Must preachers live what they preach?
Introduction. The full question is: "Is it proper for a minister to teach and preach the scriptures of the Holy Bible while not living up to God's expectations for ministers?" We appreciate this question and all questions which are submitted to Bible Questions.
People are tired of the corruption in religion. Every religion, including the church of Christ, has hypocrites and corruption. Sometimes leading this hypocrisy are the "leaders" themselves, the ministers. The public has had some disclosure relative to the immorality characteristic of some who claim to be preachers in the persons of Jim Jones, Jim Baker, and David Koresh.
Unqualified preachers are not a new problem. God's word tells it like it is. God's word says Demas, who was a preacher, "...hath forsaken me, having loved this present world..." (2 Tim. 4: 10). Hymenaeus and Philetus were preachers who taught false doctrine (2 Tim. 2: 16-18). There were preachers who preached out of envy and strife. These preachers, while they preached Christ, sought to injure Paul (Phili. 1: 15-16). Some preachers preached for money (1 Tim 6: 3-5). There were not a few who were incompetent: "Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm." (1 Tim. 1: 7).
Preachers must practice what they preach. Regarding some of the Pharisees Jesus said: "...but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not do" (Matt. 23:3). Relative to preachers Jesus taught "wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7: 15-20, cf. Jas. 3: 1).
Conclusion. I share the same disgust concerning too many preachers which is expressed by the reader who submitted the question. However, we must not forget faithful and qualified men. Also, we must not allow unfaithful men to cause us to be lost!
People are tired of the corruption in religion. Every religion, including the church of Christ, has hypocrites and corruption. Sometimes leading this hypocrisy are the "leaders" themselves, the ministers. The public has had some disclosure relative to the immorality characteristic of some who claim to be preachers in the persons of Jim Jones, Jim Baker, and David Koresh.
Unqualified preachers are not a new problem. God's word tells it like it is. God's word says Demas, who was a preacher, "...hath forsaken me, having loved this present world..." (2 Tim. 4: 10). Hymenaeus and Philetus were preachers who taught false doctrine (2 Tim. 2: 16-18). There were preachers who preached out of envy and strife. These preachers, while they preached Christ, sought to injure Paul (Phili. 1: 15-16). Some preachers preached for money (1 Tim 6: 3-5). There were not a few who were incompetent: "Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm." (1 Tim. 1: 7).
Preachers must practice what they preach. Regarding some of the Pharisees Jesus said: "...but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not do" (Matt. 23:3). Relative to preachers Jesus taught "wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7: 15-20, cf. Jas. 3: 1).
Conclusion. I share the same disgust concerning too many preachers which is expressed by the reader who submitted the question. However, we must not forget faithful and qualified men. Also, we must not allow unfaithful men to cause us to be lost!