THE PASSING OF A BREED

by an Aged Saint

The following is in memory of a dear preacher friend of many years, Dr. Don Green, who went to be with his Lord this morning.

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“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive” ~ Zach. 13:4

Zechariah says the old-time rugged prophets of his day, and those before, were characterized by their “rough garments,” (I might add as well as rough preaching). It could be some of these rough, hairy garments were from the skins of the sacrifices from the altar. This may have been true of Elijah. And John the Baptist might have gotten his from a dead carcass in the wilderness. One way or the other, without doubt, they were among those who, “wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy).”

There are many in our pulpits today, as in Zechariah’s, who try desperately, but with embarrassing failure, to emulate these one-of-a-kind stalwarts. Years ago I heard a feminine-like preacher say in his sermon, “We need more John the Baptist’s.” I whispered to my wife, “It’s one thing to say it and another to be it.” It was a sad thing, I’m sure, for the old western generation to see the rugged buffalo pass off the scene; but how much more devastating for us to see this breed of “rough and rugged” preachers to go into extinction!

True, there is a small remnant of them still clinging to the old-time ways, but as a whole, their voices have been silenced; replaced by teachers, tickling the ears of the play-acting Christians occupying the pews. No longer is preaching offensive; no longer are preachers’ lives threatened; no longer are tears shed in the pulpit, as well as the pew; no longer are young men called to preach and to the mission field; no longer is there preaching on sin, judgement, death and hell. And what is worst of all, no longer does anyone seem to care!

I thank God I cast my lot over sixty-five years ago among this breed of manly men, and I’ve never been sorry a day in my life. And I am confident I will not blush (or my like-minded brethren) upon meeting our Lord, nor before men such a Jeremiah, Paul, Peter, John the Baptist, and a host of others who were hated and despised by the religious apostates of their age. Like the king of Israel said of one such, “Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.”

The roughest preaching in the Bible is found in Matthew chapter twenty-three. It was delivered by the kindest, lovingest, gentlest, preacher who ever lived! 

"I find the men with the strongest convictions have the greatest compassion." (rds)

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