Is it a sin to critique a preacher?

Dale-c,

Preachers need to learn from Christ and Paul and cast off the celebrity image that is derailing the cause of Christ.

Early in my Christian life I read a Billy Sunday biography. To be honest, at the time, I was really impress with the man and his approach to preaching.

Today, I don't think I feel the same way (I hope I'm not sinning :laugh: ).

 

Joel Osteen following is an example of poor souls being caught with an image and smooth speech.

 

Unless we believe the Spirit of God draws people apart for the Word.

For example, I read about some seeker-sensitive churches that tell their members not to walk with a Bible to church if carrying a Bible offends the seeker.

 

The book of Esther has no mention of God or Christ.

 

The Pharisees were the preachers of their day; and Jesus had plenty of criticism for them.

 

Interestingly enough, my seminary Hebrew teacher found acrostic mentions of YHWH all through the book of Hebrews. :type:

 

I have no problems with people criticizing a historical preacher like Billy Sunday or anyone else, including relatives of mine :smilewinkgrin: , as long as they are well-thought out, constructive criticisms. However, as incredibly important as evangelism is, I do have problems with people saying, "He won lots of souls, so we shouldn't criticize him."

On the other hand, I believe there is a line that can be crossed (though you haven't crossed it, Dale). The line is in the local church, where criticism of the pastor (roast preacher for Sunday dinner) can do terrible harm. The exceptions are in the case of immorality or false doctrine (not just differences of interpretation). In those cases, though, there are clear scriptural guidelines to follow.

 

The pharisees were lost and going to hell. No real comparison here.

 

What you did was not legitmate criticsm. You worked to tear down a man of God because he preached against your pet sin which was evidenced by your support for alcohol in the same thread. And the mods agreed. I criticize several preachers doctrines and methods. But I do not take it so far that I denigrate the family.

 

:laugh:

I love my people in my church....
They are not afraid to ask me why I preached something...

I can tell they talk about my sermon Sunday afternoon, because there has been many occasions on Sunday night that they will ask me about why I preached something oneway, instead of another.. or what I meant....

They are not afraid to approach me with their constructive criticism...

And some Sunday nights, because of this, I have cleared up confusion that could have festered....

I don't mind being critisized for the things I have done.. or for the sermons I have preached.. I will take the heat when need be...

But I do mind being unjustly critisized, or someone take something out of context, and without asking me about it, use it against me.

Also, when Critisizing a dead preacher, remember that he can't defend himself... and since Sunday is in Heaven (I do believe) I am sure he already knows what he could have done better, and what he should not have done.


I am sure when I get up there, I will be kicking myself for some things I believed, said, and done....

Because as PERFECT as I am... I am still not completely holy....

I am trying to convince my wife that I am, but she won't fall for it!:laugh:

 

This is well said. I don't mind it either when my people come directly to me. It's when they start going behind my back, or in particular I was thinking of parents criticizing the preacher in front of their kids--roast preacher!

That's for sure!

Along that line, I hate it on the BB when someone accuses me of something I don't believe or didn't say. Some folk think they can read your mind. :tonofbricks:

Well, that's true. I think we do have to be careful of hurting a preacher's ministry even after he is dead. Someone could still be saved through Sunday's ministry. "He being dead yet speaketh." On the other hand, we ought to be willing to learn from history. I guess having the right balance is the best way to think about it.

Hah! Good luck with that. My wife used to say I was perfect, but that was before she really got to know me! :laugh:

 

Go back and read your thread. I showed you where the sermon you gave is not what is considered his "famous booze sermon". I posted a link to what is known to be his 'Famous Booze sermon' and it even begins quoting scripture.

I agree that his sermon is not very good in my estimation, actually quite poor comparitively (but who am I) even in the link I give. But God used it mightly for his glory, and that my friend is something your just going to have to live with.

God choose him and used his preaching style to reach all whom He choose. You might not like it nor agree with it but that is what God did. Now we (you and I) could take up a whole thread to declare what should have been said or said better. What scriptures aught to have been cited and what to leave out but the fact remains, God saw fit to use that man and his sermons for His names sake and He glorified it.

So I guess the better question is not about how poorly his sermon was, but why and how could God use such to His kingdom and glory?