8 Sins of The Pulpit Today

Although we identify certain books of the New Testament as pastoral epistles, every book of the New Testament, and Old Testament for that matter, are for all believers.

Paul told Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable…that the man of God may be complete [mature], thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If you try to make certain books only for certain individuals, pastors, teachers, etc. you would have to go further and say that one book is only for Christians living in Rome or Galatia or Ephesus. All scripture means all scripture.

It can be taken also that all scripture is meant for pulpit ministers too. You can’t declare yourself above living righteously because you are divinely set in a ministry position over the congregation. Godliness is profitable for all believers, including those called into full-time ministry, those deriving their income from preaching and teaching the Word of God to others. So I say it again, all scripture is meant for all believers.

Also the key word found in our passage we will be studying from 2 Timothy 2 is the word “also” found in verse 22, “Flee also youthful lusts….” Not only is the congregation to flee youthful lusts, so also is the pastor. A better definition of “youthful lusts” is sins of immaturity. Sins of thoughts and actions are warned of in the Old and New Testament. Unlike David who fell into adultery, Joseph ran from the sin. We also, like Joseph, are told to “flee fornication”—to run from it (1 Corinthians 6:18 KJV). Now we are warned in the same manner, along with Timothy, to flee or run from youthful lusts, sins of immaturity.

Paul is telling Timothy that running from sinful lusts is not just for the congregation, but for the minister as well. There are no separate rules toward sin for the clergy than the congregation. God will judge ministers by a higher standard than He does other believers when we all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ ( James 3:1). Iniquity is iniquity and righteousness is righteousness. Even Jesus was judged in His earthly life by this standard. When He sat down at the right hand of God, after completing His earthly ministry, the Father said to Him, “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness [iniquity]…” (Hebrews 1:9). That is a great rule to govern our own lives by.

The Minister and Sins of Immaturity

Yet, according to the instructions given to Timothy by Paul, there are certain sins associated with ministers in their youth, or immaturity. All sins of immaturity are associated with arrogance. Sadly, it is true that many young ministers think they have found answers no one else has found or even thought of. They can’t wait to enter the pulpit to prove to their local church, and also the vast number of other ministers, that their ideas are what everyone has been waiting for.

But when the same problems occur with their ministry that occur within other ministries, they become confused. Instead of opening up to the possibility they may have been wrong, they dig in their heels and become obstinate, fighting for a lost cause. Sadly, not only do seasoned ministers recognize their wrong attitude, so do the members of the congregation. People leave and the minister ends up blaming the people, not his own blindness. It has been said, “Arrogance is the only disease that makes everyone sick except the one who has it.”

 I want to address certain sins of immaturity I have observed and recorded that are found in the pulpit today. This is certainly not an exhaustive list but should cover enough to help ministers recognize they are not alone in their wrong attitudes and also in the answers to them.

Sins of Immaturity Include:

1.       You are driven by attendance numbers.

Joy and sadness are not only driven by things we see but by decisions we make about what we see. If you are the pastor of a church, you need to be content with those who show up. Quit preaching to the empty seats and preach to the full ones—to those who got up, showered, dressed themselves and their children and made it to the church. And quit preaching to the ones who came about those who did not come. Show your gratitude to those who came and perhaps they will ask others to come.

Most church attendance is increased by happy church attenders who invite others to find the fulfillment they have found in the church. If you take credit for those who come, you will also feel responsible for those who leave. Acts 2:47 tells us that “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” I’m not saying we should leave it all to the Lord and not invite people to church. But the drawing of the Holy Spirit and the joy of the Lord should witness to the visitors they have found the right church and should continue attending.  

2.       You must have the largest church in the city.

 Not everyone is called to pastor a large church. Even the churches of the book of Acts were different sizes. And not all large churches preach and teach the Word of God. Many churches are large because of their youth, children, or worship ministry. I would rather see a city with many smaller churches that preach the Word of God than one or two large churches built on programs. Numbers of people attending do not indicate success.

 Jesus purposely tested the crowds with difficult statements to weed out those who did not want to truly follow Him and grow in the Christian life. On one occasion, when Jesus challenged the multitudes with a difficult spiritual choice, they all left. Jesus did not get upset or look for a “group hug” from His disciples. He asked them if they too wanted to leave ( John 6:53-68).

3.       Each sermon must outdo the last.

You are not called to compete with the church down the street. But you are also not called to compete with yourself. When we preach a sermon that has everyone saying “amen” and shouting for joy, we often feel compelled to make the next sermon even better. Your standard for the next sermon should not be the quality of the one you just preached. You obeyed God’s voice and preached the sermon God led you to preach. Jesus told the crowds He did the works and spoke the words of His Father ( John 8:28,38; 10:37). Your only source of contentment after the word is preached, is the assurance you preached what God instructed you to preach.

4.       You look for compliments to judge the quality of your sermon.

This is close to the previous point in its application. Your stamp of approval is not the compliments, or lack of, from your congregation. Most who tell you the sermon was good are lying. They did not like the message but would never tell you so. They see you coming down the aisle and say, “Good sermon, Pastor.” You would say the same thing to another minister. The only compliment you need is the peace in your heart you preached the sermon God told you to preach. He will never lie to you. So quit being too moved by compliments and criticism. You are never going to be loved by everyone. But you are always loved by God.

5.       You preach to impress other ministers.

When you really preach a sermon that you know came from God, even receiving revelation while you preached, you not only want all the congregation to take a copy of the message home but wish they would share it with a notable minister in town. Not only that, but they may also share it with a notable national minister. You feel, somehow, your sermons must be heard by those you consider leaders in your area or even the nation.

 It is true that most ministers who are invited to speak at a minister’s conference do not speak to the needs of the registrants present, but to impress the other speakers sitting on the front row. They hope to be invited to their church someday. It is not up to you to spread your fame—it is up to God. Jesus did not try to make His fame increase but preached and healed in obedience to His Father. “…Then His fame went throughout all Syria…” (Matthew 4:23-24).

6.       You preach your own view on subjects to distance yourself doctrinally from the group your church came from.

 Your church might have come out of a denomination, a spiritual movement, or a specific doctrinal background. You might have come from the Assemblies of God, the Word of Faith, or the teaching of Grace. You have a disagreement with certain parts of these beliefs, so you distance yourself completely from it. You end up splintering and fracturing the congregation.

When those issues come up in a sermon, tread lightly and walk in love. You may think some people treat grace as a license to sin. You may think some ministers use the message of prosperity to just get money from others. When you come to a passage, preach on it in love and in balance. Teach the truth on the subject and approach the excesses with an abundance of compassion and scriptures. Most of your congregation will thank you.

7.       You speak to reach certain age groups, colors, or demographics.

 There are many things you can do to draw in a group but don’t preach to draw segments of society you are trying to reach. Fill positions of greeters, ushers, or praise and worship leaders with a variety of faithful and spiritual attenders. Let your last priority be to choose young, middle-aged, and old including all races and nationalities. What people see when they enter makes an impression, that in this church anyone who loves God and people can be used by God. But the Word of God itself is without age, color, or nationality. The Word and the preaching should be for everyone. So just be you when you preach. You have a style that is unique. Use it and don’t try to draw a certain group of people using someone else’s style. Just be yourself and preach to whoever walks in.

8.       You focus your attention on those who do not or will not grow.

In our opening passage, 2 Timothy 2:22, Paul told Timothy to “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” In other words, if you want to maintain your joy, be encouraged, and know your ministry is doing well; when you preach keep your eyes on those who are strong in prayer, “call on the Lord,” and maintain a life of purity “out of a pure heart.”

Keep scattering the seed, preaching the Word, and stop looking at those who have a blank or angry look. Quit wondering when they will ever get the importance of the Word and keep your eyes on those who do get it. These are the ones with a big smile, and at times shout an encouraging, “Amen!”