Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 12
September 1, 1960
NUMBER 17, PAGE 9c

Why?

Pryde E. Hinton, Dora, Alabama

A few years ago my wife and I went to hear a man preach in the near-by city. The local preacher knew us. This visiting preacher had sat down and talked with us a bit before the worship began. But the local man had not noticed that I was there; so when he mentioned the "preaching brethren" who were visiting them, he did not call my name. After the meeting was over, he apologized quite humbly, as if I might be greatly hurt. But I told him that I was really glad, because I could sit and listen to the preaching without my being noticed any more than any of the other listeners.

Why do we think we must point out all the preachers attending the meeting, and say something complimentary about them? Sounds like a political convention sometimes. "The preaching brethren" are not really the important auditors in such meetings. Those to whom we should give our attention are the unsaved and the weak and the obscure persons who need to be made to "feel at home" among us.

Perhaps, "we" are not called "Rabbi," but I wonder sometimes! "But all their works they do to be seen of men; for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the chief place at feast, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, Rabbi." "Is it I, Lord?" But just remember: Judas said that, as well as John or Peter.