12 Stones
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Preachin' v Meddlin'
Then came the day that George retired and Andy, the new pastor, mounted the pulpit on Sundays. Jeff kept attending, until one day he came home and declared to Judy, his wife: ‘I’m flat out done! I ain’t goin’ no more!’ Judy asked, ‘Why not?’ to which Jeff replied, ‘Cuz that new pastor has ‘stopped preachin’ and started meddlin!’
April 2026
Friends,
Many clergy are afraid. More specifically, they are afraid of getting specific. In their homilies or sermons most prefer to leave things ‘general’ or 'vague' letting the congregation figure out for themselves how Sunday’s message might possibly translate to their lives on Monday. Perhaps that’s why many men tell me that they’ve left the church because it seems ‘irrelevant’ to their day to day lives.
The aversion to ‘specificity’ by clergy undoubtedly has many reasons. However, the most obvious of which might be summed up in a brief story that I heard years ago, which goes like this:
'Jeff decided to attend church to listen to pastor George. Jeff enjoyed listening to George. His sermons always left him ‘feeling good,' even ‘inspired.’ Then came the day that George retired and Andy, the new pastor, mounted the pulpit on Sundays. Jeff kept attending, until one day he came home and declared to Judy, his wife: ‘I’m flat out done! I ain’t goin’ no more!’ Judy asked, ‘Why not?’ to which Jeff replied, ‘Cuz that new pastor has ‘stopped preachin’ and started meddlin!’
If we were to place ourselves in pastor Andy’s shoes for a moment, it's easy to understand that losing Jeff as a congregant would not be pleasant. What would be even more costly, however, would be for Jeff to stay and head up the ever-powerful 'personnel committee,' which could make Andy’s stay short-lived and fairly unpleasant!
That, I suspect, is why it’s safer to preach than it is to meddle. Most clergy know as much and stick to preachin. Who can blame em? After all, a guy’s gotta eat! What’s more, the further we venture into exile in a post Christian western world, the more offensive will be ancient/orthodox Christian doctrines and practices. That, in turn, will make it much more likely that your average pastor or priest will keep things ‘vague,’ leaving himself ample wiggle room. It's also true that ‘getting specific’ or 'meddling' will become increasingly costly.
In my experience, most pastors are 'preachers' but a few are 'meddlers.' Meddlers are a rare commodity in part because, well, they’ve got an unusual amount of intestinal fortitude (ie guts...or perhaps 'faith'). Like Nathan or Jeremiah or Samuel or even Jesus himself, they are willing to get specific about the practical, and often costly, implications of the Christian faith with those who could easily make them pay dearly for their meddling.
John KingThe best meddler I ever had the privilege of sitting under is a man called John King. While he was unafraid to meddle, John was/is able to do so while avoiding the pitfall of 'legalism' which asserts that the chief end of Christianity is ‘getting good enough for God,’ rather than relating to, responding to, and displaying the image of Christ in every setting to which we are assigned in this world.
Rev King would sometimes say, at the beginning of his sermons, ‘Remember this: We are hopeless. That is, you and I are far worse than we know....but we are loved by God more than we can imagine.’
At the conclusion of John’s messages he would stop preachin’ and start meddlin,’ getting specific in the best sense of the word. For example, after preaching on say, the time in which Jesus calmed the sea, (St Mark 4:35-41) he’d say, ‘Remember, Jesus rules the sea, even when the sea appeared to hold the disciples, and even Jesus Himself, in its own indifferent hand.’ So far so good. For most, that's a 'hard stop.' After all, that would make for a good Hallmark Card. It'd be a win-win. Everyone could go home feeling good.
Unable to leave well enough alone, then came the meddlin.’ John would pause and ask: ‘What is the ‘sea’ that ‘appears’ to rule over your life? What’s the ‘sea’ that seems even to hold you in its indifferent hand, rather than the loving hand of Jesus?'
For some of you, ‘the sea’ you may be tempted to believe holds you in the palm of its hand is that of politics or parties or candidates. They don't, for Jesus rules over all parties, politicians and nations. In fact, He uses them for the unfolding of his own purposes. They are but tools in His sovereign hands. (Daniel 2:21 “It is He who changes the times and the periods; He removes kings and appoints kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to people of understanding.”)
For others of you, ‘the sea’ might be your family genes or biology. Perhaps you believe that your genetic make up or family history rules over your life, determining your future health and/or behavior. While those things are not unimportant, in the end, they too answer to Jesus for purposes that often are beyond understanding this side of eternity. To be 'in Christ' is to be, first and foremost, a member of His family, compared to which all earthly families pale in significance. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ‘Therefore if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.’)
Perhaps your ‘sea’ might be ‘your company' or 'your boss’ whom you will placate or auto-obey because you believe that said company, said boss or even HR holds your career and financial future in their hands. Remember that Jesus, not others, is your shepherd and as such, He reigns over your company, your business, your boss and your career, using them for His own purposes and for the salvation of his people. Like politicians, they are but tools in His hands. (Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.)
Or maybe your ‘sea’ might consist of human technology, believing that our very survival as a planet depends upon the right eco-technology. Remember that Jesus made the world, rules over the world and sustains the world as much in spite of us as because of us. (Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”)
For still others of you, maybe you’ve let Jesus fall asleep, like the disciples did. Why? Because, after all, some of them were fisherman and, as fishermen, ‘they grabbed the helm,’ living under the illusion of ‘control.’ That is, until they didn’t. For at least some of you, life seems to be ‘working’ with you at the helm. Maybe you’ve effectively put Jesus to sleep, because He seems kinda unnecessary or irrelevant. If so, I'd suggest that you wake Him him up now, not later, because as we all know, storms are coming. Nobody escapes ‘em. Trust me, it will go far better for you if you let Him take the helm before, not after, those storms arrive. So, by all means awaken Him, relinquish your death-grip on the wheel and begin to rely upon Him in small ways now, so that you'll be able to rely upon Him in big ways later. (Deuteronomy 32:18: “You neglected the Rock who begot you, and forgot the God who gave you birth.’)
John King is a rare commodity, displaying both a pastoral tenderness and forbearance with those under his spiritual care. What makes John so unusual is that he is simultaneously unafraid to meddle, calling the flock, in specific ways, to a greater level of dependance upon, and responsiveness to, Jesus.
First of all, pray for and encourage your pastor or priest. It's a high and difficult calling. Secondly, Is your pastor or priest a preacher who leaves you with Hallmark quotes? Or, do they go further and meddle? Do they connect, in practical and specific ways, your Sundays with the nitty gritty of Mondays? If so, you ought to thank them for their courage, for they are as exceptional as you are fortunate.
Next month I will dive into what is effectively a ‘sleight-of-hand’ that many clergy employ, some knowingly and others unknowingly, to justify their aversion to meddling. Stay tuned!
Warmly,
Greg Porterwww.danfdtn.org
The aversion to ‘specificity’ by clergy undoubtedly has many reasons. However, the most obvious of which might be summed up in a brief story that I heard years ago, which goes like this:
'Jeff decided to attend church to listen to pastor George. Jeff enjoyed listening to George. His sermons always left him ‘feeling good,' even ‘inspired.’ Then came the day that George retired and Andy, the new pastor, mounted the pulpit on Sundays. Jeff kept attending, until one day he came home and declared to Judy, his wife: ‘I’m flat out done! I ain’t goin’ no more!’ Judy asked, ‘Why not?’ to which Jeff replied, ‘Cuz that new pastor has ‘stopped preachin’ and started meddlin!’
If we were to place ourselves in pastor Andy’s shoes for a moment, it's easy to understand that losing Jeff as a congregant would not be pleasant. What would be even more costly, however, would be for Jeff to stay and head up the ever-powerful 'personnel committee,' which could make Andy’s stay short-lived and fairly unpleasant!
That, I suspect, is why it’s safer to preach than it is to meddle. Most clergy know as much and stick to preachin. Who can blame em? After all, a guy’s gotta eat! What’s more, the further we venture into exile in a post Christian western world, the more offensive will be ancient/orthodox Christian doctrines and practices. That, in turn, will make it much more likely that your average pastor or priest will keep things ‘vague,’ leaving himself ample wiggle room. It's also true that ‘getting specific’ or 'meddling' will become increasingly costly.
In my experience, most pastors are 'preachers' but a few are 'meddlers.' Meddlers are a rare commodity in part because, well, they’ve got an unusual amount of intestinal fortitude (ie guts...or perhaps 'faith'). Like Nathan or Jeremiah or Samuel or even Jesus himself, they are willing to get specific about the practical, and often costly, implications of the Christian faith with those who could easily make them pay dearly for their meddling.
John KingThe best meddler I ever had the privilege of sitting under is a man called John King. While he was unafraid to meddle, John was/is able to do so while avoiding the pitfall of 'legalism' which asserts that the chief end of Christianity is ‘getting good enough for God,’ rather than relating to, responding to, and displaying the image of Christ in every setting to which we are assigned in this world.
Rev King would sometimes say, at the beginning of his sermons, ‘Remember this: We are hopeless. That is, you and I are far worse than we know....but we are loved by God more than we can imagine.’
At the conclusion of John’s messages he would stop preachin’ and start meddlin,’ getting specific in the best sense of the word. For example, after preaching on say, the time in which Jesus calmed the sea, (St Mark 4:35-41) he’d say, ‘Remember, Jesus rules the sea, even when the sea appeared to hold the disciples, and even Jesus Himself, in its own indifferent hand.’ So far so good. For most, that's a 'hard stop.' After all, that would make for a good Hallmark Card. It'd be a win-win. Everyone could go home feeling good.
Unable to leave well enough alone, then came the meddlin.’ John would pause and ask: ‘What is the ‘sea’ that ‘appears’ to rule over your life? What’s the ‘sea’ that seems even to hold you in its indifferent hand, rather than the loving hand of Jesus?'
For some of you, ‘the sea’ you may be tempted to believe holds you in the palm of its hand is that of politics or parties or candidates. They don't, for Jesus rules over all parties, politicians and nations. In fact, He uses them for the unfolding of his own purposes. They are but tools in His sovereign hands. (Daniel 2:21 “It is He who changes the times and the periods; He removes kings and appoints kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to people of understanding.”)
For others of you, ‘the sea’ might be your family genes or biology. Perhaps you believe that your genetic make up or family history rules over your life, determining your future health and/or behavior. While those things are not unimportant, in the end, they too answer to Jesus for purposes that often are beyond understanding this side of eternity. To be 'in Christ' is to be, first and foremost, a member of His family, compared to which all earthly families pale in significance. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ‘Therefore if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.’)
Perhaps your ‘sea’ might be ‘your company' or 'your boss’ whom you will placate or auto-obey because you believe that said company, said boss or even HR holds your career and financial future in their hands. Remember that Jesus, not others, is your shepherd and as such, He reigns over your company, your business, your boss and your career, using them for His own purposes and for the salvation of his people. Like politicians, they are but tools in His hands. (Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.)
Or maybe your ‘sea’ might consist of human technology, believing that our very survival as a planet depends upon the right eco-technology. Remember that Jesus made the world, rules over the world and sustains the world as much in spite of us as because of us. (Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”)
For still others of you, maybe you’ve let Jesus fall asleep, like the disciples did. Why? Because, after all, some of them were fisherman and, as fishermen, ‘they grabbed the helm,’ living under the illusion of ‘control.’ That is, until they didn’t. For at least some of you, life seems to be ‘working’ with you at the helm. Maybe you’ve effectively put Jesus to sleep, because He seems kinda unnecessary or irrelevant. If so, I'd suggest that you wake Him him up now, not later, because as we all know, storms are coming. Nobody escapes ‘em. Trust me, it will go far better for you if you let Him take the helm before, not after, those storms arrive. So, by all means awaken Him, relinquish your death-grip on the wheel and begin to rely upon Him in small ways now, so that you'll be able to rely upon Him in big ways later. (Deuteronomy 32:18: “You neglected the Rock who begot you, and forgot the God who gave you birth.’)
John King is a rare commodity, displaying both a pastoral tenderness and forbearance with those under his spiritual care. What makes John so unusual is that he is simultaneously unafraid to meddle, calling the flock, in specific ways, to a greater level of dependance upon, and responsiveness to, Jesus.
First of all, pray for and encourage your pastor or priest. It's a high and difficult calling. Secondly, Is your pastor or priest a preacher who leaves you with Hallmark quotes? Or, do they go further and meddle? Do they connect, in practical and specific ways, your Sundays with the nitty gritty of Mondays? If so, you ought to thank them for their courage, for they are as exceptional as you are fortunate.
Next month I will dive into what is effectively a ‘sleight-of-hand’ that many clergy employ, some knowingly and others unknowingly, to justify their aversion to meddling. Stay tuned!
Warmly,
Greg Porterwww.danfdtn.org