Benard Ooko Kagaga
Jeremiah was disappointed by the departure of the people of Israel and he wanted to quit being a prophet of God (Jer. 9:1-3) but for the word of God that was in him, he proved not to quit (Jer. 20:9). I have been asked by many folks if I ever thought of quitting preaching and getting to a more stable line of work. But those who asked this do not know what preaching is. It is the more stable and noblest work, for the Son of God was a preacher.
I know the life of a preacher of God’s word is difficult and fraught with an extraordinary amount of stress (2 Tim. 3:12). But what kept Jeremiah going is what keeps me going. I know if I stop using my preaching talent, my soul would be lost (1 Cor. 9:1; 2 Cor. 5:10-11). Preachers do not quit! And let us encourage brothers not to quit preaching or quit the Lord’s church, for they must understand they will be lost without the Lord in their lives (Eph. 2:1-3, 11, 12). All who have reached the age of accountability during the Christian age and are not members of the Lord’s church are sinners (Rom. 3:23) in the eyes of God. If we do not have Christ in our lives our destination will be Hell (Rom. 6:23a). But if we obey the gospel of Christ and become members of the church of Christ, we are brought back to life (Eph. 2:4-6) and have hope for an eternal home in Heaven (Heb. 6:19).
The tragedy of quitting preaching and the Lord’s church is very harmful, for quitting the church means quitting the Lord (Eph. 1:22-23). Outside the church there is no hope of Salvation (Heb. 6:46). To quit the church is to quit the blood bought church of Christ and it is negating the value of Christ’s blood (Acts 20:28; Rev. 1:5).
Christians must understand that while others may disappoint them, Jesus never will. It is true some have been led away from Christ by poor examples of some Christians (2 Tim. 4:9-11), but this should not be the reason for men to quit preaching and the Lord’s church, for men are not our standard. Jesus will never let us down (Heb. 13:5b). The world will forsake us but the Lord will never (Psa. 142:4-7). Take Paul’s statements to the saints to “set your [Christians] affection on things above…” (Col. 3:2).
Do not quit preachers, do not quit, Christians. Quitting means rejecting Christ and His judgmental words (Jn. 12:48), rejecting the value of Christ’s blood (Matt. 26:28; Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:7; 1 John. 1:7), cutting off your fellowship with Christ and God the Father (2 Jn. 9-10). Remain in Christ (Gal. 3:26-28) and have eternal hope for the heavenly home (2 Cor. 5:1-2). Preach the word! (2 Tim. 4:2).
