The Pastor in Profile

By Adolph Bedsole and Ralph G. Turnbull

This is a stimulating and provocative work. The writer has dipped his pen in an acid which smarts when applied, but its application is always in love and with goodwill. Abundant humor and laughter enable the reader to see himself in a mirror. The preacher under this treatment will benefit and be enriched morally and spiritually. Because the preacher is prone to tell others how to live, this book should bring a searchlight upon his own soul. Here is a plumbline of judgment and a method of self-scrutiny. The message is for the still hour and the chambers of imagery wherein the pastor dwells.

The author’s style is lively and colorful. It moves swiftly and keeps one interested and intrigued. The stab and thrust of truth comes to the conscience. Occasionally there are lapses into slang, but possibly the author intends this in satirical vein? Throughout, the provocative element is well expressed, and in his own way he reveals much of what he has felt and experienced. In self reference he is free from egotism. This is good. No one will accuse him of being pharisaical or holier-than-thou.

Periodically, ministers need to read a book of this kind “to see himself as others see him.” Let it be read then with open mind and obedient heart in the sight of the Lord!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barakaldo Books
• Release date: May 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9781839747205

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Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

THE PASTOR IN PROFILE

BY

ADOLPH BEDSOLE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

DEDICATION 5

Introduction 6

Read this first 7

1—The Young Preacher 9

Observations 14

Suggestions 15

2—The Preacher and His Education 16

Consider the Education Antics of the Ministry 21

Suggestions 24

A Personal Testimony 25

3—The Preacher and His Denomination 27

Suggestions 34

4—The Preacher and His Preaching 35

Something Is Wrong With Our Preaching 37

What’s Wrong With Our Preaching? 40

Suggestions 44

Conclusion 45

5—The Preacher and His Word 46

Suggestions 52

6—Ministerial Laziness 53

Areas of Ministerial Laziness 55

Causes of Ministerial Laziness 58

The Results of Ministerial Laziness 59

Suggested Treatments for Ministerial Laziness 61

7—The Preacher and His Politics 62

Goals in Preacher Politics 63

Strategy in Preacher Politics 67

Observations 69

Suggestions 70

8—The Preacher Changing Pastorates 71

Consider the Post-honeymoon Period 72

Moving Procedures 77

When Should a Pastor Change Churches? 79

What Causes a Church to Want a New Pastor? 82

The Church May Be at Fault in Wanting a Change 84

Observations and Suggestions 85

9—Jezebel and Judas on the Trail of a Preacher 86

Some Suggestions 92

10—The Preacher and His Money 95

Looking at the Preacher’s Money Problems 96

Financial Sins of Ministers 97

Suggestions 97

11—The Preacher as a Faultfinder 97

The Gridiron of Faultfinding Preachers 97

Procedure According to Plans 97

Dangerous Trends Among Faultfinding Preachers 97

Why Are Preachers So Critical? 97

Observations 97

Suggestions 97

12—The Preachers and His Nerves 97

What Gets on a Preacher’s Nerves? 97

Observations 97

SUGGESTIONS 97

13—The Preacher and His Inner Sanctum 97

Finding the Inner Sanctum 97

The Inner Sanctum Sires Sin in a Preacher’s Life 97

The Inner Sanctum Sires Power and Glory 97

Mediocrity Is a Product of the Inner Sanctum 97

Observations 97

Suggestions 97

What Do You Think? 97

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 97

DEDICATION

DEDICATED

TO

MY PARENTS

Barney and Delah Bedsole

Who led me in the right way

Introduction

This is a stimulating and provocative work. The writer has dipped his pen in an acid which smarts when applied, but its application is always in love and with goodwill. Abundant humor and laughter enable the reader to see himself in a mirror. The preacher under this treatment will benefit and be enriched morally and spiritually. Because the preacher is prone to tell others how to live, this book should bring a searchlight upon his own soul. Here is a plumbline of judgment and a method of self-scrutiny. The message is for the still hour and the chambers of imagery wherein the pastor dwells.

The author’s style is lively and colorful. It moves swiftly and keeps one interested and intrigued. The stab and thrust of truth comes to the conscience. Occasionally there are lapses into slang, but possibly the author intends this in satirical vein? Throughout, the provocative element is well expressed, and in his own way he reveals much of what he has felt and experienced. In self reference he is free from egotism. This is good. No one will accuse him of being pharisaical or holier-than-thou.

Periodically, ministers need to read a book of this kind to see himself as others see him. Let it be read then with open mind and obedient heart in the sight of the Lord!

Ralph G. Turnbull

Read this first

Preachers as a group are the greatest souls on God’s good earth. Personally and individually, they are the choice spirits of all the ages. I’d rather be a good pastor of a progressive church than to be a great president of the United States. Humanity’s greatest friends are to be found among the men in the ministry. Preachers have contributed more to the cultivation of a decent and honorable society than any other group in human history. Unfortunately, there are a few black sheep in the ministry. The good sheep also have their sins and shortcomings. In the book of The Revelation, as John delivered his message to the churches, he recognized the good qualities of the churches and then reminded them that, with all their goodness, there were some things "against them." So is it with preachers!

No attempt has been made to give a complete treatment of any of the subjects listed in the chapter titles. The writer has tried to focus a spotlight on a few spicy morsels in an effort to stimulate the preacher to search his own soul for other ministerial disease-germs. It is a series of potshots at the little demons and the big devils that trouble a preacher within and harass him and his church without. An effort has been made to take the starch out of stuffed shirts without doing injury to the men of the cloth.

This satirical treatment of a few of the blunders of preachers has been done because there seems to be a definite need for such an effort. The writer takes the calculated risk of being called sacrilegious and coarse in an effort to help preachers search their own souls and see themselves as others see them and as God knows them to be. It is not the cry of a disgruntled soul, but the constructive whisper of another preacher who has grown as these words were penned. The preparation of these pages has been the most constructive and personal, soul-searching experience the writer has ever had. An honest uncovering of the soul can be one of the most profitable experiences a minister can have in life.

The problems and sins of all people resolve themselves into three basic relationships: one’s relationship to self, one’s relationship to God, one’s relationship to others. The fundamental issues involved in these pages have to do with this threefold relationship of preachers. Since these relationships are common experiences for all human beings, perhaps many people, other than preachers, may receive help and light from these pages as they face their own sins and mistakes. Thus this work may be of service and help to many beyond the ministerial realm, particularly those whose work consists largely in dealing with others.

Great care has been exercised in making the incidents and experiences related in these pages true to life experiences. The borrowed experiences, incidents, and observations of real-life situations, even though second-hand, are nonetheless real. It is a look at life as it is lived, not a product of the imagination of any man or men. Since the writer has committed many of the sins and blunders recorded in these pages, and since many of them have been observed at random in the ministry of others, any resemblance to a particular person or persons, living or dead, is purely unintentional.

Even with all their mistakes and blunders God’s ministers remain the most noble group of men in human society today. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). Therefore we conclude that God will remove all guilt from the record of his men if they will follow his pattern of forgiveness.

This little volume is sent forth with an earnest prayer that God may use it to help other preachers, even as the preparation of it has helped the writer.

Adolph Bedsole

1—The Young Preacher

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence (I Cor. 1:26-29).

Paul must have had young preachers in focus when these words were written. God must have prepared Paul’s heart for these words as Paul observed some of the behavior and antics of the young preachers of his day.

The Kingdom of our Lord often suffers tragic and heartbreaking labor-pains as a young preacher is being brought forth. In his infinite wisdom and economy of all things, God patiently provided for the young preacher period in the ministry. Most of us now in the ministry, like teenagers, went up fool’s hill before we could settle down to effective service. Which of you didn’t gloat to yourself when you skinned ‘em alive? Did you not tell yourself that you were destined to become the greatest preacher of your generation? Remember the heartache you experienced because the members of your congregation just couldn’t seem to recognize and appreciate the treasure they had in you? Which of you has not sadly whispered to yourself, The church will never recognize what they have in me until I’m gone, and then it will be too late for them? Search your memory and see if you can recall your courageous announcement that you would preach under a brush arbor, rather than compromise with sin. Have you ever writhed in torment and agony over church trouble created by you because the people would not endure the sound doctrine of your preaching? Which of you never felt that you were wasting your talents and abilities in such a small pastorate? Did you ever wonder how the big churches could be so careless as to overlook you when they were looking for a new pastor? Which of you never had more zeal than good sense? Which of you never showed more brass than brains? Which of you never shed a few secret tears as you dreamed of the sad day to come when you would have to break the hearts of your people as you read to them your resignation? Incidentally, resignation-day tears in your congregation may be tears of joy and triumph, disguised! Yes, most of us were once young preachers and, judging by our behavior, some of us are still a bit young!

The ministerial pathway is beset with many hidden pitfalls for young preachers. Any minister would be wise to recognize these pitfalls, mark them, carve a pathway around them, and chart a course for his ministerial life that would deliver him from their snares. Since the minister must live in a glass house, not even his most secret pitfall can be hidden from the all-seeing eyes of curious members of his congregation. They are there. Why not face them and do something about them? May we look together, and honestly, at a few of these pitfalls?

1. One of the greatest danger-points for a young preacher is to have an unduly exalted opinion of himself. Like any other human being, a young preacher may feel that he is the most important person in the world. This exalted opinion may be formed and fed by commendations from members of a congregation who commend the young preacher, not for what he already is, but for what they earnestly hope and pray he may yet become if grace abounds and the church can endure.

A young preacher’s sermon is his apple pie, and he sometimes wonders how his church was able to survive before he came to preach such wonderful sermons. He wonders how other churches have such large congregations without the benefit of his type of preaching.

Many a young preacher has an unduly exalted opinion of himself relative to his own ideas. His ideas become the acme of all things. Anything which conflicts with, contradicts, or refutes his idea is definitely inferior. Be it science, conventions, scholars, or older preachers, those who do not accept his ideas are discredited. Be the question theological, intellectual, historical, sociological, or psychological, some young preachers always have the answers. Such a man usually feels that he is at least a generation ahead of his time. His congregation would thank the Lord to transplant him to another generation. Young preachers are too often identified largely by their ability to bray and kick. They bray over their own ideas and kick the other man’s ideas. Frequently they wind up braying to empty pews and kicking imaginary foes.

Another unduly exalted opinion of himself is revealed in a young preacher who is obviously proud of his courage and sound doctrine. He delights to be daring in the pulpit. He relishes the opportunity to propound his own pet dogmas and calls it preaching sound doctrine, when the only sound thing about it may be the sound. A few compliments about their fearlessness in their preaching has ruined too many young preachers. When a man blasts away against sin from the pulpit and then publicly embarrasses members of his congregation by impersonating them, and then some sleeping deacon tells him that he is preaching the kind of sound doctrine that church has needed for years, it is like saying sic ‘em to a bulldog. One does not have to be calloused to be courageous, nor does one have to be brutal to be sound. Sound doctrine is one thing; sounding brass is another. It would be a healthy thing for some young preachers if it were a violation of the law for them to be complimented on their accomplishments for the first five years in the pastorate! Maybe!

2. A second pitfall for a young preacher is the assumption of a disparaging attitude toward other preachers. It is a common sin among preachers to disparage their predecessors in the pastorate. Either directly or by implication, many preachers discredit the former pastor by magnifying the progress, growth, and improvements since I came. Another common weapon of disparagement is the habit of blueprinting the weakness and faults of the church when I came. Retired ministers in the congregation may also come in for their share of scourging at the hands of a young pastor who loves not his brethren of the ministry.

Veteran deacons and older church members, who have weathered the storms of the ages and have been found faithful, frequently become the victims of disparagement. Conservative ideas and cautious minds are sometimes subjected to the fiery wrath of the young preacher from the pulpit. He forgets that extremely liberal ideas and plans are just as dangerous as extremely conservative ideas and plans. Both elements in a church may serve as a natural check on each other and bring us back to the truth of God’s Word. The wise pastor will shepherd both elements to work in harmony on the adopted program. Every man has a right to have his own ideas, and he has a right to be heard courteously. Disparagement is a sinister weapon for a minister to use on members of his congregation. Here, too, the man in the pulpit must reap what he sows.

College and seminary professors are, in their absence, frequently and unnecessarily subjected to a barrage of criticism and disparagement by young preachers not yet dry behind the ears. They remind one of a puppy barking at an elephant. It is agreed that not all college and seminary professors are sound, but why shout where it doesn’t count or do any good? It is strange how wise and courageous some young preachers become as soon as they are away from the class or from the professor. A really wise and courageous preacher would give the professor and his classmates the benefit of his wisdom and oratory where it counts, in class, not in an isolated pulpit or ten years after graduation.

3. Many young preachers are snared into pitfalls when they allow themselves to become tools for glory-seeking oldsters. Yes, since the world has already discovered the fact, we may as well confess that there are such preachers! It just so happens that some of our denominational bodies are infested by a few older ministers who have aspirations to hold positions of power and honor in the denomination. Did you ever see a picture of a big-bellied African king being fanned by a swarm of half-naked natives, who reverently