I’D RATHER BE A “WARRIOR” THAN A “WIMP” It has been my great privilege to be associated with some of the finest young men around – many times in an effort to help them toward developing into gospel preachers. I considered it my duty to encourage them to not take up preaching unless they absolutely felt this was the only thing that would satisfy their conscience. The demands made on one’s time, effort, emotion and family if one “does it right” require the kind of dedication few are actually willing to give. We have more than enough of the wrong kind of preachers, and I was not going to increase that number if I could help it. I pulled no punches, spoke plainly and bluntly and – to whatever extent I had the opportunity – tried to “work them to death”. One such young man came to us from the element in the church committed to expanding the fellowship to include various innovations – and he was subjected to some intense “back and forths” in our study periods. Nothing seemed to discourage him, and he was always there for the next round. At one point, after a particular exchange which even I thought might be “over the top”, I asked him how he could put up with me. His answer: “I’d rather be a warrior than a wimp”! Even now, though not in “full time” work, he IS a warrior, and I count it a privilege to be his friend and brother. I appreciated both his perceptiveness in seeing the difference, and his zeal in trying to aggressively work til he was equipped both in wisdom and temperament to be so engaged. His words are the stimulus of my ‘main post’ today. (acb)
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 11:40:28 +0000