"Clergyman"?
In the light of Webster's Dictionary, clergyman means: "A member of the clergy; an ordained minister." From the same source, laity means: "The people, as distinguished from the clergy; laymen."
Of course my readers will understand that no such phraseology is found in the word of God. And should not be used in this article, or elsewhere, without explaining this fact.
Most of us are familiar with the "Case Records" of Doctor George W. Crane in his "Worry Clinic," published in many newspapers over this nation. One such case history of a man, a preacher, suggested this article. I have this case history before me now, but I shall use a fictitious number, name, and age so as to relieve any thought of personal antagonism. Certainly, none is meant. But now for the case:
"This is Case ABC-220: John Has, age 52, has been a clergyman for over 25 years." Yes, you guessed it, Doctor Crane is dealing with a sectarian case, with its sectarian phraseology. Dr. Crane, himself, is not a preacher, though sometimes he does inject sectarian theology in his column. As I understand it, he is both a psychologist, and a medical doctor. The "Dr." connected with his name however does not mean he is a "doctor of religion." Anyway, in my own words, the following is what this sectarian preacher told Dr. Crane. "Dr. Crane, I am heavily in debt, and I move frequently, because I am not popular with my parishoners." (Parishoners is another unscriptural term. CDP.) . . . . "I have a good record of clearing debts on church property," said this sectarian preacher. "But even when I free a church from a long-standing mortgage, MY PEOPLE DON'T ASK ME BACK AGAIN." (Emphasis mine, CDP.)
I have heard some of my preaching brethren say about the same words as this sectarian preacher, haven't you? Which makes me wonder! How many of our old pioneer preachers have experienced the same among us? Yes, how many faithful gospel preachers have assisted local congregations when the going was hard, during terrible, disturbing times, and yet have soon been forgotten? And during the midst of the trouble, as the preacher was working beyond his energies night and day to hold the church together, many would say to the preacher, "We are blessed in having you here to help us out brother." But when the storm had passed, and the church had weathered the gale without a division, the words of the sectarian preacher are in place: "My people do not have me back again."
But some may say, "Now Brother Plum, the preacher in going through this did a great and good work, but of course he made some enemies in so doing, so we just don't have him back any more." No doubt some enemies were made. Jesus and the apostles made some enemies. But a great many friends were made by preachers too, while they were making some enemies. And these friends would like to have such preachers back again, even if the enemies do not. When Brother T. Q. Martin, bless his faithful heart, labored regularly in West Virginia, and I was in meetings at this very congregation, he used to tell me some of such sad experiences he had had in years past. It made me sad to hear them. He also wrote some such like articles in the Leader when he was in a reminiscent mood. Yes, it could happen among us. It has happened among us.
Suppose preachers do make some enemies during such trying times, do not the elders the preachers stood with during these times also make some enemies? Yes, yes, plenty of them. Should true elders step down and out because of this? The answer is "no." Often there is plenty of talk against the elders, as well as the preachers. If it would not help the situation for elders to step down, why the different attitude toward the preachers?
But just a little more concerning these so-called "clergymen," and their titles. The church of our Lord is pretty free from the sin of calling preachers in the church "Doctor" or "Reverend." A few times I have been humiliated by my brethren introducing me as "Rev. Plum." The way it came about was this: these brethren had been used to calling sectarians reverend and doctor when no members of the church were around, and it just slipped out in my case. Usually such breaks are followed by a clearing of the voice, and a partial apology, etc.
Dr. Paul, Dr. Peter; Rev. Paul, Rev. Peter. No, the Bible does not read that way. And until recent years such speech always raised a question mark in the mind of faithful Christians. But some of our "institutions" are loosening up, and are now, advertising our preachers as doctors. Oh, not all of the preachers mind you, are thus named. We are becoming degree minded. Now we can read something like this: "Doctor ______ has received his doctorate in religion." Sorry I cannot give you chapter and verse for this from the Bible. Aside from the unscripturalness of the term "doctorate in religion," from the trend in many places among us, we were pre-eminently better off before the "doctors" in "religion" came in among us. There isn't any ill in Zion but what the old remedy, an old fashioned dose of a "thus saith the Lord" will heal.