Unholy ministers
(Thomas Brooks, "The Unsearchable Riches of Christ")
"Watch your life and doctrine closely."
1 Timothy 4:16 Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life.
Ministers must preach Christ as well in their life—as in their doctrine. They must not be hot in the pulpit, and cold and careless in their lives. The lives of ministers oftentimes convince more strongly than their words; their tongues may persuade—but their lives command.
What is it, which renders the things of God so contemptuous and odious in the eyes of many people—but the ignorance, looseness, profaneness, and worldliness of those who are the dispensers of them. Unholy ministers pull down instead of building up. Oh the souls who their lives destroy! These, by their loose lives, lead their flocks to hell—where they themselves must lie lowermost!
Wicked ministers do more hurt by their lives—than they do good by their doctrine. Every minister's life should be a commentary upon Christ's life!
"Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
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5 comments:
I like your blog and what you have to say. I am going to add your blog to my blogroll.
I know its not what you're trying to say, but what if they mess up?
Are they allowed to be human?
This is definitely a good side to look at. But it needs to be balanced with not beating ourselves up if we fail.
Again, I know that isn't what you're trying to say, but it is good to remember the other side of it as well.
Nice post, the challenge is before us, actions do speak louder than words!
Roland... sure, we all makes mistakes, but two things must really be present when we do. 1) a hatred for the mistakes we make 2) as Charles Spurgeon once said, "our repentance needs to be louder than our sin." Those two being present assures that the best of what good can be brought out by our failures will indeed be carried out. That said, obviously there are failures for ministers that should result in consequences that are super serious and may mean restoration away from and even becoming removed from ministry.
http://chris-kratzer.blogspot.com
Tag, you're it. Read my blog for details. :)
I have recently posted on my blog with the title: 'Priests who talk dirty'. To be quite honest I am disgusted at many leaders of the church who use profane and dirty language - in my opinion it is endemic in the Church of England.
Wayne you are right we must both preach the Gospel and live the Gospel!
God bless you!
Neil
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