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.

The Pastor in Profile

The Pastor in Profile is one of my favorite books in my ministry library. Part of what makes it special to me is that it was written by a former pastor of my former church. When Adolph Bedsole became the pastor of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Panama City, they had never had a pastor stay longer than two years. He stayed for thirty six.

I became pastor twenty five years after he retired. But his fingerprints remained all over the church and throughout the community. In many ways my job was easier because I followed in his gracious footsteps. Quiet conversations with Bro. Bedsole in my office and in his home were some of the treasures of that season of ministry. I was humbled to be asked to have a part in his funeral.

But the book has more than sentimental value. Published in 1962, it remains full of wonderful, practical wisdom that has held up over the passage of time.

Here are some warnings he gives to young preachers in the opening chapter.

1. Be careful not to have an unduly exalted opinion of yourself.
2. Avoid the assumption of disparaging attitude to other preachers.
3. Don't allow yourself to become a tool of glory seeking "oldsters".
4. Do not look for conflict just to make a point.
5. Beware the desire to "clean out the church."
6. Refrain from the temptation of making dogmatic pronouncements.
7. Guard against become a copycat preacher.
8. Don't swayed by every wind of doctrine.

Examining my own heart as I reread this list has convinced me that I must still be a young preacher.

Next week, I will share highlights from one of my favorite chapters from the book -- Jezebel and Judas on the Trail of the Preacher!