Tied To Their Minister's Apron Strings

Tied To Their Minister's Apron Strings

It is lamentable when a boy in teens is still tied to his mother's apron strings. Yet is it not equally deplorable for those who have been Christians many years - to be tied to their minister's apron strings? Yet how often we witness this very thing. There is a certain class who seem to be afraid, or at any rate unwilling, to think for themselves - to search the Scriptures for themselves, and act accordingly - and we suspect that in many cases the preacher is as much to be blamed as they are. It is true that he is their teachers, and as such he should possess a wider and deeper knowledge of spiritual things than they have. Yet it is his duty to instruct them - to familiarize themselves with God's Word, and thus become qualified to "Test all things - and hold fast that which is good" (1 Thess. 5:21). In other words, the preacher is not to be a nurse unto them all their lives!

It has long been our conviction that the preacher who is really of greatest service to his people - is the one who makes them most independent of human help, and casts them back directly upon God Himself. For souls to run to their pastor every time they are in trouble, or look to him to solve all their spiritual problems - is virtually to give him the same place in their lives, as the deluded Papists accord their "priests." This is not only to  rob God of His glory but also retards their spiritual progress. It is with God Himself, that I most need to deal, and any man who comes between me and the Lord is really a hindrance, no matter how good his intentions may be. Moreover, the preacher is human,and therefore liable to err - but God is omniscient and never misdirects. "If any of you lacks wisdom - let him ask of God." (James 1:5).

Sooner or later there comes a time in the lives of most real Christians, when those words, "Stop trusting in man!" (Isaiah 2:22) are applied to their hearts in Divine power. This will not mean that they now refuse to hear God's servants or read their writings - but that they will no longer place the same blind confidence in their teachers as the Papists do in their priests. Instead, they will emulate the Bereans, who did not mechanically accept what they heard, even from the lips of the Apostle Paul - but "examined the Scriptures every day - to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11).

~A. W. Pink~
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A Faithful Minister

"Let the elders who rule well be accounted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine" (1 Timothy 5:17).

That which is hear rendered labor, signifies not simply to labor - but to labor with much travail and toil, to labor even to exhaustion, as he does who chops wood, or who toils in harvest, or who fights in a battle.

Oh what an honor is it to a faithful minister,  when he had found the people dark and blind - but left them enlightened; found them dead - but left them alive; found them a proud people - but left them humble; found them a profane people - but left them holy; found them a carnal people - but left them spiritual; found them a worldly people - but left them heavenly; found them a wavering people - but left them settled and rooted.

Oh, it is an honor to faithful ministers, when their people are like them in knowledge, wisdom, love, humility, and holiness!

"Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." (1 Timothy 4:12).

~Thomas Brooks~
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How To Fill Your Church

I believe that the best, surest, and most permanent way to fill a place of worship is to preach the gospel, and to preach it in a natural, simple, interesting, earnest way. The gospel itself has a singularly fascinating power about it, and unless impeded by an unworthy delivery, or by some other great evil, it will win its own way. It certainly did so at the first, and what is to hinder it now? Like the angels, it flew upon its own wings; like the dew, it tarried not for man, neither waited for the sons of men.

The gospel has a secret charm about it which secures a hearing: it casts its good spell over human ears, and they must hearken. It is God's own word to men; it is precisely what human necessities require; it commends itself to man's conscience, and, sent home by the Holy Spirit, it wakes an echo in every heart.

In every age, the faithful preaching of the good news has brought forth hosts of men to hear it, made willing in the day of God's power. Decked in the glories of free and sovereign grace, wearing the crown-royal of the covenant, and the purple of atonement - the gospel, like a queen, is still glorious for beauty, and supreme over hearts and minds.

Published in all its fullness, with a clear statement of its efficacy and immutability, it is still the most acceptable news that ever reached the ears of mortals.

~Charles Hadden Spurgeon~