By Jim Schneider, Executive Director, VCY America
With October being Pastor Appreciation Month, it is appropriate to pause and say “thank you!” Thank
you to the pastors who have not given sway to this world’s system.
In our present day there is a growing number of “pastors” who do not want to rock the boat, who do not
address critical issues, who do not preach on sin, and who have abandoned Biblical doctrine in order to
be perceived as loving your neighbor, being tolerant and non-judgmental. Indeed, many hirelings
abound and are called out as such.
But this article is to thank pastors who are faithful to the call of God upon your life. Thank you for
preaching the Word, who are “instant in season, out of season,” who “reprove, rebuke,” and “exhort
with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Thank you for staying faithful to the Word even when there is a
growing presence of those who “will not endure sound doctrine;” but are seeking out “teachers, having
itching ears.” Thank you for your diligence when wayward souls “turn away their ears from the truth,”
and have “turned unto fables.”
Thank you for being watchful, for enduring afflictions, for doing “the work of an evangelist,” and for
making “full proof of the ministry.” Thank you for your dedication to “stir up the gift of God which is
in thee.”
Thank you for not being “ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.”
Thank you for being “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Thank you for taking the things you
have learned from the Word of God and committing it “to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others
also.”
Thank you for continuing in your diligent study of God’s Word showing yourself “approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly diving the word of truth.” Thank you for holding fast
to the “form of sound words [doctrine].”
Thank you for enduring “hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Thank you for reminding us of our
Christian responsibility and that “The Lord knoweth them that are his.” Thank you for unashamedly
confronting us that “every one that nameth the name of Christ” is to “depart from iniquity.”
Thank you for not being afraid to warn us to “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith,
charity,” and “peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Thank you for cautioning us to avoid “foolish and unlearned questions…knowing that they do gender
strifes.” Thank you for teaching us how to be “the servant of the Lord,” that we “must not strive; but be
gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,” and to be meek.
Thank you for warning of the “perilous times” that “shall come” and warning us of all the allurements
and dangers of this world’s system.
Thank you for sounding the alarm of those that have “a form of godliness” but are “denying the power
thereof.” Thank you for being bold enough to tell us to “turn away” from such things.
Thank you for not candy-coating the world, but for preparing us for hard times and helping us to
recognize that those who “live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Thank you for not
misleading us into thinking that things will get better and better, but rather, “evil men and seducers shall
wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Thank you for warning us about those who have
“loved this present world,” and that we are to avoid them.
Thank you for encouraging us to continue “in the things we have learned,” pointing us to “the holy
scriptures, which are able to make” us “wise unto salvation through faith which is Christ Jesus.”
Thank you for preaching boldly that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Thank you for proclaiming this
truth which leads us to maturity.
Thank you for living your life as a testimony of fighting the “good fight,” finishing your course, and
keeping the faith. Thank you for helping us keep a heavenward view by reminding us that “there is laid
up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and
not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
And thank you for alerting us that we may have to stand alone in this present evil world, and that even
though others might forsake us, to recognize that the Lord stands with us and gives us strength. Thank
you for the assurance that the Lord will deliver us and preserve us “unto his heavenly kingdom.”
We know this way is not easy and it is not popular, but it is right. Please keep on preaching Biblical
truth regardless of the opposition and regardless of the growing antagonism from this world’s system.
Thank you Pastor! Happy Pastor Appreciation Month!
(Scripture quotations taken from II Timothy)
