Amateurs

The word Amateur has fallen into disrepair. Often when used today it is used to almost used to downgrade a person: “(S(he’s just an amateur.” Or “He never made it to the big show, he’s still an amateur.”

The word Amateur is from the 18th Century French and Latin word amātor. It came to denote a person who did what they did simply because they loved to do it. As opposed to a professional in any field who’s primary objective was to make money from the said skill/talent. An amateur is not skilled enough to be paid for his skills. 

That’s not what the word amātor was intended for. Amateur actually means “lover,” or “for love.” So an amateur is someone who does something for the simple love of it. (S)he doesn’t have to be paid, he doesn’t have to negotiate to ply his wares, she doesn’t worry about striking if things don’t go to suit her. They do it simply because they love the game, the sport, the comradery, the competition, the thrill derived from the activity. They participate to participate. They play every chance they get. They don’t worry about the circumstances or the externals, they just love it! 

Brothers, too many of us have become professional preachers. For too many it has become about how we are treated, appreciated, respected, paid, feel. It’s not always been that way has it? Remember when you began? You just wanted to preach, anywhere, everywhere. You wanted to talk about Jesus and His Word, you wanted to share His Message, to preach of His love, to tell of His Will, to talk about His Way. 

Then drama came, and what seemed a lot didn’t seem enough, and the pressure was applied, and a person wanted to argue and another wanted to replace you. And it got hard. And Sundays kept coming. And it became work. 

Can I suggest you retire as a professional preacher? Let’s declare permanent amateur status. Let’s do this for the love of it! Let’s do this simply because was love too. Let’s be amateurs.

* CREDITS: I think I first heard dad talk about being amateurs, I have also heard Jeff and Fred Craddock talk about this. None of them at length.