than the devil!

One thing that "kills" them is when a preacher gives his best to the work but few if any want to follow. A great problem today is we are largely dealing with immature people; most are spoiled, self-willed, self-centered babies. They don't want to hear it, but it's true!

Most (no doubt some who read this) who make a profession of faith do not seem to grow. They are always bawling, fussing, fighting Ä you see their likes in 1 Corinthians. It's a standing joke how children run the homes these days, even Christian homes Ä that's exactly what you have in many churches.

No Pastor can keep them all happy and it breaks your heart. But, he is expendable; they are not. Then, "Diotrephes" has "killed" his thousands. Many churches are run by someone of influence or money (usually an elder, deacon or trustee, whatever that is). We are in the "Laodicean" age: "the rights of the people."

That attitude is of the world, not of God. God says, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief . . ." When are the churches going to stop "killing" the preachers, men God has sent unto them?

Many preachers are not "killed" Ä just wounded. Some move out before they get "killed". They find a "spiritual" excuse and locate another church. All this is rendering the churches ineffective.

FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST PEOPLE, WHEN WILL YOU STOP "KILLING" GOD'S PREACHERS?

Nobody can please all of you! Remember, you'll have to answer to God, and it may be long before the Judgment Seat of Christ! We need men of God as never before; I plead with Fundamental Baptists Ä STOP KILLING GOD'S PREACHERS!

- THE CORNERSTONE CHALLENGE