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 John
Wycliff (1324-1384) may be called the second father of preaching
as Restoration preachers knew it. He did much to revive respect
for the Bible, and advocated the right of the individual to
study, learn, and teach others, without benefit (?) of church
"calling" or "sending."
Apparently
he was "turned off" of the official "clergy"
position by the immoralities and excesses observable among the
priests of his day. What he says about the life of the priest
may, therefore, be fairly interpreted as the way he felt the
"preacher's life" should be. In our day of
professionalism, and "clergy position" (whether we
call it that or not) his words are again highly provocative.
Will we let the 14th century Reformer's words take us
back to 1st. century truth?
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"If
thou art a priest, and by name a curate, live thou a holy life.
Pass other men in holy prayer, holy desire; and holy speaking;
in counseling and teaching the truth. Ever keep the commandments
of God, and let his gospel and his praises be ever in thy mouth.
Ever despise sin, that men may be drawn there from, and that thy
deeds may be so far rightful, that no man shall blame them with
reason.
Let
thy open life be thus a true book, in which the soldier and the
layman may learn how to serve God and keep his commandments. For
the example of a good life, if it be open and continued,
striketh rude men much more than open preaching with the word
alone. And waste not thy goods in great feasts for rich men, but
live a frugal life on poor men's alms and goods. Have both meat,
and drink, and clothing, but the
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remnant give truly to the poor; to
those who have freely wrought, but who now may not labour from
feebleness and sickness; and thus shalt thou be a true priest
both to God and to man." From "Lives of the
Reformers," Presbyterian Board of Publications; 1844; p.
15.)
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By
no means compared nor equated, but to "fill space"
with something of like nature; here is a "note" one
preacher wrote to himself in 1949.
"I
must preach to save souls. To do this, I must convince people
they are lost, cause them to desire to be saved, and tell them
of Christ, the Way. I must make Christians of them.
But
many believe they are Christians who are riot. Therefore I must
expose false Christianity. The denominational, sectarian spirit
must be replaced with desire for unity in Christ. Popular
concepts of many (or just any) faiths, baptisms, etc., must be
replaced by the truth of ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, etc.
And
Christian principles of love, mercy, honesty, etc., must be
instilled in their minds — by precept and example. I must
practice these truths myself. I must be unafraid."
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Preacher,
try writing yourself a note of pledge, dedication and purpose.
But let me warn you, it can be very embarrassing when you find
and read it, thirty years from now.
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