LATE NOTE: We ended up expanding this issue to two editions. Watch for the rest of the articles next month!
If you want to avoid criticism, don’t preach; instead, sell ice cream—you will only receive praise in that profession. But since you are reading this article, I assume you are a preacher. And since you are a preacher, I know you have been criticized. It is fundamental to the work you do. You have heard it all before: The sermon was too long. Your eulogy was impersonal. You preach too often from the Old Testament. You don’t preach enough from the Old Testament. And so on. Jerrie Barber, who has preached for over 60 years and openly admits he enjoys criticism, used to take one Sunday night a year after worship to ask the church for ideas/complaints/whatever. He prefaced those nights by stating that he would make two promises: (1) he would write down everything that was said and (2) he would think about it. He did not guarantee he would comply with every request. One night a man raised his hand and said that Jerrie should not preach more than 22 minutes, because that is the length of a TV sitcom without commercials; therefore, that is the length of a modern American’s attention span. So, Jerrie wrote that down. Another man raised his hand and said that if Jerrie was only going to preach for 22 minutes, he wasn’t going to drive 40 minutes to go to that church—it wasn’t worth his time. So, Jerrie wrote that down. Many times as a preacher, you will face contradictory criticisms. Jesus Christ was a preacher—and He was criticized often. The scribes and Pharisees made a hobby of criticizing Jesus. They said He was working for Beelzebub (Matt. 12:24).
They questioned His commitment to Jewish heritage (Matt. 15:2). They tried to paint Him into tight theological corners (Matt. 19:3). Jesus was always preaching, serving, encouraging, and healing. He was sinless. Yet, the Pharisees and others never stopped criticizing Him. If a sinless Jesus was criticized, all the sinful preachers who have ever lived can also be criticized. If we are going to “finish the course and keep the faith,” we must preach through criticism. After all, our Lord and Savior preached through criticism. We would do well to handle criticism the way He did.
First, if possible, don’t respond. Many criticizers are not looking for a debate; they are looking for an outlet. They just want you to hear them. The disciples once told Jesus that the Pharisees were going to be mad if they heard what Jesus said about their faithfulness to the law. Jesus’ response was, “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind” (Matt. 15:12-14). Ira North (1922-1984), the famous Madison, TN preacher who often faced criticism for just being Ira North, once received a lengthy letter from a disgruntled member. Instead of responding with a pointby-point rebuttal, his only reply was, “You
might be right.” No fight. No wasted time. No resentment. Just “I hear you.” Second, categorize the criticism. Criticism is usually either malicious, constructive, or misguided. Malicious criticism comes from a jealous heart. It is personal and petty. It is designed to hurt you. It is designed to bring out the worst within you. As the old saw goes, “If you wrestle with pigs, you’ll get dirty, but they will love it.” Never accept malicious criticism. Jesus did not believe He was a “gluttonous man and a drunkard” (Matt. 11:19) just because someone said He was.
Constructive criticism, however, is useful.
Their children are rebelling. Life is not good.
Proverbs 12:1 states: “Whoever loves discipline
And there you are. If you make one false move,
loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is
they’ll pounce. They are not mad at you; they are
stupid.” Only a prideful heart rejects constructive
just taking out their anxiety on you. Be
criticism. Contrary to what your mother and your
compassionate with the misguided criticizers.
dog think, you are not a perfect preacher. You
Jesus knew that most people sin out of
have blind spots. Most of the members of your
ignorance. They are simply misguided. So, on the
congregation love you and want you to succeed. At
cross, He said, “Father, forgive them; for they do
times, they will shine a light on those blind spots.
not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Welcome the help. Listen. It will improve your
The only way to preach through the criticisms we
ministry.
face as preachers is to follow James’ Guide To
Finally, there is misguided criticism. You
Responding To Criticism: “But everyone must be
have heard the phrase, “Hurt people hurt people.”
quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
Some people will emotionally limp into the
for the anger of man does not achieve the
building on Sunday morning. They will be running
righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).
on fumes. Their boss is unreasonable.
There are many wonderful adventures in the ministry. There are blessings that are beyond description and there are also many dangers. Some of which we cannot survive. One of the most dangerous is living through a church fight. Many people are lost. Some preachers end their careers in the canyon of
Crete. As you read this letter you will
church conflict.
notice Paul is describing the
Outside persecution seems easy compared
preachers job description. The
to conflict in the fellowship. We expect
preachers place, what he will face,
more from our family and the wounds we
and what his actions must be. What
receive seem so much deeper. The hostility
he must and must not do.
feeds its self. You may be the only one of
This letter is only two pages
leadership that is not completely involved in
long; you could carry it in your shirt
the war. Sometimes the congregation closes
pocket. I have listed a few of Paul’s
its doors.
commands.
What do you do if you are God’s man at such an awful time? The Apostle Paul wrote instructions to the young preacher Titus on the island of
1.
“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put
what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you” (Titus 1:5). Titus’ job is to repair the shortcomings that he found and appoint good leaders, elders. Most people will follow the leaders they have. Good leaders lead them to God. Bad leaders lead them away from God. 2.
“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put
what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you” (Titus 1:9). God’s man must know and really believe God’s word. You can’t teach what you don’t know, any more than you can come back from where you haven’t been. 3.
“To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and
unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work” (Titus 1:15-16). Not all leaders are pure in heart. Some pretend to be pure. God’s man must know the difference. Never, never side with evil. 4.
“But as for you, teach what accords with sound
doctrine” (Titus 2:1). There will often be leaders who are evil. But not you. You are God’s man. You teach God’s word. Remember, “as for you”. 5.
“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good
works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity” (Titus 2:7). What you do must be consistent with what you teach. You live God’s word as well as teach it. Stay on solid ground, as close as possible with the word of God. No more, no less.
6.
“Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” (Titus 2:12). A sermon to be a sermon must have a call for action. You not only show the way to God you call on people to follow the word of God. 7.
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to
be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another” (Titus 3:1-3). Preaching is a process of repeating the truth of God in sermons and in our conduct. We not only know the word we live it. We are not lazy or rude or crude or angry. When our walk and our talk are the same, we become powerful ambassadors for God. 8.
“The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these
things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned” (Titus 3:8-11). We must be bold. Your mouth may be dry but you speak His words. Remember bold is not rude. Ask yourself often, “What do I really want to happen here? Do I want to win this argument or do I want him to be in fellowship with God?” 9.
“But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and
quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless” (Titus 3:9). That means some fights are not worth having. Some arguments are stupid. If you have a man that just likes to fight, warn him a couple of times then if he does not change have nothing to do with him. This is important. He has nothing you need.
Remember who you are. You are God’s man. In Revelation 3:7-8 the church in Philadelphia in is told that Jesus opens doors and closes doors. “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Revelation 3:7-8). When God opens a door it would be faithless to refuse to go through it. And when God closes a door it would be foolish to stand there beating on it. Now I would like to close with a few suggestions. Notice this is an old preachers’ advice to you. If you are in a church conflict and you are a man of God:
1.
Clean up your conduct. Don’t be
sloppy. Do your job. Give your full time to your work. The number of hours you work may have nothing to do with the conflict but bad people will use whatever they can to win. The Lone Ranger never threw dirt in any one’s eyes but the bad guy always did. Don’t supply with the dirt to throw. 2.
See to your appearance. Dress well,
your hair cut. This is not the Bible here but it is true. Ties beat shirts. Suits beat ties. 3.
Never, never whine. You are God’s
man. You are doing his work. If you have to suffer so be it. 4.
Keep confidences. Never ever gossip.
You want and need people to trust you.
5.
Find some godly wise
people to shepherd you.
spanking session. Point to the Word. Point to Jesus. Point to
Many times your elders are
the Gospel. Point to the open
part of the problem.
door that Jesus has opened for
Whatever the outcome of
them and you will feel better
this conflict you want to be saved. Still be God’s man. 6.
Don’t ever skimp on
yourself. 8.
Get a small voice
activated recorder. Keep it with you. You many need to prove
your sermons. The few
what was actually said and you
moments you have in
will be more careful what you
sermons and classes are
say.
often the only time you give the church a word from God. No reruns, be
9.
As big as the conflict may
be, don’t’ let it consume your family, children, marriage or spiritual life. You owe more to
prepared. Be sure your
Jesus, wife, and children than to
sermon is “Gospel” good
any congregation.
news. Even if it is about
Survival is not only possible but
hell, remind them that God does not want them there. 7.
Sometimes you must
speak about the problem. Even this this is not a
there could be great benefits that come to those who go through the valley of the shadow. You will probably be limping but you will still be walking with Jesus.
Whether a preacher moves frequently or has a lengthy tenure with one church, times of transition are inevitable. Sometimes this change comes when a preacher decides it is time to switch careers or retire. Whatever the case may be, the time always comes when a minister and his family leave a congregation. The decision will be made either by him or the church’s leadership, but it will be made sooner or later. Therefore, the important question is, how will a minister handle these adjustments? This article will attempt to offer some practical principles for preaching through these intervals. The first principle is perhaps the most important. Remember, the welfare of the congregation must come first. As a rule, preachers come and go, but the local church remains. Smooth transitions are always in the best interest of the body of Christ. Over fifty years ago, in a class called, “The Preacher and His Work”, the teacher said, “Men, you should always be the first one to know when it’s time to make a change.”
A real follower of Jesus will desire to leave the congregation in a healthy state of peacefulness rather than unrest and strife. Paul’s charge to “preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” ought to be a biblical guidepost for ministers leaving a church. In most cases, there is a period of several weeks between the time a minister announces his resignation or retirement and the time he leaves. To spend those weeks airing grievances with the church members is highly unethical and inappropriate. In their book, Ministerial Ethics, Joe E. Trull and James E. Carter wrote, “The last days should be spent in an effort to make an orderly exit and to clear the way for ongoing ministry.” It is imperative that a minister put the health of the church above his own personal feelings. Does one want to be remembered as the preacher who left gracefully or the one who caused trouble on the way out the door? When the time comes to depart, leave in such a way that the church would have no reluctance inviting you back as a guest speaker.
Another principle is equally important. The preacher should remember that he is a servant of Christ. While ministers are employed by churches, they ultimately serve God. The responsibility to preach the Word does not automatically end at a certain age. Unfortunately, it is true that the “bigger” churches will not hire a man who has passed a certain age. Thankfully, that does not mean that his preaching days are over. This author’s father-in-law faithfully preached until he was nearly ninety years old. For the last twenty years of his career, he labored with a smaller rural congregation. During his tenure there the church grew; a number of adults in the community were baptized. Two days after he preached his last sermon, he baptized an elderly man he had known since childhood. Opportunities may not be the same after one reaches a certain age, but they will still come. That calls for some honest self-evaluation. One must ask, “Am I willing to serve the Lord in different ways than I did in the past?” Can a preacher accept his changed circumstances without bitterness and resentment? If so, he will continue to be a useful servant.
A third principle is that ministers in transition need to actively seek opportunities to serve. Be open to preaching in interim ministry positions. Let churches know that you are available to preach for “fill-in” appointments. Be willing to work for small churches that cannot afford to hire a “full time” preacher. If employment does not immediately come your way, identify with a local congregation and become involved in their work. There is a place for you in the teaching ministry of a congregation. Let it be known to the elders that you are willing and able to work in personal evangelism. If the congregation does a mission trip, become a part of the team and use your talents in that important work.
Times of change, including retirement, do not imply that the preacher’s time as a useful servant of God is over. MerriamWebster defines transition as, “a change or shift from one state, subject, place, etc. to another.” It is significant that this definition does not include the words “end” or “finished.” Its focus is on change. Transition clearly closes the door to various stages in our lives. Fortunately, as one chapter closes, another begins. How well a preacher handles the next phase of life depends on him. If ministers approach this adjustment with humility and flexibility, the new stage of life may be even more inspiring than the previous one. If one truly wants to preach Christ, look forward to what exciting opportunities God places in your path.
You may have been so nervous, that you were sure, as my dad used to say that the first three rows of people could hear your knees knocking, or like me - I fainted the second time I preached (I like to joke that I was so boring I fell asleep on my own sermon)! You may have been so excited you could barely get your words out. But for most of us, years of ensuing criticisms, snide remarks, and impugned motives tend to drain any cocksureness or over-confidence. In fact a 2023 Barna study found that 64% of preachers experience feelings of inadequacy. And our studies show that an awful lot of our preachers deal with doubt. Not doubt over God, the Bible, the church, but over their own abilities and ability to do the work well. Self-doubt. Doubt brought on by experience, personal knowledge, and comparing ourselves with others. Selfdoubt doesn't always come from failure. Sometimes it comes from taking the responsibility of preaching seriously. For the longest time, I thought that I was the only one that struggled with these feelings of inadequacy. But perhaps that's why James says we're to confess these weaknesses to each other so that we can be empathetic with each other and help each other (James 5:16). Both the language and the context in James is about sin and confession. The Greek word the KJV translates "sins" is "paraptomata," which means trespasses or moral failings. But the application stands. We're talking about the kind of honesty and vulnerability that James is encouraging. Christians being real with each other instead of pretending that they've got everything together. Preachers can be some of the worst at this. Galatians 6:2, connects here as well "bearing one another's burdens." Both the language and the context in James is about sin and confession. The Greek word the KJV translates "sins" is "paraptomata," which means trespasses or moral failings. But the application stands. We're talking about the kind of honesty and vulnerability that James is encouraging. Christians being real with each other instead of pretending that they've got everything together. Preachers can be some of the worst at this. Galatians 6:2, connects here as well "bearing one another's burdens."
We all do better in an environment where Christians feel safe to share their sins and their struggles, paired with prayer rather than any kind of judgment. Some of us struggle with self-doubt more acutely than others. In my early preaching I often used lessons from others. Some would cry "plagiarism," and they would be right but my counter plea would be that I never maliciously stole a sermon. NO, I just believed everyone I read or heard was smarter and did better than I could! How many preachers quietly wonder whether they're good enough to do what they're doing? It is my sincere and humble prayer that what follows might speak to your heart. Self-doubt focuses on what I know about myself. Faith remembers what God knows about me, and what He can do through me. My goal is not to convince you that you're more talented, more intelligent, or more capable than you think you are. But to remind all of us that God's ability to use us is not limited to our personal assessments. For me, personally, that has become a much better message than simply looking in the mirror and telling myself "I'm good enough." Because if this was about my goodness, effectiveness, cleverness, creativity, ability...I know I am not! It is not my goal to eliminate selfdoubt in this short missive, some self-doubt is actually healthy. It's arrogance that says, "I've got this." It's humility that says, "Lord, I need You. Use me. We can do this together with your help!" When God tried to use Moses, he had an answer for everything (Exodus 3-4): - Who am I? - What if they won't believe me? - I'm not eloquent. - Please send somebody else. But notice God's response: "I will be with thee" (Exodus 3:12). God didn't spend much time convincing Moses how wonderful Moses was. He reminded Moses who was sending him. There's a difference between the humility that makes us dependent on God and the self-doubt that makes us hesitant to serve Him. But with every doubt He hears us and "He remembers that we are dust" (Psalms 103:14).
I know how gifted other preachers are. He knows He doesn't need another version of them and how He can use me. I know my past. He knows it too, and He still brings imperfect people into His service. I know my present. He knows my future! I know my limitations. He knows how His strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9. I know my inabilities. He knows them too. And He knows what He can accomplish through someone who depends on Him. I know what I'm facing right now. He supplies what I need for today's work and the grace to receive it. I know my limits.He knows my limits, He knows and won't put more on me of expectations than I can do (1 Corinthians 10:13). I know I'm my limitations. He knows He never intended me to do it without Him. I know I'm not the smartest person in the room. He knows His truth doesn't require intellectual showmanship (1 Corinthians 2:1–5). Yes, I know my past. I know my weaknesses. I know how much better some other preachers are. I know the sermons that didn't work, the opportunities I missed, the mistakes I've made, and the limitations I live with.
I know. I know. I know. But He knows. He knows every one of those things. He knows me better than I know myself. And somehow, in His wisdom and grace, He has allowed me to preach His Word. You don’t have to be adequate for every challenge. You need to be faithful with what God has entrusted to you. The question isn't whether I know enough about myself to doubt. The question is whether I trust enough in Him to keep preaching. I know. I know. I know. But HE knows. HE knows. HE knows. And, with Him, you got this! "My strength is made perfect in weakness”
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
I am a minister. I preach the gospel, teach the
Stephanie and I have adjusted. Laney has
Bible, encourage families, visit the hurting, and
adjusted. Tyler has had to navigate expectations
help people find their way to Jesus. I love that
and situations that are not always easy for him.
work. But before I am a minister to a congregation, I am a husband and a dad. That truth shapes how I serve—and how I understand the life God has given us. Our family includes my wife, Stephanie; our 18-year-old daughter, Laney; our 12-year-old
Laney has adjusted. Tyler has had to navigate expectations and situations that are not always easy for him. Our plans have changed along the way. So have some of our expectations. We are learning to make room for what our family needs.
son, Tyler; and me. Tyler is on the autism
There was a time when we tried to shield
spectrum. We have learned that when one
Tyler from people. If I am honest, sometimes we
member of a family has special needs, the entire
were shielding ourselves too. We worried about
family walks that journey.
reactions, misunderstandings, and what someone
Autism affects our schedules, vacations,
might think when Tyler responded differently
friendships, marriage, parenting, and ministry.
than they expected. Too often, we found ourselves
Sometimes it affects where we sit, how long we
apologizing.
stay, or whether we can participate at all.
Eventually, we began to understand
There have been moments when others were less
something that changed our perspective: We
patient or understanding than we hoped. But
didn’t need to apologize for Tyler. We needed to
there have also been blessings that have deepened
understand Tyler.
our love and changed the way we see people.
Instead of asking, “What are people
Tyler is our son—a person with his own
thinking about us?” we needed to ask, “What is
personality, feelings, needs, and joys. As we have
Tyler experiencing right now?” We needed to look
grown in understanding him, we have learned
beyond the behavior and consider what he might
lessons about compassion and unconditional love
be struggling to communicate.
that no classroom could have taught us.
That shift did not make every situation
Those lessons follow me into ministry. They
easy. It helped us respond with greater patience
remind me that the person sitting in a pew carries
and compassion.
more than I can see. A family’s absence may have
There have been tears, frustration,
a story behind it. An unexpected response may call
exhaustion, and questions without easy answers.
for understanding before correction. People need
us to listen before we assume. Preaching God’s Word remains important. Serving the church matters. Bringing souls to Christ has eternal significance. Yet caring for my family is also part of my responsibility to God. My wife and children need more than whatever energy remains after everyone else has received my attention. My ministry begins at home, and what I learn there shapes how I serve everywhere else. I suspect more ministry families walk this road than we realize. A minister may prepare a sermon while coordinating therapy appointments. He may counsel parents while privately carrying questions about his own child’s
future. He may stand before a congregation offering encouragement while needing some himself. If that describes your life, you are not alone. Loving your family faithfully is meaningful service to God. A difficult week does not erase the good you are doing. Congregations can help by making room for families as they are. Patience, a kind word, flexibility, and a willingness to listen can make a tremendous difference. Families need to know that their children belong, even when participation looks different. Stephanie and I do not have everything figured out. We are working to provide Tyler with the resources, support, and help he needs. Some days are better than others. We keep learning. I share our story to affirm families whose lives may look much like ours. There is good, there is hard, and there are blessings we never expected to receive.
Tyler is not a problem God gave us to solve. He is our son. He is a soul God has entrusted to us to love. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14, ESV). Those words remind me to make sure my response helps a child feel welcomed and loved. Our greatest hope for Tyler is the same hope I preach to others: Jesus Christ.
There are things about his future we cannot know and circumstances we cannot control. But God knows Tyler completely, loves him completely, and will always judge him perfectly. So we keep preaching. We keep serving. We keep learning and adjusting. Above all, we keep loving. This is the life God has given us, and we want to live it faithfully—together.
These are some of the many dangers in the job of ministry, but the number one struggle preachers face is the feeling of isolation. Hardship plus isolation will create damage to the preacher and his congregation. Careers such as medical work, police work, and even finance have greater levels of stress than the work of preaching. But what makes preaching more dangerous spiritually is the sense of isolation or the feeling there is no one to turn to when you are overwhelmed. It is reasonable to be stressed in your work as a preacher. Some elders hold unrealistic expectations of what preachers should be producing. An older preacher told me years ago “Always remember as a preacher you are only two angry deacons away from being fired.”
Most preachers know they need relationship. They know they need a place to be open about their struggles, but they are also painfully aware voicing their struggles to the wrong person could cost them their jobs. When a preacher feels broken there are few places he is safe to go to find help. The three root causes of preacher problems are isolation, unrealistic expectations, and poor boundaries. These issues: lack of time for yourself, isolation from regular church members, expectations of production, and constant work pressure can create a sense of being alone and misunderstood.
There are things a preacher can do to combat the feelings of isolation and loneliness of ministry. Of course the first thing the man of God must do is to cultivate a strong spiritual relationship with the Lord. When Jesus’ friends fell asleep and left him alone during his deepest time of need (Matthew 26:32-46), he prayed fervently and consistently to God. No one understands you and cares more for you than the Lord. He has promised never to leave or forsake us, (Hebrews 13:5). A dynamic and vigorous relationship with the Lord allowed Paul to rejoice in prison, the Apostle John to praise God in exile, and will keep you safe as you minister. Another source of comfort for the preacher is his family. Your work with a congregation will eventually come to an end, but your family will remain with you. That’s
While it is important to shield your wife from the daily problems and discouragements of working with a congregation so she doesn’t become bitter, it is advantageous for you to have her as your teammate and helpmeet. Work on creating a spiritual home that will serve as a defense against the temptations and discouragements of the devil, including loneliness. Delight in your children, appreciate their innocence, and participate in their lives. The work of preaching becomes so much better when you develop relationships with other preachers. We must resist the temptation of competition against preachers of other congregations. Few people know the reality of the highs and lows of the work than fellow preachers. To develop these relationships you need to reach out to these men, (Proverbs 18:24).
If you don’t find companions in local congregations go to lectureships, workshops, and
as well. The energy and dreams of a young
join Facebook groups to find people who are
preacher are contagious and good for the soul.
likeminded and from whom you can learn. In
When you do good work and stand firm for
your conversations with them be positive and
the Lord you are likely to sometimes feel lonely.
helpful. Find people who study and enjoy
That’s because not many will follow the path of
discussing spiritual matters.
excellence. When you feel isolated find ways to
Be a person who can be trusted to keep
protect your heart and press ahead. People love
secrets and who prays with people. In developing
you and appreciate the work you do. The work of
these relationships, seek out older preachers who
preaching often produces fruit we will not see in
can share their experience and knowledge with
this life. You matter. Most importantly God loves
you but don’t neglect to find younger preachers
you and his work depends on people like you (1
who have fresh ideas and who you can pray with
Corinthians 15:58).
Let’s be clear: I’m not an expert on treating anxiety. But I am an expert on having it. I’ve preached sermons under the duress of rushing hormones and racing thoughts. I once preached a sermon during a time of anxiety so prolific that I offered the invitation, walked down from the pulpit, and sat down on the front row as a respondent, sobbing my eyes out before confessing the struggle I was having to the congregation. My ongoing struggle with anxiety is accompanied by a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder called “scrupulosity,” for which I have received extensive treatment in multiple forms. I know what it’s like to reach a point so low with my mental health that I wasn’t sure I would ever preach again. Let me say at the outset that the chemical reactions that produce anxiety are a natural process of the brain and body to protect us. The problem isn’t the adrenaline, cortisol, or other fight-or-flight hormones that assist us when we need to suddenly run from a vicious dog, stop-drop-and-roll when we’re on fire, or high-tail it and run away from a high-pressure sales pitch. The problem is the release of those hormones when we’re not prepared to use them, or when they are unnecessary. How we deal with the accompanying feelings can affect the way we function and think about various situations when those situations become associated with the unpleasant feelings of a raising heartbeat, difficulty breathing, burning in the head, stomach, or neck, etc.
The purpose of this article isn’t to provide professional medical or psychiatric care. However, I believe God has given us tools and resources to use as we have advanced in these fields. If you struggle with anxiety on a scale beyond butterflies in the stomach before you preach, I would highly recommend you talk to a professional who can help you navigate the condition and even provide possible medicinal recommendations. There’s no shame in addressing biological symptoms of the brain with medical care anymore than any other part of the body. However, it is always better to learn and develop coping mechanisms first and foremost where they can help you avoid reliance on anxiety medication. First off, many anxiety medications can be habit forming and require you to continually up the dosage as your body adjusts to it. Second, there are side-effects to medications as well as costs involved. Thirdly, dependence can become crippling and lead to more anxiety. On top of the anxiety you already have, you can begin to develop other anxious thoughts: “What will happen if I run out and can’t get a refill in time?” “What if I wind up in a situation where I can’t get those medications?” “What if I’m out somewhere and don’t have the medication with me and I have a panic attack?” Anxiety medications can be helpful, and some may be more long-term than others. But there are more “emergency” types like Xanax or Valium that are typically “as needed” for crisis situations. There’s peace in knowing that while there may be no shame in using these drugs appropriately, that if you found yourself in a situation where you just couldn’t get them, you have the skills to bring yourself down, even if it takes longer and requires more effort than swallowing a pill and letting it kick in.
Various therapies and techniques exist to help with anxiety and a counselor or psychiatrist can help discern which would be best for your personal situation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Somatic and Interoceptive exercises, meditation, body scanning, grounding techniques, and EFT Tapping are all worth your research and have been of help to me in the past and present. While some of these can be quick techniques to calm you before preaching or in a moment of anxiety, some are helpful as regular practices. Regular, daily meditation has been found to reduce overall anxiety levels. While we utilize these physical and psychological tools, the spiritual should not be overlooked. Forces opposed to God would love for his servants to be afflicted to a degree that renders them unable to minister at their best. I find it helpful for prayer to be focused not just on relief but on endurance and the wisdom to realize the spiritual war that accompanies the physical one. Asking for God to help us use our anxiety and weaknesses to glorify him and help others who are struggling can also accomplish multiple things. One is that it exercises faith in God’s wisdom, love, and sovereignty over what he does and does not remove from us. As the Lord said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Another positive outcome is the way it can empower us when we feel like falling into a victimhood mentality. Yes, we are the victims of our afflictions. But we are not without help or hope. We are not without understanding from the mediator through whom we pray, who endured affliction, sorrows, and the depth of human suffering and emerged victorious.
Do as Hebrews 12:2 says and look to Jesus. Then, look to your brothers and sisters and ask how God can use your endurance, experience, and divine partnership through your weaknesses to not only continue ministering in general, but to also minister in unique ways that come only by the experience and empathy resulting from your struggle and choice of faith despite it. After all, the only reason I can write this very article with the level of understanding and empathy for you as a struggling reader is because I know how it feels. One day, I hope you’ll have a similar experience with someone else who needs you.
Just as one may have concern (like Paul for the churches: 2 Corinthians 11:28) and yet not fall into sinful forms of worry, so I also believe it’s possible to experience the human emotions of anxiety without falling into faithless distrust of God’s provision and love. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul offers an antidote for our anxieties: prayer and thanksgiving. The peace that God gives for those who draw near to him should not be overlooked. What we choose to do and to whom we turn with the human emotions we feel can make the difference between falling into sinful worry or anxiety.
If an anxiety condition is partially driven by a biological issue with the nervous system, it may be something that God does not simply supernaturally remove, as he did not Paul’s thorn in the flesh (whether that was physical or otherwise), though he still affords us peace (and perhaps desires that we also benefit from some relief from medical advancements as a blessing and tool from him). While we often define peace as the absence of conflict or distress, with God, we can have a sense of wholeness and well-being that is not necessarily describing a tranquil emotional state or the absence of physical symptoms. It is something deeper that can be had despite circumstances because you trust in God’s love and sovereignty despite how you may feel at any given time. General tips for anxiety before preaching include any and all of the formerly mentioned and recommended therapeutic practices. But it can also be helpful to visualize having done well and what it will be like when it is over. We are typically braver after we’ve done something than beforehand when we’re still uncertain. Visualization can help produce some of the feelings of “relief” that we get when we are finished and utilize them to give us courage in the present. Chewing gum while you preach is ill-advised, but chewing it before can help. Just like the oxygen intake from slow breathing, eating (and by extension, chewing gum “tricking” the mind into thinking you are eating) can signal to the nervous system that you are okay and not in need of the fight-or-flight hormones.
Someone at war wouldn’t be stopping to eat or take deep breaths, so these send signals that you are not in a state of war. I have found the idea of “leaning in” to the anxiety to be profoundly helpful. When we resist and become anxious about the sensations, the body can continue to react the same way because we’re anxious about the anxiety. But instead, we can breathe deeply and slowly and “lean in” to the feelings, letting them be there without trying to resist or make them go away, preventing even more panic hormones from releasing. We can even respond to the feelings with curiosity rather than fear: “Hm. It’s interesting that my body is doing this.
Everything is okay, yet it is reacting this way.” Trying to respond with an emotion other than fear can help to keep even more fear hormones from flooding in. As a minister, I believe it’s good to let elders and trusted folks where you minister know about the struggle. Not only can they pray and support you, but they can think in terms of helping you balance workload when things are rough. This isn’t an excuse to be lazy. It’s an acknowledgement of a struggle you’re fighting with the Lord’s help and a request to allow you to be human along with every other sheep under their care. While it’s important to push ourselves and work hard through our struggles to defeat them with the Lord’s help, there can also come a time when we are “flooding” ourselves or “white-knuckling” it so hard for so long that we’re not acknowledging the reality of our humanity and the benefits of time off, recuperation, and even rethinking how we’re approaching our ministry that might be making things worse. I would encourage you to keep that line of communication open with God, your spouse, your elders, close Christian confidants, fellow ministers, and a counselor, if you have one. Let the Lord and others who love you help you walk in wisdom through these decisions.
February 27, 2024. Almost one week
A very small tumor but, “Make
since my biopsy. My nerves had
no mistake,” he said, “It’s
been wrecked as I waited for the
de nitely malignant.” My heart
doctor’s phone call, hoping that he
sank. I became ush. I sat down
would settle my mind with the
as he proceeded to run through
words, “Good news. No cancer.” The
a menu of options. After
phone rings. I look at the caller ID
processing the news for a few
before answering. It read,
days, I made the decision to
“Healthcare.” This was it. The news I
have surgery. Take it out! If
had been anxiously waiting for. I
there’s cancer somewhere inside
answered with high hopes. “Hello,” I
of me, just get rid of it.
said. Dr. Flora enthusiastically replied, “Hello Chris.” After exchanging some pleasantries, he
fl
fi
broke the news.
Surgery went well. I didn’t have any major issues, which is a blessing and not always common. For the next eighteen months, I remained “undetectable;” meaning I had no active cancer in my body. Did we get it all? It sure seemed that way. In November of 2025, I went to the lab for my three-month blood draw. It’s a quick and easy process. What’s not quick and easy is waiting on the result, which typically comes later in the evening. My phone will ding telling me I have a noti cation from Vanderbilt Health. That ding immediately triggers an emotional response. My stomach starts to churn, my blood pressure spike, and I open the app with shaky ngers. For eighteen months, my nervousness was misplaced. Not this time. I was no longer undetectable. My mind became ooded with thoughts of my own mortality, which is a bit over the top considering that the reading was just slightly elevated. However, over the next couple of months, my levels continued to rise, and rapidly. Something was amiss. But no worries, radiation was always in my back pocket as an added measure to clean up any cancer that may have been left behind. From the beginning, I knew that this could be a necessary step. We went in with ground
fi
fl
fi
fi
troops the rst time, now we’ll use napalm.
Now, here’s the crazy part, the part that might make you question my sanity. Aside from the obvious, my wedding day, the birth of my kids and grandkids, my baptism, cancer is the best thing that has ever happened to me! You read that right. Cancer has been a major blessing. Of course, the standard reply would be, “How can you say that, Chris? What’s so great about a disease that very likely will take your life at some point?” Well, for starters, I am closer to God than I have ever been. My daily prayer includes the line, “It’s You and me, no matter what.” Like the Israelites, this is my wilderness experience. And
what was the major lesson God was attempting to teach His people in the wilderness? Dependence on Him. I am being educated on this subject daily. I did not cause this cancer. I can do nothing to control it, other than what the doctor’s tell me. My life is completely in His hands. Secondly, cancer has greatly enhanced my ministry. I have preached on the subject of sufferingmany times in my career, but all those sermons were more abstract than personal. Now, suffering is not just a topic, it’s a lived experience and that changes the way a man preaches.
Finally, I would say that cancer has blessed me with numerous opportunities to walk alongside people who are dealing with a similar diagnosis. From the moment I discovered that I was Stage 4, I prayed that God would use this, that He would redeem it so that I could bless others with it. And He continues to put people in my path for me to minister to and be ministered by.
I never really lived until Stage 4 cancer. I worked, I played, I enjoyed life, but there was a lot of going through the motions but not enough living in slow motion, and that’s the key; to slow down, soak it up, and savor each breath. Cancer has taught me that. But make no mistake, this is not a story about Chris McCurley dealing with cancer. This is a story about God using a guy named Chris McCurley who happens to have cancer.
I write this missive from a dentist office waiting room. One of my parishioners had a rather complicated dental procedure scheduled, the kind where you have to get a driver lined up to take you home. After all, we can’t have a doped-up driver trying to navigate the Arkansas labyrinthine road system. Then again, considering the numbers of lousy drivers already out there, who could tell? Here’s the point: we are God’s man on the ground to make a difference. We preach the word. We love the people. We help others where it is needed. And we do it without counting the cost. My dear brother has already thanked me three times for being there for him. I see how much he has done to help others, and I am glad I can help him. Ministry offers so many opportunities for meaningful interaction with others. Stepping up and making ourselves available is one of the greatest uses we can make of the 168 hours a week at our disposal. Our job as God’s man is to comfort the afflicted, and to afflict the comfortable. No one did this half as well as Jesus. While we are not him, we can at least follow his example, and mimic his methods. We are his ambassadors, after all. In this issue all sorts of challenges preachers face are covered. You might even face a few new ones not addressed. No matter. The God and Father of us all will strengthen and equip you with the tools to finish the job. When our heart is devoted to doing His will, we will find ourselves sustained by food that no one knows about (John 4:32). If you end up meeting yourself coming and going, just smile and remember that you are doing something so important that only eternity will reveal its impact.