Does It Matter How We Treat Our Preachers?
Rick Tincher
Let me begin by saying that most members of the Lord’s Church are honest, hard-working, and faithful servants of God who want only what is best for those who have committed their lives to preaching and teaching the gospel. I am also aware of the fact that some preachers turn out to be “stinkers.” In spite of these facts, I am seeing a growing situation of faithful gospel preachers, their wives, and families being mistreated.
I know of one preacher who was not paid even though the funds were available. I have lived most of my adult life on a preacher’s salary. I know what a hardship that would place upon me. I am aware of at least two instances where preachers were asked to leave with no explanation as to what had caused the dismissal. This leaves the preacher and his family hurt and bewildered, and leaves room for many to think the worst about the preacher. One preacher called me on New Year’s Eve to tell me he had been dismissed “for no reason.” They would not let him preach anymore, and he had three months to find something else. After three months he and his family, who had not found a new place, were forced to move out of the preacher’s house and were literally “on the street.” I offered to let them stay with me, but they found a generous member of the church who allowed them to stay in a small apartment until they could find a job. He vowed never to go through that again.
One young gospel preacher told me that his congregation had asked him to go and said if he said anything about it they would “hold his pay” the remaining three months.
What is the logic in giving money and other types of assistance to someone who drifts in off the street but treating our own gospel preacher with such contempt?
Galatians 6:10 says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good unto all, especially (emphasis added) to those of the household of faith.”
My advice to any congregation is: if you have a sound gospel preacher (2 Timothy 4:1-8) who is faithfully proclaiming the truth, you had better keep him because many preachers are straying from the truth. –14310 Wooster Rd., Mt. Vernon, OH 43050.