Are the unrighteous allowed to preach?

[Hall7]

In other words, is it wise for someone who is not living a righteous life to not preach the Word until they become righteous with God? Isn't it wrong to preach the Word of God when we don't completely abide by the Word? For example when we try to justify our way of living because deep inside we know that what we are trying to justify is wrong. If we want to represent Christ shouldn't the temple of God within us be a clean good example to others? What are the consequenses of preaching something when ourselves are not completely abiding by the Word of God? Wouldn't that lead someone on the wrong path if they followed our example? I think this is one of the major problems in the Christian community. Thoughts?

[Cyrus]

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The world needs "preachers" like Elijah.

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[ayin jade]

Before Moses led the israelites from egypt, God nearly killed him because his sons were not circumcised. 

 

No one of us is ever without sin. But we are declared righteous through Christ. However shouldnt a preacher or leader follow the stringent guideline in 1 timothy 3?

 

3 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. 4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

 

8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

[disciplehelovestoo]

how do you judge a man's living as righteous?  do you measure his actions against those around him?

 

2Co 10:12 KJV

(12)  For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

 

or do you measure his actions according to the perfect standard of Jesus?  if you measure a man's actions by Jesus' perfection, then who can be qualified to preach the gospel?

 

and who is qualified to judge another man's living as unrighteous?

 

Rom 2:1 KJV

(1)  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

 

Php 1:15-18 KJV

(15)  Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

(16)  The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

(17)  But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

(18)  What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

 

Php 1:18  What then? only that in every way, falsely or truly, the preaching of Christ goes on; and in this I am glad, and will be glad. 

 

 

[OneLight]

If you are talking about holding an office or preacher or teacher, no.  Yet, I have witnessed many times when one sinner would quote scripture to another sinner when encouraging someone.  We have no idea who God will use for what purpose.

[Littlelambseativy]

God will use anyone to serve His purpose.....and if a person hears but one word that would make him think about God and change his ways, it is not worth it. We are told not to be careful when we judge God's anointed... I would say even if we think they are worthy of judging.

[Hall7]

@ Cyrus - That also crossed my mind not long ago, it makes me wonder if there are still some Christians on Earth who are so pure in the Lord as Elijah was, that God decides to take them away from the world. But I guess we'll never know because all we'll hear is that a person is missing.

@ Ayin Jade thank you for the excellent scriptures.

@ Discipleshelivestoo - Im not sure what to make of Php 1:18, it sounds like false teaching is ok? I have to read the previous verse in context maybe I Didn't understand correctly.

@ Onelight- I'm talking about someone who decides to dedicate their lives on doing the will of God to try to save souls. It may be a preacher fora church, a missionary or someone on their own spreading the word in the streets.

[Guest Butero]

I can see both sides of this argument.  I don't think any of us are so holy we can honestly say we are worthy to be a minister of the gospel, so who would preach?  On the other hand, if you are speaking of living a completely immoral lifestyle and holding the office of Pastor, it does bring a reproach on the church.  Look what happened as a result of the scandals that took place in the 80s?  To this day, I am not sure what I would say about the Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggart scandals and how they should have been handled?  If a brother is found to be overtaken in a fault, and that brother is a Pastor, how do we handle it?  Are they permanently unqualified to serve God from that day forth?  I don't think so, but at the same time, look at the harm that was done, and the way immorality opens the door for the world to mock the church.  I would have to say that I understand that we are all imperfect people, and I don't look for perfection in a minister.  I am more concerned with sincerity, and knowing they are trying their best to do what is right.  Others might care more about moral purity and less about motives.  I do think we should try to keep things quiet as possible when a minister gets in trouble and try to handle it internally so as not to bring reproach on the church.  Let the church judge itself and work to restore those who are having problems. 

[The_Patriot21]

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

There are none righteous so if we were to expect one to be "righteous" before preaching we would have no preachers

[Hall7]

I always seem to pick the wrong titles for my threads. I know that none of us are perfectly righteous, and if we think we are then we have a case of over righteousness which is a very bad thing in God's eyes. So the question is how righteous should we be before we go out into the world to try to spread the Word of God? Should someone who has bad habbits such as smoking, drinking or fornicating try to bring people to the Lord or should they be cleansed of these sins before trying to help people? I mean say that we try to save someone by trying to teach them the gospel, and we hide our flaws in front of them, then they catch us at a bar smoking a cigarette talking to a woman, what will they think of what we have preached to them then? See what I mean. I'm not judging preachers or anyone I'm just trying to find out if its best to be quiet and try to renew our own spirit before we try to help others.