This morning as I was doing some Bible study with my family we read through the first portion of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. One verse powerfully stuck out to me from the first chapter. Gal. 1:10 – “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still striving to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” (NASB) As a pastor, I am constantly aware of this temptation. There are countless times where it might seem expedient to ignore some theological or doctrinal error that I observe. There are times when I am preparing to teach through a text containing a controversial matter that (in my flesh) I feel it would be easier to either skip that portion, or to speak about it only briefly, or in vague terms. But can a pastor be said to really fulfill his calling if he does so? And what is the motivation of a pastor who shirks his responsibility in these ways?
When a teacher or a preacher skips over the hard stuff, or the controversial stuff, or really anything revealed in the Word – He is really only revealing either his ignorance, or more likely, his underlying fear of man. Since most pastors’ livelihood is tied to their teaching ministry, many pastors fear offending the people they are called to minister unto. They are afraid of the difficult conversations that will arise out of thorough teaching, they are afraid of being confronted, they are afraid of it leading to them ultimately losing their job. And so they craftily choose their wording as they dance around issues. While they may preach strongly about matters of comparably little consequence – On controversial matters, they become as timid as a mouse. O they might make a big show in confronting matters that are controversial in the world, but if it is controversial in their own congregation they scurry to hide themselves from danger. They want (they feel that they need) everyone to like them so that they can keep their position. And they tell themselves it is for the greater good of unity in the body, and so that they can continue preaching the truth about other things. But that thinking demonstrates their duplicity – They think they can minister for the pleasure of men, and for the pleasure of God simultaneously. But the Apostle Paul says that this is impossible.
It is impossible to determine how many heresies have gone uncontested under such a guise. What damage is done by cowards in the pulpit! When heresy is left alone and unhindered it subsequently grows and spreads like gangrene. It soon becomes deeply entrenched and congregations are toppled by them – All because the overseer was too timid to speak the whole truth of the Word in season. The church needs pulpits full of men who are not seeking the favor of men, but who are truly bond-servants of Christ. They must be devoted to teach and preach the full counsel of God with clarity and great care. In the weakness of their flesh, the minister may (at times) have to do so with trembling – But do it they must, for they will have to give an account!
Let me end with this – The Apostle Paul says in 2Cor. 4:1-2 – “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (NKJV) O Lord, grant Your ministers such a heart to handle Your Word truthfully, that we might be used by You to edify Your saints, to dispel heresies, and glorify Your name.
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