If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say those words about Johnny Ramsey I might be a rich man. I know some did not intend them as a compliment, but no one ignored him. He and Iris have been a great influence in the lives of Christians from Texas to Australia and Wisconsin to Florida.
Born in Pampa, Texas, July 5, 1930, he excelled in athletics as well as academics in school.
It was my family’s privilege to work with the Ramseys for five years in Corsicana, Texas. Our hearing him preach was fortunate for us since our children were born in those years, and his Bible lessons on every subject greatly benefited our family.
He preached and I led singing many times. On the way to/from those appointments we argued or discussed the Bible. The more we did the more I learned, and we became close friends, though we kept each other “at arm’s length.”
At this writing he is very ill. Like all of us, his days are numbered. Diabetes and heart problems have taken their toll, but we all learned many things from Johnny Ramsey:
His Most Valuable Quality
To me, it would be his ability to make people enjoy and want to study the Bible. People from all around central Texas attended his classes, knowing that extra outside study would be required. One lady said to me, “He makes me so mad, but I have learned more Bible from him than from any other preacher ever.” That was Johnny, and he accepted her words a compliment.
Expect No Special Treatment
One Monday morning he called me and proceeded to lecture me on my handling of a Bible class. A woman had virtually taken over my class and I didn’t know how to stop it. After the expected “Who do you think you are…?” response from yours truly, it dawned on me that he cared enough about me to call and correct me. It couldn’t have been easy for him, either. I have never forgotten that incident, and I tell my students about it every year. I had to grow up, and he helped.
I know as well as anyone that he is not “perfect,” and he knows it, too, but I have first-hand knowledge that he has helped many preacher students, both financially and by his instruction, not to mention many Christians all over the world. A preacher is a human being capable of great good or great harm. It was Jesus who said, “Ye may know them by their fruits,” Matthew 7:16.
The Joy of Bible Study
The very word “study” brings to mind hard work. That may be the reason some do not study the Bible as they should, but anything worthwhile demands our best effort, and Bible study deserves the same. Johnny spent hours in study, and his preaching revealed his love for God’s Word.
Can all of us enjoy Bible study? Those who do not enjoy it are missing the wonderful pearls of wisdom found throughout God’s inspired revelation. Heaven and Hell are in the balance. I’m glad I learned to enjoy Bible study.
Tact is Good: Contact is Better
The first time I heard this little “maxim” was from our brother Ramsey, and it irritated me a bit. I thought he meant being tactful was foolish. In visits to those whose faith had weakened, I saw that he was very tactful. Direct, yes, but not unkind. It is possible to be so fearful of offending another that we do not say what must be said. We can never “restore” one overtaken by sin if we do not make them aware of their sin, Galatians 6:1. We need both “tact” and “contact.”
Can’t Preach Too Much Bible
The Gospel is “God’s power to save,” Romans 1:16. That being true, it is obvious that our sermons need to be filled with scripture. Without anyone telling me, I knew that I could not preach like Johnny, but I can preach a “lot of Bible.”
Preacher’s Friends/family Too!
Several years ago, one close to both Johnny and Iris faced a serious spiritual problem. It would have been easy for them to deny the problem or deny any connection to the person. When it became a public matter, they went to those responsible for correcting the issue and commended them for doing so.
Many people “modifiy” their convictions when family or friends are at risk, but compromise is not their way. Neither should it be ours.
More recently I have heard him speak fondly of Philippians 1:21-24:
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I know not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.”
We can all pray for his recovery, but we can also make his days pleasant by phone calls and/or sending cards to the family.
The Lord’s people have been blessed having known Johnny and Iris Ramsey, and to hear the Gospel preached by Johnny. We will surely miss him when he is gone.
