FEAR PREACHERS…

Well, not all preachers…

But fear a preacher who shares only his strengths and hides his weaknesses from his congregation.

If you can talk about your faith, then you should also be able to talk about your faults. When James said we should confess our faults one to another, he didn’t exempt preachers from it. Now that I think about it, it would be easier to deal with your faults when you talk about it publicly. It would be easier for the world to believe your testimony of faith if they heard you share the struggles. Let’s stop hiding our challenges, so that the world will not make a scandal out of it if it makes the news before our testimony arrives.

I think the days of a “super hero” preacher is gone, believers are going through confusing situations in their lives and they are afraid to speak out because they don’t think their “man of God” goes through such challenges.

Jesus felt pain, he also felt betrayal, yet the bible never hid those things from us. Imagine that Jesus’s pain and betrayal was never recorded in scriptures, Christianity would have been tough. Jesus wept, He had thick sweat dropping from his body, Jesus ate. You won’t believe that I’m always surprised when I see a man of God eat, and that’s because we’ve gotten so used to their spirituality that we no longer consider their humanity. The implication of this is that believers who observe their spirituality without understanding their humanity will end up in error.

When I talk about faults or challenges, it doesn’t necessarily have to be sin – Jesus was tempted yet he didn’t sin, it could simply be areas where our humanity hasn’t submitted fully to our spirituality. So today some Christians have issues in their homes, only because their pastor doesn’t talk about the romantic affection he shows his wife at home. That’s not even a challenge as it were, yet some preachers don’t go there. Believe it or not, any pastor who doesn’t talk about his marital life will have a congregation of flawed marriages. Likewise, any preacher that doesn’t talk about his health challenges will have a congregation of people that will always need healing. Talking about it doesn’t make you weak, it’s just to reveal your humanity.

As preachers, we also go through pain, but we believe the pain won’t last forever because of the anointing of the Lord that works in our favour. This is the same for every believer. If I tell you I have an ache today and by tomorrow I tell you that after I prayed about the ache it disappeared, that will stir great faith in your heart. If you ever have an ache, my testimony will become the sickle for your own healing. Also, if I did other things asides praying, I shouldn’t hide that information. For instance, if I consulted a doctor, I must state clearly that I consulted a doctor. Let’s stop hiding our humanity, it’s doing more harm than good.

There are certain decisions I often fear to take, and that’s because I’m not sure if the preachers I listen to will take such decisions. Sometimes I’d have to pray over and again before I conclude on what to do. I had a challenge with my eyes and glasses were recommended. You won’t believe I had to seek counsel from a pastor first before using something that will help me🤣. Humorously, the same pastor started using glasses years later. Today, if I use the glasses, it’s just for formality, because God’s healing power has prevailed.

I’m not afraid to tell my congregation that I battle with ulcer. I’m not afraid to tell my congregation that I battle with allergies. What exactly should I even be afraid of? That they’d stop listening to me or reading from me? No way! Revealing my weaknesses would further strengthen their faith in me and my calling. It’s easier to trust a person whom you know also has vulnerabilities. It means you know where to stand in for him or her. If I confess my faults, then they know where to channel their prayers for me. It also means that I love God enough to teach despite the challenge in my health.

I’m done being a super hero preacher. Yes, I’m really done! My children falls sick too, my first daughter sustains injuries from school. That’s right! You’re not alone in those areas. These are challenges that I’m yet to overcome. When I overcome them, I’d share them in a teaching, just like this. And ofcourse you won’t doubt the testimony when I share it, because you can recall that I also shared the fault.

How would you feel if the only things I tell you about my children are the good things? Wouldn’t it make you feel bad about your own children who probably have flaws? “If my pastor’s children don’t have challenges, then my children must have a problem”. No dear, some of those challenges are mutual, and I apologize that we’ve never spoken about them.

Some weeks ago I counselled someone who had a difficult challenge at home, coincidentally, I have had a similar challenge, so I started by sharing my experience. Whilst I was done sharing my challenge, then I told her what I did to come out of it. She was so relieved, she could tell she was out of the challenge already. Imagine that I hid my story and just shared the solution, she’d feel alone in this world.

Finally, sharing my challenges with you doesn’t mean I’m afraid, no way! It’s merely to inform you that my faith is working towards improving in an area, and as a responsible Christian, I must see to it that it turns to me for a testimony.

I hope this has brought enlightenment to someone.

Remain ever blessed, in Jesus precious name!

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