"He must increase and I must decrease."
Our text is what John the Baptist said about himself and Jesus. John had developed a following, but he wanted to call the attention of his followers to Jesus. Since I have been a preacher for sixty years, I know what John meant by this statement. It is a temptation of a preacher to gain a following for himself instead of for Jesus. We would do well to take John's advice in this text. A preacher friend of mine once said that if people were following him, they were headed in the wrong direction. He did not mean that what he was preaching was wrong; rather, he meant that if what he was preaching was leading people to himself, he needed to aim a lot higher in his preaching. It is always a temptation for a preacher to develop a following for himself. If the preacher means that he wants the love and appreciation of his congregation. Of course, he should want that, but he should draw the line at the point of worship. "Preacher worship" is aimed too low. I certainly never wanted my congregations to hate me, or dismiss me, but I never wanted their worship. I have always been happy that people loved me as their preacher, and that they appreciated my attempts at preaching and ministering. This is not what we call "preacher worship." What human being doesn't want to be loved and admired instead of being taken lightly, or being dismissed? My reaction to people who express appreciation for me and my ministry is always "thank you." Like all humans, I am happy when people love and appreciate me. (duh) Years ago, I learned a lesson along this line. My girlfriend, who later became my wife, once expressed that she enjoyed a preacher's sermon. He said something like, "Give God the praise." Being the person that she was, she reminded him that she was not praising him, but expressing appreciation for his sermon. Also, being the person that she was, she reminded him of that fact. (I think she was probably thinking "Exuuuuse meee.") Whenever anyone says to me that they "enjoyed my sermon," I always say "thank you." (What mentally and spiritually healthy human being does not want to be appreciated for the work that they do?) I really don't have a problem when people love and appreciate me and my ministerial efforts. I have worked hard, and prayerfully, on my preaching and pastoral skills. When I was at Valdosta State, I probably would have been on the dean's list, if I had spent as much time in my studies as I did in the part of the library where they had the volumes from a former Methodist college, which had become the "North Campus." There is a difference between appreciation and worship. (My attitude has always been "Keep those cards and letters coming in," so to speak.) Loving and appreciating me does not mean that I have replaced God in someone's life. (I am not egotistical enough to think that I could replace God in someone's life.) It has always been my aim to lead people to the Lord, but that doesn't mean that I don't want to be loved and appreciated. In the final analysis, I must "decrease and He must increase" But if He is to increase, I should take the time and effort to do the best job that I can humanly do. It is certainly possible for one to appreciate our labor and also give God the credit. Selah Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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September 2021
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