Bible Articles

C A R L   B.   G A R N E R WHO WILL PREACH TOMORROW? There was a time when the colleges were our source for young preachers. Now it is the local congregation. While it is not a matter of boasting (or it should not be), it is a matter of justifiable pride that so many from this congregation have encouraged and assisted so many young men to preach the gospel. I believe there is no greater privilege than that of preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ. I concur with Gus Nichols' thoughts on this subject: "If I were qualified to fill his office and had the opportunity to exchange jobs with the president of the United States, I would instantly spurn the temptation to do so. I am doing what God wants me to do and what I want to do. If I had a thousand lives to live, I would want to be a gospel preacher every time, and at the last would pray for a little more time to preach and reach a few more of those who are hungering for truth." All preachers may not feel that way, but I would have written them myself if I had brother Nichols' ability with words. To preach the gospel is a privilege, and if I had to do so by supporting myself in secular work, I would not hesitate to do so. When God described those in whom He had great confidence, He referred to them as "My servants, the prophets," from 2 Kings 9:7 to Revelation 11:18. Twenty times God uses this remarkably affectionate term. Isaiah wrote, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation," Isaiah 52:7. Paul reflects the same sentiment in Romans 10:15. Israel, at the time of the prophet's writing, was in bondage to sin (see Romans 6:16-18), and would eventually be in bondage to Babylon. The most welcome words imaginable in that time were uttered by men who brought good tidings, tidings of peace and salvation. However, those who did so were scorned by the very ones who benefited from their messages of peace and salvation. Hebrews 11:36-38 describes the plight of many of prophets of old: "Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." Every preacher today should compare his own circumstances to those of Jeremiah's day. Many of us would not have had the fortitude to endure the hardships of those times. I have the deepest respect for those who blazed the trail in our nation, bringing the gospel to the far-flung regions of the frontier, the deserts and the mountains, to the farms and the ranches, the villages and the settlements. Many, with little or no financial support, worked as farmers or ranchers, teachers or store keepers, never enjoying the benefits that are so easily taken for granted by us today. They may have had little formal education, but they were instruments of righteousness for our good, and God loved them with a fervent love. Where would you or your family be today if those men had not prayed, studied and preached the gospel in those early, hard years? There is, however, another thought that needs to be expressed on this subject. This congregation has been blessed in that many of her young men have been motivated to follow the examples of those who have gone before, preaching the good tidings of salvation. We have had the privilege of providing support for many men in their preparation to preach the gospel. We speak often of the large number who have done so. They are a testimony to parents who have done a good job providing an atmosphere in which this desire to preach could be nurtured until such time the seed could produce fruit. Even now, we are budgeting support for another of our young men who wants to prepare himself to preach. We are well aware that a person does not have to be a preacher to be useful to the Lord. When we review the number of preachers that have come from this congregation, we are commending all of you who have, by professional skill in secular work, provided the necessary funds for their training. A preacher is neither greater nor lesser than any other Christian. While we encourage all of our young men to use all of their talents to the fullest in the Kingdom, we know that many others are also working to that end. Most of the progress made in any local church results from those who are dedicated to God and His Word, who want to know more of that Word, and then do more in light of that knowledge. If commendation is appropriate, it is they who deserve it. Someone said, "God had only one son, and He was a preacher." But Jesus also loved a young ruler (Mark 10:21), and a man named Lazarus (John 11:36). His love for all is seen in that He died for all (2 Corinthians 5:14-15), even though we are not all preachers. If we speak highly of men who preach, we do so because God loves their "beautiful feet." All of us can be beautiful in God's eyes by taking that good news to neighbor, friend, foe and family. Let us work together in this great effort. Thanks to all of you for your cooperation.