In This Issue...

• Duties of Gospel Preachers -- Roy J. Hear   p.65
• Preachers Are To Be Supported In Their Work -- Garland M. Robinson  p.66
• Holding Up The Preacher's Hands -- Walter W. Pigg, Jr.  p.68
• The Minister's Wife -- unknown  p.69
• Divinity Degrees and Professional Preachers -- G. C. Brewer  p.70
• Mail Bag --  p.72

     Yes, preachers are to be supported in their work. Preaching the Gospel is their primary and principal function. Heaven's directive is to "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Tim. 4:2). First century brethen did that. "Paul...and Barnabas continued...teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also" (Acts 15:35). So many other things (besides preaching) have been added on their shoulders that is not really the work of an evangelist.
     Gospel preachers are to be supported in many ways. Here are four.
     Gospel preachers should be supported by ENCOURAGEMENT. Many suppose preaching is an easy task and many jokes have been made about it. Any who do so ought to walk a mile in a preacher's shoes. Follow him for a day. See the hundreds of large and small tasks he takes care of that often no one knows about and take for granted.
     Many preachers receive very little encouragement in their work and are often not appreciated for their love of the Truth and devotion in proclaiming it. It's a lonely life in so many ways because preachers are viewed as being from "another planet." Though it's rarely said, but who wants to hang around with a preacher or be his friend? That means you'd have to be on your best behavior all the time. You'd have to watch your tongue and dress. But, isn't that what Christians do anyway? Some have said "excuse me" when they learned I was a preacher. My reply usually is, "I'm just a man. God's the judge. You'll have to answer to Him. He knows how you live every day."
     I was told once, "you chose to be a preacher, you could have done something else." By that they meant, you knew the sacrifices and hardships that go with preaching. If you wanted a higher income, health insurance, fringe/retirement benefits, job promotions, a house of your own, then you could have chosen to do that. Brethren, that's slapping a preacher in the face. He is not to be penalized for loving the Truth and devoting his life in proclaiming it. Preachers should and must be encouraged (Rom. 14:19; Acts 18:27; Phil. 2:1-4), not discouraged. We have far too few good preachers already.
     How many young men are preparing themselves to preach the blessed Gospel? How many parents are encouraging their sons to do so. Talk to most any teenage boy and ask him if he has a desire to preach. They will tell you in a heartbeat, no way! Why is that? Is it because they see the way preachers are treated and talked about in the home and community? Is it because they realize the difficult and thankless work they do? Is it because they see the life of devotion and dedication required? Is it because they see how preachers are "used" and when the first sign of trouble in the congregation comes along they are blamed for it and sent packing? Far too often, preachers are treated like papertowels, use them and throw them away. Some say, why, he's just a preacher. That goes with the job. He can easily uproot his children from school and move on. Who cares anyway? He can leave tomorrow, but the rest of us have to live in this community! Very, very often, he and his family is never really accepted by either the church or the community. Why, who in the world would want to get into that!?
     In spite of all these things, and a million more, I am thankful there are many sound, faithful Gospel preachers who are willing to spend and be spent in the work of the Lord. They endure the suffering and insults and "press (on) toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14). They feel as Paul when he said, "woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:16). While most Gospel preachers have no retirement in this world (since none is provided by the church), they do have one in the world to come. Paul said, "there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Tim 4:8).
     I also realize that when I speak of these things it will be viewed by some as whining and complaining. I guess that's the risk I'll have to take. It will just further illustrate my point. I don't know of a single preacher "worth his salt" that will complain about it. However, folks need to be educated, because when they know better, hopefully they will do better.
     Gospel preachers are to be supported by being DEFENDED when they preach the Truth. Many stop their ears, refuse to listen and even sometimes persecute the very ones who tell them words whereby they may be saved (cf. Acts 11:14). Peter rebuked Simon in Acts 8:20-23 even as Paul rebuked Peter in Galatians 2:11. In both instances, Peter and Paul were doing their job as evangelists, though unpleasant as it may be. Faithful brethren will defend the godly actions of faithful preachers and hold up their hands when they preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:20,26,27). It is a tremendous help to not only the preacher, but the whole congregation, when the elders back the preacher by getting into the pulpit and announcing to all that "the Truth has been preached today. We support it. This is where we stand. If any have questions about it, come see the elders and we'll study with you." This occurs very little. So little in fact that some preachers have never seen it done. It would be such a shock that some preachers may faint! What many are used to is being "called on the carpet" and told to tone it down, back off, don't preach that again, you've upset a lot of people today, etc. Brethren, such ought not to be!
     If what has been preached is the Truth, then obey it, support it, hold up the man's hands that is willing to proclaim it. Only the Truth can make men free from sin (John 8:32). Love it, even when it hurts because you are guilty. Instead of lambasting the preacher, repent and trun to God (Luke 13:3). Defend him, thank him for being your friend. Paul told those of Galatia, "am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth" (Gal. 4:16)? Words of Truth and soberness should cause one to tremble as it did Felix (Acts 24:25). Don't be guilty of causing the preacher to tremble for preaching the Truth. Defend him! Thank him! Encourage him to preach even more and harder.
     Gospel preachers are to be supported through PRAYER. Paul wrote the brethren of Thessalonica, saying, "Brethren, pray for us" (1 Thess. 5:25; cf. Heb. 13:18).
     Paul's request for the prayers of the saints was not selfish, but for the furtherance of the Gospel through his preaching. "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints..." (Rom. 15:30-33). He wanted and needed the prayers of brethren concerning the persecution he faced. "For we... despaired even of life:...we had the sentence of death in ourselves,...but...God...delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf" (2 Cor. 1:8-11). "Praying always with all prayer and supplication ...and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, ...that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak" (Eph. 6:18-20). "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:19). "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ,...That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak" (Col. 4:2-4). "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith" (2 Thess. 3:1-2). "...For I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you" (Philemon 1:22). "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16). Pray for him in both private and public. He wants and needs your prayers.
     Gospel preachers are to be supported FINANCIALLY (Gal. 6:6). "...The Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:14). This has been the principle throughout the Old and New Testaments alike. "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn" (Deut. 25:4). "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward" (1 Tim. 5:18). The Levites who served at the tabernacle received the tithes of the children of Israel (Num. 18:23-24). Paul said, "I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service" (2 Cor. 11:8). "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things" (Gal. 6:6).
     Some have said that a preacher must be poor and humble to be effective. These same brethren have said, "Lord, you keep him humble and we'll keep him poor!" The preacher is not to beg his bread and live as a benevolent case waiting on a hand out from brethren. He must be financially supported so that he can devote his time to preaching and teaching the blessed Gospel. However, when need be, he can and will work to support himself that he may continue to preach (1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8; Acts 18:3).
     He has spent years in training himself in the Word and is thus equipped to preach it and teach it -- more so than the average church member. Why not give him the opportunity to do what he is able to do (cf. 1 Cor. 12:14-31)? Far too often he is saddled with running errands and doing tasks that most anyone in the congregation can do if they would. It's easy to "let the preacher do it, he doesn't work." He has become the church secretary, custodian, repair man and general all around errand boy. Brethren, be more considerate of him than that. His task is more important than the president of the United States! Assign brethren or acquire the services of one to handle the day to day things that need to be done and free him to spend his time in teaching and preaching the Word.

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  HOLDING UP THE PREACHER'S HANDS
Walter W. Pigg, Jr.

     When Amalek fought with Israel in Rephidim, Moses told Joshua to choose men to fight with Amalek. Moses said he would stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand. While Joshua carried out his orders and fought with Amalek, Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. During the battle, when Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed, but when he let down his hands, Amalek prevailed. "But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun" (Exodus 17:12). Moses' hands being held up resulted in victory. "And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword" (Exodus 17:13).
     The expression to "hold up one's hands" has come to mean support, encouragement, and cooperation with one in a particular endeavor. It is in this sense that we set forth the following relative to Holding Up The Preacher's Hands.
     There is no question but that there is no more important work than that of a Gospel preacher, as he proclaims the "unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:8), the Gospel, which is "God's power unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16). Paul shows the essentiality of preaching when he asks: "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard; and how shall they hear without a preacher" (Rom. 10:14). Paul quotes Isaiah to emphasize the preacher's noble work, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things" (Rom. 10:15).
     If the faithful and true Gospel preacher is to accomplish the greatest good through his divine calling, his hands must be held up, yea, even "steadied" until the "going down of the sun" when his work is ended. When the preacher's hands are not held up, his work is hindered; individual Christians are affected, and congregations fail to serve their God-given purpose of edifying the members and seeking the lost. The harm that is done cannot be measured in terms of material things, since even one soul is worth more than all the world (Matt. 16:26).
     Before we consider some ways whereby the preacher's hands can be held up, we wish to emphasize the fact that not every preacher's hands should be held up, and some hands cannot be held up because it involves the preacher's willingness. We certainly do not wish to minimize the preacher's responsibility in this respect.
     Only preachers who are so dedicated that they are "set for the defense of the gospel" (Phil. 1:17), and willing to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3) are worthy of having their hands held up by way of support and encouragement. Those who "transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ" (2 John 9) do not lead people to God and the salvation which is "in Christ." "Many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1) and none of these should have his hands held up.
     Some preacher's hands cannot be held up because their heart is not in preaching the Word. I heard of a preacher of several years and of considerable ability leaving the pulpit to cut wood for a living. Some time ago, another preacher of several years came by my office -- not to discuss spiritual things, but to sell insurance. He had left the pulpit for secular work. Of course, some preachers have given up their work due to things beyond their control, while others are not characterized by Paul's devotion to the Gospel as expressed in 1 Corinthians 9:16: "For necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel."

HOW THE PREACHER'S HANDS MAY BE HELD UP

     1. Respect him for his work. No preacher should be exalted as is done by wearing religious titles such as "Reverend," "Most Reverend," "Father," etc. Neither should a preacher manifest an ostentatious disposition of proudness and haughtiness. But the faithful preacher of the Gospel should be esteemed for his work. There is no one, regardless of his wealth, education, notoriety, or political influence that is doing a more important work than that of the preacher. Yet Gospel preachers are sometimes looked down upon by the haughty and proud with evident disrespect. Most preachers of many years can testify to this.
     2. Stand by him in the proclamation of the Truth. When the whole Truth is preached without fear or favor, there will be some opposition. It is most encouraging to a preacher to know that others love the Truth and are willing to uphold and defend it, and stand by the proclaimer of it. What an opportunity godly elders have to hold up the hands of the preacher by letting the congregation know, quite often, that they stand by the preacher when he preaches the Truth. Disgruntled, cantankerous, and compromising members should never be allowed to interfere with the preacher's work by allowing them to have their way simply because brethren do not have the fortitude to stand up to such people.
     3. Give him every possible opportunity to preach the Word. The primary work of a preacher is to "preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Tim. 4:2). When there is such a great need for the Truth (sound doctrine) to be preached, it is discouraging to the faithful preacher to be kept "at home" when he has opportunities to preach in other places as well. A soul won or strengthened in the faith at some other place is also doing the Lord's work. We shouldn't be selfish with the truth!
     4. Extend to him hospitality. It is not unusual for a preacher not to be invited into the homes of the members. Preachers may be expected to be hospitable by those who are inhospitable. A few years ago I attended a personal work study conducted by a visiting preacher at a congregation several miles from where I lived. The visiting preacher had his eight year old son with him. As I talked with the preacher (nearly all the members had gone home) his son asked: "Daddy, where are we going to stay tonight?" His dad answered, "We may sleep in the station wagon." They were invited to our house where my wife and I enjoyed their company greatly. When a congregation's hospitality stops on the church grounds, the preacher's hands are not being held up!
     5. Support him in a reasonable way financially. There is too much Truth too often in the statement that "A preacher only has to worry about being humble, the brethren will keep him poor." Though the faithful preacher cannot put his trust in "treasures upon earth" (as members often do), he is entitled to "live of the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:14). Not only do preachers have living expenses like everyone else, it is often the case that their expenses are greater than the average member. Preachers often live with a feeling of insecurity since they do not have a house of their own and may have to move without much advance notice. Few preachers have the "side benefits" such as health insurance, retirement, overtime pay, or long paid vacations that many workers have today.
     6. Consider him a worker "with you" and not "for you." The preacher and the congregation should be "laborers together" as they go about doing the Lord's will. No preacher is encouraged when he is looked upon simply as a "hired hand" to do the congregation's work. In some cases he may have several "bosses" to whom they feel he should be accountable. No one preacher can do the work a congregation has to do, and even if he could, the members would lose their reward for having failed to serve.
     7. Don't burden him with trivial matters. Many a preacher has been hindered in his work because he has been saddled with all sorts of jobs which should be done by the members who often do little more than attend church services. The preacher should not be asked to "leave the word of God, and serve tables" (Acts 6:2) but he is often made a "handy man" to take care of the upkeep of the church building and grounds, along with no telling what else. Visiting the sick is not a "trivial matter," and the preacher should certainly engage in this as opportunity permits, but he is not the "hired visitor" to do the visiting that others should do.

CONCULSION

  DIVINITY DEGREES AND PROFESSIONAL PREACHERS

G. C. Brewer, deceased

     In the years gone by, there has been much discussion among religious people about an "educated ministry." Some denominations have had certain educational requirements for their preachers. They would not ordain any man to the ministry who did not have a college education and a seminary course in addition to a divine call. Other denominations have insisted that if the man had a divine call he had the approval of Jehovah, and that was certainly satisfactory credentials. Men should not, therefore, forbid his preaching the word of God. Some of these religious people believed that God would inspire the preacher and put the words in his mouth that he should utter. But all the denominations believed that preachers were specially, divinely, miraculously called to preach. Preachers were then looked upon as a special class known as the clergy in contrast to the laity, and there were special functions the clergy performed that no one else was allowed to do. Only the men who had the divine imprimatur and who had been specially ordained were allowed to baptize people, and they only were allowed to "officiate" at the Lord's table or give the emblems to Christians. Where there was no ordained minister, there could be no Lord's supper and no baptism.
     In the beginning of the Restoration Movement there was an especial attack made upon the idea of a distinction among Christians. The division of the church into clergy and laity was denounced as unscriptural and contrary both to the spirit and teaching of the New Testament. Preaching as a profession was condemned. Every Christian should be a preacher of the Gospel and a campaigner for Christ. This was seen not only to be the duty of each Christian, but to be the natural consequence of his conversion to Christ. It is an instinct with the child of God. He needs no special call, no ordination ceremony, and no theological training to do the things that the word of the Lord authorizes all Christians to do. This was the cry of the men who started the movement back to the New Testament simplicity, and this was the ground of many a hard fought battle. The denominations recognized in this principle a power that would work for their undoing. It would make their rules and regulations, their denominational sanction and ordination, unnecessary. For this reason they fought the brethren of Restoration, not by open debate upon the principle involved, but by indirect methods; by their organized power and by their political influence. They declared that these brethren could not administer baptism, could not officiate at the Lord's table and they would not permit them to join any "Pastor's Association," and they schemed to keep the State from allowing these men to say marriage ceremonies, etc.
     The brethren of the Restoration Movement were neither timid nor mild in meeting this opposition. They were bold and fearless and aggressive in the belief that they were contending for the "ancient order" and against the corruptions of ecclesiasticism. Alexander Campbell was especially severe in his attack on the professional clergy. He said: "God made men, but the priests made laymen." He characterized them as "hireling priests," "textuary divines," our "scrap doctors," etc. He charged them with ignorance, pride, self-seeking, and an anxiety to keep the people in darkness so that they might lord it over them. He scorned them for their clerical dress, their sanctimonious speech, their long-faced piety, their devotion to party, and their claim to a special divine call. He denounced with special severity their love of titles -- Reverend, Bishop, Doctor and Father. These brethren, however, were all strong advocates of education. Many of them were the leading educators of their day. None of these men, however, ever boasted of his scholarship, or wrote or printed degrees to his name, or ever scorned or even discouraged the uneducated man who attempted to preach the Gospel. None of these men themselves ever took a seminary course or had a "divinity degree." They would have denounced the idea of taking such a course and would have been utterly shocked and chagrined had any one conferred upon them a "divinity degree."
     But now what have we? That we have given away to denominational influence on many points cannot be disputed by those who are informed. When we look at these things, we are tempted to say, in the language of Gregory the Great: "O times! O customs!" Our people have not only gone "degree crazy," but many of us are actually seeking "divinity degrees." Some of our young preachers are going to schools of divinity and theological seminaries, which schools have one mission and one purpose -- viz., to make "professional clergymen." While our fathers would not attend such schools even in their day, it is thousand-fold worse to attend them now than it was then, for in that day they did train their students to meet the assaults of infidels and atheists. They gave them a good course in Christian evidence and taught them respect and reverence for the word of God. But now these schools themselves are spawning beds of infidelity. They repudiate the inspiration of the Bible and the divinity of Christ, the vicarious atonement and the resurrection of the Lord from the tomb. And yet, we who want our preachers to speak as the oracles of God, to contend for the simplicity of New Testament Christianity, to regard the Bible as final in all things, to "speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent," send our young men to these infidel divinity schools for preparation for that sort of work! Of all the inconsistencies and absurdities that we have ever been guilty of, this is the worst.
     And a further lamentable fact is that our congregations do not use as much sound judgment in employing these preachers as do the denominations. It makes no difference how many degrees a preacher has, the denominational people will not place him in a responsible position until he has been proved in a place less responsible, or until he has demonstrated some ability. But with us, the sound of the degrees and the stamp of the college is all a man needs to receive calls from the largest churches. "Brethren, these things ought not so to be."
     If we continue to go at the rate we are going, how long will it be before a preacher of the gospel will have to have a seminary course and an ordination ceremony before he will be supported in the work of the Lord? How long will it be before an elder or a deacon or any other man except an ordained "clergyman" will be allowed to "wait on" the Lord's table? And then only the churches that have "pastors" will "celebrate the communion." How often do we see elders or any member except a preacher baptize people or conduct a funeral service? Are these not already regarded more or less as professional functions? How often do we hear the gospel invitation urged upon sinners by any man who is not a "regular preacher?" Is the invitation "extended" in services where a preacher is not present to preach a sermon first? Have we not, then, in a sense, reduced this to a level with an "official opening of the doors of the church?"
     Let us begin to "think on these things." Let us stop this tendency to drift into the customs of the world, and, therefore, into the whirlpool of infidelity.

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  THE MINISTER'S WIFE
unknown

     Who is she? Someone's wife, of course. Usually someone's mother, counselor, confidante and friend. She's an information source for everyone. Someone's organizer and helping hand. Someone's answering service, teacher, maid, chauffeur, appointment maker, seamstress. Someone's strong shoulder to lean on when times are rough.
     But is this really who she is? Or, is there another person, another identity which is often "buried alive" by all the roles she is forced to play, another person who, like everyone else, enjoys coming to church for the sole purpose of joining in the worship service and listening to the sermon? Another person who likes to read or sing or cross-stitch for no one else but herself? Another person who longs for friends who will occasionally let her talk out the burdens and problems of her heart? Could there be a separate individual deep inside who rejoices to hear herself introduced simply by her name, instead of usually qualifying the statement that she's our minister's wife?
     "A minister's wife," after all, is not who she is but what she is, a role God has ordained for her. She fulfills that responsibility cheerfully and capably, especially when she knows that she is loved and appreciated simply because she is who she is and not just the preacher's wife. 

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