Sober

May 23

Sober
sōphrōn

Not only must a pastor have the ability to teach, but he must also be sober (1Ti_3:2). The Greek sōphrōn (G4998) means “serious or prudent.” It (and other forms) appear some sixteen times in the NT and are directed at several types of Christians: older women who are to teach the younger women (Tit_2:5); all Christian women (1Ti_2:9); aged men (Tit_2:2); younger men (Tit_2:6); and all Christians (Tit_2:12).

Two instances, however, are of special note, for they are aimed specifically at the pastor (1Ti_3:2; Tit_1:8). The sober pastor is serious about spiritual things. That doesn’t mean he’s cold and humorless, but neither does it mean that it’s joke time in the pulpit. The sober man knows the seriousness of the ministry and views the world through God’s eyes.

What does this say, then, about the “Christian comedians” who characterize “preaching” today? One such man I heard admitted that he went to Bible college to become a minister but turned to comedy.

I do not wish to be ungracious, but that is disgraceful and impossible to justify biblically. May we add, the argument that says, “Well, if you keep people laughing, you can get your point across,” is worldly nonsense. Truly spiritual people will desire spiritual truth. I certainly don’t mind the occasional humorous comment or illustration, and use them on occasion myself, but “stand-up comedy” has no place anywhere near the pulpit.

We are dealing with holy, sacred things, and we had better treat them as such. That is what God demands. So-called Christian comedy is one of the most serious errors of our day and, quite frankly, flirts with blasphemy.

Pastor and author Alan Redpath, who joined our Lord in glory in 1989, wrote: “God is trying to tell us that our current popular version of Christianity- comfortable, humorous, superficial, entertaining, worldly-wise-is exposed for the irreverent presentation of the Gospel of Christ that it really is.

A preacher is commissioned to give people not what they want but what they need. No man has any business walking into the pulpit to entertain. He is there to present Calvary in all it fullness of hope and glory.”

Let us all be encouraged that the Gospel and all spiritual matters are serious issues, not to be trifled with or made into jokes.

Scriptures for Study: Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Do you find even the slightest hint of joke telling or other entertainment in our Lord’s preaching?

 
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