Category: Preachers

11/18/2024

Wanted: Preacher-Man

I am blessed to have attended Gospel preaching churches over my 67+ years. By my count, this included 7 churches served by 12 pastors.

For the first 25ish years of my life in my hometown church in Cable, Wisconsin, I counted 5 pastors over this period. For the next seven years, my wife & I attended her home church in a suburb of Minneapolis, MN, and during this time, we had 2 pastors. For the following 35ish years, my wife and I attended 5 different churches served by 5 pastors. Most church changes had to do with our change of address for various reasons. No church ran us out of town, as far as I recall.

Now, being a lifelong churchgoer, these 12 different pastors had their individual strengths and weaknesses, but the one thing they all had in common was A CALLING FROM GOD to serve God and His people.

But in contrast, if I can turn on the TV, browse the web, and/or social media, I have the clear impression not all preachers have A CALLING FROM GOD. Instead, they appear to be pastors who answered a job ad like the fictitious one below, thinking, "Yup, I could do that."

POSITION: Preacher Man

JOB DESCRIPTION: Must be able to tell jokes and amuse antidotes while sprinkling in a few scriptures over 30-minute sermons. A good candidate must demonstrate the ability to entertain and encourage while avoiding the problem of sin or the fact that we all need a savior. Candidate must exude the 'Jesus loves you just the way you are' and 'Jesus gets us' vibe. Avoid any talk about sin, repentance, guilt, or Hell. You know, the ICKY STUFF. We seek the right individual to complement our lively worship music with self-improvement sermonettes.

INCOME: You can expect to be compensated in a way that allows you to live a much better lifestyle than most congregants in our church.

IF INTERESTED: Forward your resume to us here at Make Me Happy Church.

Maybe too many are responding to the above imaginary job ad saying, "Where can I sign up" and wondering if they only have to work Sundays.

First, I write this to recognize and honor those who take on the challenge to lead God's people. May God bless each of you as you accept your calling.

May being a pastor be a calling where God speaks through each of you even when the words from God are difficult to say and hear. I pray for your boldness and a loving spirit but also more concerned about speaking TRUTH in love than it is even to be... LIKED.

May God bless and use you all, and never answer a PREACHER WANTED posting like the one above, lest you become a preacher with a millstone around your neck.

Blessings

Jeff

1 Comment

2/1/2022

5 Comments

The Poultry Pulpit

Our Church History is blessed by great men & women who served and many martyred for the sake of the Cross

In contrast today I see too many 'churches / ministries' led by folk standing behind .. POULTRY PULPITS

Chicken Preachers reading redacted version of God's Word to appease the masses, and
Turkey Preachers subverting God's Truth for fame and fortune. Let me expand below.

Chicken Preachers share often inspiring messages but are short of sharing the Gospel message. Chicken Clergy share 'how to have a better life now' while treating Jesus like our personal life coach rather than our savior. Chicken Preachers believe words like sin, repentance, and salvation are divisive, outdated 'churchy words. Chicken Preachers are more afraid offending society than offending God. They lack conviction and/or understanding on Biblical teachings regarding race, gender, and sex but instead blend with this world's BLM, CRT, and LGBTQ+ agendas like clergy chameleon.
and they ignore Jesus teachings like..
-"Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! Lk 12:51".
-"and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Mt 25:32", and
-"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Mt 7:13-14".

This kind of talk would have a certain negative affect on attendance and giving.

Turkey Preachers are fame, glory, and money based 'ministries'. For Turkey Preachers it is less of a calling from God, and more of a career choice based on Enneagram personality test with Benny Hinn financial aspirations. Turkeys Preachers desire to be followed by thousands instead of leading thousands to follow Jesus. Turkey Preachers focus on personal wealth over helping those in need, and spreading the Gospel. Their motto.. The Turkey Preacher who dies with the most toys wins?

Easy Turkey examples are Big $$ Faith Healers, Prosperity Gospel / Name it Claim it folk, self proclaimed Prophets, & red neck adrenaline junkie Snake Handlers.

I want to be clear now, I am not calling megachurches or mega-ministries POULTRY PULPIT PREACHERS'. God bless all (big and small) who focus on the word of God rather than personal anecdotes and jokes. God bless all who serve those in need with or without abundance. God bless all who share the full Gospel Message that we are sinners and all need a savior.

Finally, I pray I am not a chicken or turkey with my faith. Do I live my life with love for God and others? Am I faithful to God's Word in a world that mocks His truths? Am I willing to stand strong in this secular world or do I blend in? Dare to be a Daniel.

That's it. I pray God finds all of you good folk to be bold, faithful, loving for Jesus and involved in a church with a preacher behind a feather free pulpit.

Blessings

Jeff (cooped up in the Back Pew) Larson

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Wanted: Preacher-Man

The Poultry Pulpit

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