THE MINISTRY: ACTUALLY, A PERILOUS PROFESSION

“…For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony….”

(REVELATION 12:10, 11)

The clergyman is considered one of the best actuarial risks any insurance company can handle—from the standpoint of physical hazard.

 

Yet, the ministry is one of the most perilous of professions!

 

The devil hates the Spirit-filled minister with an intensity second only to that which he feels for Christ Himself. The source of this hatred is not difficult to discover. An effective, Christlike minister is a constant embarrassment to the devil, a threat to his dominion, a rebuttal of his best arguments and a dogged reminder of his coming overthrow. No wonder he hates him!

 

Satan knows that the downfall of a prophet of God is a strategic victory for him, so he rests not day or night devising hidden snares and deadfalls for the ministry. Perhaps a better figure would be the poison dart that only paralyzes its victim, for I think that Satan has little interest in killing the preacher outright.

 

An ineffective, half-alive minister is a better advertisement for hell than a good man dead!

 

So, the preacher’s dangers are likely to be spiritual rather than physical, though sometimes the enemy works through bodily weakness to get to the preacher’s soul!

 W. Tozer