Jump Start # 930

Romans 10:14 “How will they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?”

Paul makes a direct connection between God—faith– belief-preaching– listening. Preaching is the medium in which the word of God was heard and understood. Without the word, there is no faith. Without the preaching of the word, people wouldn’t know. Remember, this was written in a day in which the New Testament was still being written and when few, very, very few would have copies of the Old Testament. Preaching was the key. This is how people knew.

Originally, preaching was about sharing the message of God to listening ears. Today, it seems preaching is about administration, growing churches, putting out trouble among members, budgets and meetings. It seems that many have come to expect those things. I for one rebel against such notions. Preaching is about the word. Preaching is about sharing the word of God.

I’m finding more and more, a growing segment that has no connection to any preacher, of any kind. Which in turns means that they have no connection to a church. They seem to get along fine like that until there is a death. A funeral is planned. The funeral director asks the family about who will conduct the service and panic sets in. No one knows a preacher. No one has any connection to a preacher. If they are lucky, some second-cousin’s girlfriend’s dad used to preach and he is connected. When that doesn’t happen, they call a stranger. It happens. It happens a lot. It is awkward all the way around. The preacher doesn’t know the family and especially the deceased. The family knows nothing about the preacher. Everyone is hopeful. The family wants the preacher to put mama in Heaven. The preacher, if he has any conviction and any conscience at all, can’t do that.

I thought about that recently. My son, who preaches has been called to preach the funeral of strangers. I have done that many times as well. I can’t imagine going through life without knowledge of any preacher. My best friends are preachers. I know tons of preachers. We call each other. We bounce questions off each other. We share reading lists and ideas and articles and sermons. The presence of preachers reminds us of the Word. The Word reminds us of God and eternity. The more we are reminded the better. Could it be that is why some do not know a preacher? Could it be that the reminder makes them feel guilty and ashamed? Could it be that they are so busy with the here and now that they have forgotten about the eternal? Could it be that they don’t want to be reminded? Could it be that life is good until mama dies? Then, an unknown preacher is called. He says a few words. We are convinced that mama is in Heaven, because she was mama and she made chocolate chip cookies. Why wouldn’t she be in Heaven? Right? Then the funeral is over. There is no need for the preacher. We go about our way living empty and shallow lives and doing all we can to get ahead and be happy. Isn’t that what life is all about? How tragic. How vain. How false.

There is an old saying that the only time people need church is when they are hatched, matched and dispatched.

Here are some things a preacher can do for you:

1. He can help you learn the story of the Bible

2. He can give you useful passages that will help you fight temptation, raise your family and be the servant of God that you are supposed to be

3. He can help you get stronger in the Lord

4. He can help you become a productive servant of the Lord

5. He can give you depth and insights that will help you for a long, long time

6. He can recommend great books to read

7. He can help teach your friends and family the gospel

8. He can show you how to find answers and study the Bible

9. He can bring comfort that only comes from God’s word

10. He can answer questions

What he can’t do is live the message for you. He can’t believe for you. He can’t tell you what it is that you believe. He can’t make you be a Christian. He can’t forgive your sins and he can’t put you in Heaven.

How well do you know your preacher? How often do you use your preacher?

Paul said, “How will they hear without a preacher?” How will they?

Roger