What Men-pleasers Do
They seek the approval of men above the approval of God. The rule is, human
beings have a propensity that welcomes the praise of their fellows. While there
may be exceptions, the rule is we enjoy being complimented or honored. The
danger is, we can easily become intoxicated and consumed by this need, then
crave the praise of men. The next step in this moral digression is, to seek
human approval as a personal priority. Those exposed by the Lord in Matthew 6
were guilty of this. They did their "charitable deeds before men, to be seen by
them." The same motive prompted their ostentatious praying and fasting. Among
some of the leading Pharisees, there was at least intellectual confidence in the
claims of Christ, but "they loved the praise of men more than the praise of
God," (Jno. 12:41). Again the problem was described by our Lord when He said:
"Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their father to the false
prophets," (Lk. 6:26). Men-pleasers seek the approval of men above the approval
of
God. Let us aim higher. The personal priority of every child of God must be, to
seek the approval of God, regardless of how men respond to our preaching and
practice. Our Father is a "rewarder of those who diligently seek Him," (Heb.
11:6).
They adapt their message to their audiences. Men-pleasers deliver to their
audiences that which will elicit their approval. They have made this their
priority. In every time of controversy since Pentecost, there have been men
catering to the crowd; even changing and
adapting their message from audience to audience, not out of conviction, but to
please and to become known as crowd pleasers. Paul and Timothy are examples of
men who were not willing to do this. Paul told the Corinthians: "For this reason
I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who
will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach
everywhere in every church," (1 Cor. 4:17). When people (baptized or not) "will
not endure sound doctrine," they should hear it anyway, regardless of response
or consequence. When sound doctrine is not the desire of heart, audiences will
"heap up for
themselves teachers," and men-pleasers will heap up for themselves a following.
(See 2 Tim. 4:1-5) This craving to please your audience can quickly lead to
language so concerned with diplomacy, it conveys nothing substantial or
scriptural, only sentiment. {I have long believed that there are men teaching
error of divorce and remarriage because they want to please the world. They
found a way to teach it, twist it and spin it, to make it as easy as the world
expects.}
They carefully avoid negative pronouncements. Though God requires preachers to
"convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching," this duty is
neglected by men-pleasers in situations where such wouldn't be welcomed. It is
one thing to "speak the
truth in love," (Eph. 4:15), but to speak without truth is not loving, even if
praised and applauded by men. There is the exhibition of this, when preachers
step so delicately, they trample over truth to keep people happy. An honest
reading of 1, 2 Timothy and Titus can bring us to a better understanding of real
preaching, and supply both motive and method to avoid the immature, frenzied
work to gain the good esteem of men, leaving truth unspoken and sinners lost.
Preachers who are "running for office," seeking trophies from men, building an
image, leading a movement, proving their soundness by campaign, or otherwise
ill-motivated will wind up withholding needed truth or twisting scripture. The
response by faithful brethren should be to use every legitimate means to stop
the mouths of vain talkers (Titus 1:9-13, Jude 3).
They will use association to generate favor (politics). When preaching and
practice is aimed to please a group, gain the favor of well-known brother or
gain access to a circle or cliché, the point has been missed altogether. When a
"brotherhood writer" pens an article to lobby for entrance or acceptance of men,
he should not be published if the motive is known. Men-pleasers eventually fall
into the sin of undisciplined fellowship, endorsement of anyone baptized and
this means - giving no heed to God's instructions as to one's association (Rom.
16:17; Eph. 5:11, etc.). Do we not know that "friendship with the world is
enmity with God?" (Jas. 4:4). And what a contrast, that some preachers seek
reputation when Jesus "made Himself of no reputation," (Phil. 2:7)! {The
inordinate desire to advance above others was part of the way of life Paul
renounced in his obedience to the gospel, see Gal. 1:13-16.}
Every preacher needs to ask himself the question stated in Galatians 1:10. "Do I
seek to please men?" Paul responded: "For if I still pleased men, I would not be
a servant of Christ." Get the point? The men-pleaser in Gal. 1:10 is not a
servant of Christ.
By Warren E. Berkley
Front Page
From Expository Files 11.3, March, 2004
