Views: 8<\/p>
[Note: <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 2<\/strong> page.]<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n God’s preachers are in prison yet,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0But unlike Paul of old;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The bars and chains God’s preachers get<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Today, are manifold.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Paul’s habitat was likely cold<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In Rome, his dungeon crude.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But brethren now, God’s preachers hold\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In chains of attitude.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cJust preach the Bible,\u201d is the wail,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLeave everyone alone!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But if this theme becomes their\u00a0jail,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The seed will scarce be sown.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDo not condemn,\u201d the cry is heard,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe like commending better!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But such confines the Spirit\u2019s Word.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And binds it with a fetter.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Their charge demands they preach the Truth,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 With plain and mighty power.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And yet this\u00a0work behind their booth<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Becomes the critic\u2019s hour.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBe positive,\u201d they say with force,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t name specific sin.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n You might in someone stir remorse;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He might not come again!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The preachers of our day are cursed<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 By two extremes of thought:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDo all the work,\u201d or what is worse,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWho cares if you do nought?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Thus held in bondage by their lords,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Or by their nonchalance hobbled,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They rarely opt for any course<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But what by some they’re gobbled.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n God\u2019s preachers oft\u00a0must realize<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0(A widely\u00a0known\u00a0admittance),<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n That they will struggle money-wise,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For many receive but a pittance.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Yet they’re expected to entertain<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And dress to the highest status,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n While brethren\u00a0make it plain<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That their income is but \u201cfree gratis.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes they’re prisoners of the view,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0“Your work is\u00a0just to visit.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Such thinking,\u00a0by many or few,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Should be met by asking, \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They’re work is to preach and proclaim God\u2019s plan<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To those who know not salvation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They could spend all their time with cup in hand,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But \u2018twould be to their own condemnation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Though the bars are not iron\u00a0and the walls not stone,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nonetheless are these cell blocks real.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Because they exist, preachers oft feel alone,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And thus unto to God they will steal.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They\u00a0pray\u00a0for bigger and more mature men,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Who can in His church fill their place,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n So that their hands, unfettered again,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 May preach to a perishing race.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Dear brethren, God\u2019s preachers deserve\u00a0to be free<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 From any bonds men may have set.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Release them, don\u2019t jail them, and thus guilty be<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Of a sin with eternal regret.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n If preachers were freed, yet free they’d not be;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 From experience, I know this is true.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But bound by obsession that knows no degree,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They must preach till their work here is through.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [Note: <\/strong>I wrote these lines in 1963, at the age of 25, after reflecting on several of Paul’s statements in his final letter (2 Tim.) from the cell of his second Roman imprisonment. At the time, my family and I lived in Tuscaloosa, AL, where I was then preaching.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution: <\/strong>From TheScripturecache.com<\/em>, owned and administered by Dub McClish.<\/span><\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 8[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 2 page.] God’s preachers are in prison yet, \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0But unlike Paul of old; The bars and chains God’s preachers get \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Today, are manifold. Paul’s habitat was likely…<\/p>\n