I’ve been a preacher a long time, so I guess I have some right to offer a critique now and then. To do this, I’m going to “pull back the curtain” a little bit.

Preachers LOVE cool quotes and/or impressive insights that sound good from the pulpit. They look for ideas in books to present in the pulpit to add “wow” factor to their messages. They live for exit comments about their message at the door each Sunday, OR they absolutely don’t care what people say as they leave because “They are preaching THE WORD!” (Be it ever so NOT in a loving or winsome manner).

One thing I HATE… yes, HATE… are preachers who cheat. Cheating is taking another preacher’s message, or thought, and delivering it as their own without giving proper credit in some form (And saying, “If I have an original thought I’ll tell you. Until then assume it’s all from someone else” doesn’t count!).

The problem with many if not most preachers is they have allowed church members to dictate their ministry. OR the preacher is so inept in his call to proclaim The Word he covers himself by being at every hospital… every time… for anything… for everyone in the church (Or a family member of a church member). They are in essence glorified deacons. Deacons are to take care of the physical needs of the congregation (Including hospital visits) while the pastor is to be DEVOTED to prayer and ministry of the Word (Preaching and teaching).

There is ONE THING a preacher must do, and do well, before he engages himself in anything else. This is found from Paul in 1 Cor 2:1-5…

When I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ & him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness & in fear & much trembling, 4 & my speech & my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit & of power, 5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

If a preacher does anything more or better than preaching Jesus Christ and him crucified, they have abandoned their call. What’s sad is that churches put up with pablum in the pulpit AS LONG AS the preacher visits like he should (Read: “According to Church member expectations”). Too many times the personality and popularity of the preacher becomes more important than Jesus Christ and the power of God.