Should the Preacher Be Corrected?
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin Overfield
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2000
Should the Preacher Be Corrected?
I thought that it might be good to share the thoughts of a preacher who
has been the recipient of criticism at times (as probably all preachers have
been) and who also has been reluctant to be critical even while sitting
under some poor preaching (as we all have done). Maybe I am more
patient with others because I know how poorly I have done at times.
For this note I have added and slightly edited an answer I gave to a
subscriber's question. Here is a variation of the question from the
subscriber:
"Should we try to correct a preacher when we have heard him incorrectly
expound the Scriptures, or should we just ignore it?"
"A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of
understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:" (Proverbs 1:5)
"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit."
(Proverbs 26:4, 5)
"A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to
speak;" (Ecclesiastes 3:7)
As a rule I believe it is best not to try to correct a preacher
immediately after his message. Such a time is one of the hardest for many
of us preachers. The Devil loves to pounce upon the preacher as soon as he
has done his best to proclaim the Word of God. Some of us even have our own
expectations with which to contend. For instance, one may have been reared
to be a perfectionist, and may fight some battles that others do not fight.
Though it might hurt a little, I do believe that a preacher should be
willing to listen to some constructive criticism and profit thereby.
Therefore, I DO believe it is at least sometimes in order to talk with the
preacher about his misuse/misunderstanding of some Scripture. We preachers
all need to improve.
I KNOW for a fact that I have listened to some preachers preach
wonderful truth, which was taught ELSEWHERE in the blessed Book, but that
the verse(s) they were using did not teach such truth. In this case, I say,
"Amen" to the truth, but not to the misuse of Scripture. I'm sure that I
have also been guilty of such a mistake. I am rather young in the ministry,
being called to preach in June of 1992.
Of course it can be awfully embarrassing or even damaging for a preacher
to be preaching gross error "from the Scriptures". Such a case ought to be
dealt with by someone -- those in authority especially. Some such
situations may call for a public rebuttal of the error. John Wesley
Redfield would not shrink from such an obligation to God, the truth, and
never-dying souls.
If the one who feels that he ought to help a preacher concerning a
misapplied Scripture is a few years or more younger than he (or one may
be actually older, but has less experience in the ministry), or is in a
lesser
position of authority than he occupies, I believe that this calls for a
carefulness to "entreat" as the Bible says we should do of the elders as
fathers. Even if this is not the case, I feel that the rule should be not
to take a preacher to task, but to be gentle, kind, and careful in order to
make it as painless as possible for him. This would be consistent with the
Golden Rule - "Do unto others, etc."
As a preacher, I would rather know what I have said that is wrong than
to go on in my error. A little pain toward the beginning is better than a
lot of pain later. Many of these things will be worked out in the heart and
mind of the preacher without anyone ever having to talk to him -- at least
if he is right with God and is a student of the Scriptures.
Another thing I think we should consider is the maturity and/or strong
character (meaning strong personality, whether perceived as good or bad)
of the preacher in question. The more mature the man the more likely he can
take correction. Of course, perfect love will go a long way to make him
pliable. Then too some may be of such a strong personality that such
criticism or correction would more likely be accepted from certain people
or certain kinds of people. It is not always a sign of carnality for a
preacher
-- or anyone else -- to be slow to fully accept correction and to "line up".
What if the one trying to correct him happens to be wrong?
I would never make the assumption that a particular preacher is carnal,
or even backslidden, (at least not without clear-cut, proven sin, or certain
clear discernment from the Lord -- then it would not be an assumption), but
such is also a possibility. If the preacher is not where he ought to be
spiritually, our attempts at trying to help him to see his error(s) in
preaching may be some of the least profitable activity on his behalf.
Also, I think we should be careful not to discourage a younger preacher.
Some older preachers have either said very little or have said positive and
encouraging things to me, even when I KNEW that I had fallen short in my
preaching. I have also had some -- usually laymen, sometimes a preacher
want-to-be -- to criticize me without giving me much of a chance to prove
myself. This can be awfully discouraging, but God's grace is sufficient.
I believe we should pray and be as sure as we can of what the Lord would
have us to do in each case, because we may not know what the preacher is
going through. Sometimes a negative remark can become "the straw that
breaks the camel's back" -- or maybe the preacher's nerves or spirit.
Preachers need all the prayers and support they can get.
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me,
that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to
make known the mystery of the gospel," (Ephesians 6:18, 19)
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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