I've heard people say, "I didn't like that preacher." There are numerous reasons why but I don't know if any of them are good reasons. I think what it really boils down to is that you didn't like what the preacher had to say. Maybe it made you angry because you felt he was talking directly to you. In most cases, he wasn't. The message was about doing things God's way and if you are not doing that then I could see where you might think it was directed at you. The preacher is only trying to help you and others get back on the right path.
I have to thank Pastor Randy Steele for helping me get back on the path. As he was preaching, he quoted "As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats to his folly." (Proverbs 26:11) This struck me more than anything because it was true. Even when the right path was shown to me I continued to go the other way. Then Randy's sermon opened my eyes. It was up to me to stop the insanity and get back to the right path. But until that moment, I had considered to stop going to church. I felt the messages were criticizing me. I know they weren't but I also know that I didn't want to hear what was being said. Thank God that Gretchen, Randy and his wife Mandy didn't give up on me. They really did save me. My life is wonderful and as I said before, I am at peace. It is a very good place to be
I had someone get mad at me once because they thought I was preaching at them and it was none of my business. It was one of those cases. I knew nothing about their life, but they thought I knew something. They just didn't like the conviction that the Word brought that day.
ReplyDeleteAlthough conviction is not comfortable, it allows me to see how far I have come, how far I must travel, and that He has not given up on me. Thank you for sharing. I love the word! I once heard a sermon on Proverbs 26:11 preached as well. It was entitled, "Fight Like Hell." Hell does not give up and we have to be stronger. We are not perfect and we have to see that to grow. You, my friend, have had an interesting/exciting week.
ReplyDelete-Kelly Ellis
You make some great points here. I am so happy you found your way back. My husband helped me when we met a couple years ago.
ReplyDeleteI just have to say that not all preachers are disliked for the wrong reasons. Some are even committing evil acts...
I have disliked only a few preachers and that was for good cause: 1 for being a child molester; 1 for being verbally abusive to his own children; and the last for putting an Old Testament ritual (incense) over the health of a parishioner (me-I have very severe asthma and after a trip to the er, doctor's orders were to avoid incense completely), then telling me and my husband that if we were better Christians we would see it his way. He knew I had just come back to the Church and some real trust issues from my Southern Baptist upbringing. He even made and implemented that decision without informing us after we had asked for him to make this change based on my doctor's orders. (I used to wear masks to church before that) So, we left that church and found another one a good bit farther from home.
I'm glad to hear you stuck it out. Thanks for joining my blog.
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