Fraudulent Preachers

Q: On your answer yesterday, you don't seem to allow for the possibility that the preacher is a fraud, who downloaded his sermons from the Internet or something. Not every sermon is a "divine Word, imparted to the prophet from the Father" - as you seem to claim.

A: Of course there are sinful pastors preaching in the pulpit. I'm one of them! But don't be deceived about the nature of God's call on a man (or woman) to preach. Speaking for God, as a Biblical prophet or modern-day pastor does, is not a reflection of who the speaker is. Rather it is a reflection of who God is. God calls, ordains, anoints and empowers sinful people through whom He does His work. So the fact that a preacher is sinful doesn't disqualify them. In fact, it may well be one reason that they can speak with credibility.

Downloading sermons from the Internet doesn't make a preacher a fraud either. What I said yesterday is that the preacher should be giving his (or her) audience a "divine Word from the Father." This means that the preacher is walking closely with God, repenting of his or her sin regularly, seeking God's will and making a concerted effort to do things God's way. We, the listeners, must then trust the Holy Spirit to lead that preacher. And we must allow for the possibility that God may provide for that preacher through the Internet, the radio, TV, a good Christian book or any other medium.

Finally, I'm reminded of a Scripture verse, where the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians and told them, "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit." (1 Corinthians 2:14) What does this say in a situation like yours? If all you can see is your preacher's sinfulness, or the flaws in his or her delivery, then it may be that you yourself are lacking in the Spirit.