who can preach?

Out here in the deep woods of Western Kentucky (the land time forgot), we still refer to some folks as "momma called," but to still more as "called by the hoe handle." Now, lest ya'll city slickers find some sinister innuendo there, that cute country phrase refers to a feller that was hoeing tobacco or cotton, and in the middle of a hot day figured that God must be calling him to preach, because that hoe handle was gettin' too heavy. Yay-yess! Gloooorrry!

As John Boy and Billy's favorite preacher says, "This is the Revrund Billy from the Sword of Joshua, Independent, Fundamental, Full Gospel, Pentecostal Assembly..."

 

Let me see if I get this right. Some here are saying that unless you pastor a church you are not God called to preach but have just decided on your own to preach.Do I read this right?

 

Howdy all ... I am intrigued by the discussion
First, is a speaker the same as a preacher?
Second, are we connecting a preacher with one who proclaims the Good News about the Kingdom of God from the pulpit?
... I reckon I sometimes connect Preacher with Pastor, is that right?
So, can a divorced man preach from the pulpit- depending upon the local church?

 

Yes he can.

First, the qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3 are for the office of a pastor/elder. Are all preachers pastors? No.

Second, there is some disagreement as to whether or not "the husband of one wife" pertains to divorce. Some argue that it does, some argue it does not.

 

I don't recall saying anything of that nature.

 

If this man is gifted as a speaker/preacher, and the church he is in holds an interpretation of Timothy that precludes him from using these gifts, the answer is obvious, find another place to preach. In this day and age, opportunities abound !
==================================================
Mark 16
14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 

you could just put him as a Sunday School teacher you know

 

Major B that last entry was not targeted at you.However it does seem that some regard those who are not pastors are not God called to preach.There are many places for God called preachers to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ without them being pastors of churches.There are also many pastors in this country alone who are not God called. 1st evidence is they don't believe in God or the Bible.

 

Pastors and preachers are not the same!
A Pastor is the leader of the flock, a preacher is one who if needed can give forth the word of God. I have the calling to be an evangelist, am I using it now? No because my Pastor say I need to go to Bible College. My thoughts are, why??? I know what God wants me to do without holding a Bible College degree.

 

Brother, don't let that hold you back. Get out there and preach the Gospel!

 

I fit into the category being discussed and I will admit that I have wrestled with the same question regarding whether I should stand in the pulpit as a divorced and remarried man. However, after running from that call for many years, I finally yielded and God has richly blessed me and given me wonderful liberty to preach His word.

I have never really ever heard of a man that God uncalled, that was ever truly called to begin with and we have nothing in Scripture to support that notion either. There are plenty of examples of men that God has used and who faithfully served Him, in spite of their moral or ethical shortcomings or unavoidable misfortunes along the way.

I am completely in agreement that a divorced man should not pastor a church. However, I believe that a man who has been less fortunate in matrimony can still be useful to Lord through the foolishness of preaching.

My ministry has been rewarding and I have had many invitations to fill appointments in sister churches and to help in revivals. More importantly, God has richly blessed those services and has given me wonderful liberty to preach His word. There have been a few churches that hold to the "if you have been divorced, you can't preach here" rule, but those have been few. I respect their right to guard their pulpit, and it does not challenge our fellowship.

What I do find comical at times are those churches that say a divorced man cannot preach in their pulpit, but that he can go out and preach in prisons, nursing homes and shelters. Essentially, what that says to me is that the gospel I preach is good enough for infidels, old people, and the homeless, but it is not good enough for a few folks that are blessed enough to warm a pew in some churches.

 

... Interesting

... I reckon it all depends upon how we define preaching ...

 

I found that I had the desire and the ability to preach the gospel when I did so as the Youth Week Pastor in a church of about 1,000 over 35 years ago.
(My twin brother, who now is an ordained SBC Pastor, was the Assistent Pastor.)

I have preached in his church two or three times but have mainly preached in retirement homes as a layman. It's a great opportunity to spread God's word and to establish a relationship with the people living there.

Christ commanded us all to go forth and spread the gospel. I don't recall him limititing that to one person at a time.