We live in a world where every thought, every word spoken, and everything we write (postings, etc) are immediately judged, critiqued, and parsed. This reality that we find ourselves in, can be extremely challenging for the preacher. And, I’m not just talking about when we preach sermons or teach classes. We are talking about every moment of our lives. This seemingly hypercritical heart, as well as subtle jabs and innuendos, cause some of God’s men to refrain from saying anything, about anything.
Of course, there is also the extreme where some preachers seem compelled to expound and have their voices heard on every topic. And some preachers seem to believe that their word is the final word. They will tell you they are open to discussion, that is, until you disagree with them. I’m not sure where any man of God, other than the inspired men in Scripture, can conclude in their mind that they are always right about everything and that their voice needs to be heard on every topic, issue, and statement.
So, what’s a preacher to do? Just a few quick thoughts. (1) Spend more time talking and listening to God. He is the ONLY ONE who is always true and right. (2) Speak His Words and His wisdom more than we do our own. God’s wisdom is always, always, always more important and meaningful than man’s wisdom. (3) Preach the truth in love. (4) Be “slow to speak.” Think long and hard before you post, comment, and express your thoughts. Don’t feel compelled to comment on every statement made by others. (5) Listen and learn. We desperately need to listen more. And we need to listen with our hearts. (6) Pray that God will help us be kind, loving, and thoughtful in our interactions. (7) Don’t ever give up on people. Prayerfully, we are all still growing.
