Jezebel and Judas On the Trail of the Preacher

Few names carry darker overtones than Jezebel and Judas. One was the epitome of sinister and ruthless evil. The other history's most despicable traitor.

So when Adolph Bedsole in his book The Pastor in Profile turns his attention to the fact that pastors often have to deal with folks who seem to be at least second cousins to this pair, the reader is tempted to sit back and relax while the boom is lowered on these ne'er do wells who so often hinder our ministries.

Reader beware! Bedsole's conclusion is that every pastor needs a Judas and Jezebel on his trail. It is his perspective that these difficult people keep us on our toes, require us to stay sharp, grow our humility, challenge us to stay pure and push us to our knees.

Having pastored Bedsole's church a few decades after his retirement I heard many of the stories of the Judas and Jezebels of his ministry....and even met a few myself.

His advice continues to ring true today --

1. Watch your step.

2. Leave disciple to the church.

3. Learn how to take it.

4. Keep your own soul.

5. Stay off the defensive.

6. Stay after the lost.

Don't be tripped up by difficult people in your ministry. If I may add my own observation, Elijah's and Jesus' ministry would have been smaller not greater without these two.