An Honest Preacher

Had a South African preacher with us this morning at our church. A man called Francois—he was like a breath of fresh air I tell you! Now it was not because he was young and cool and hip (he was a tad hip); and not because he brought a new dynamic message that he had plucked from some divine encounter with some angelic being! It may be that you are asking by now, “So tell us why? Why was it so fresh?”
The answer is nothing more than the fact that he was honest; no, maybe honest is not the word I am looking for, he was real. It is such a pity that honesty or being real should be something so surprising and uplifting, but this is the case. (Now, please note, I am not saying that the other preachers I hear quite often lie because they don’t. I am using the word honest more in the sense of real and authentic, he was honest to his own true understanding of what it is to bring a message to the people of God as a person living out his Christian walk within the parameters of real life.) It felt there was no separation in essence between preacher and people, he was one of us who faces all the pains, discouragements and disappointments that any of us do. This was fresh! And yes he finished with a brilliant, poignant reminder of the great and glorious goodness of God to those of us who are in relationship with us as highlighted in the eighth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans in the bible.

Why is that one of the unfortunate marks to the men and women of God that minister for God ‘professionally’ is the mark of ‘got it all togetherness’? Do we not know that honesty, openness, being real and authentic is what most endears us to those whom we lead? I fear not as I have heard far too many messages from far too many men of God that never quite said it all, there was always a holding back of something.
Bear your heart, reveal your soul, talk of the pain, the joy, the confusion and delight then bring the magnificent promises of God to bear as revealed in the word. Preach to the heart by exposing your own.