What's the purpose of a preacher? If you enjoy a personal relationship with God why do you need the middleman?

Question

What's the purpose of a preacher? If you enjoy a personal relationship with God why do you need the middleman?

Answer 1

Preacher = Teacher

Answer 2

Faith come from hearing and hearing by the word of God. How can you build your faith without hearing? Everyone needs to find a church/preacher where they can grow.

Answer 3

Religious people are told to come together in one place. Preacher, ministers, etc were ordained to preach and teach the meaning of the bible to those who didn't have understanding of it themselves.

Now days, and despite such an "educated" population, there's still just as many people who understand the bible less today than they did three-hundred years ago. That is why we have ministers and preachers.

Answer 4

I forget which heresy that was, perhaps the Albigensian heresy, where the townspeople decided that the Genesis "promise of the rainbow" still applied and they therefore didn't need the priests.  Ticked off the priests so badly that they asked the king (of France) to wipe out the town of Albigens, burn it to the ground, leave a blank spot on the map.  Killed all the townspeople.  Taught everyone a lesson.  For a while.

The rainbows haven't gone anywhere, though.

Answer 5

There is no lesson taught by a preacher that cannot be learned directly from God. To paraphrase the great Gloria Steinem: A man needs a preacher like a fish needs a bicycle.  

Answer 6

Romans 10:14-15 KJV Bible

Answer 7

every flock needs a good shepard.

Answer 8

A preacher is not a middle man.

Jesus is the only mediator.

A preacher is someone functioning in one of the five preaching and or treaching roles in the New Testament Church.  These are described for us in Ephesians chapter four:

Ephesians 4:11-15 (NIV)

11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

This is how Matthew 28:19 gets fulfilled:

19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

and here are other examples of preachers in the Bible:

Romans 10:14

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

1 Timothy 2:7

Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

2 Timothy 1:11

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

2 Peter 2:5

And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Answer 9

Good point

Answer 10

The preacher takes the money from the superstitious sheeple.

Answer 11

IMO that's how the Reformation came into being. Relax and enjoy the Bible to your own, not how someone else tells you.

Answer 12

a preacher is good for helping others to understand the word. me personally i don't need a middleman but i do enjoy a good sermon

Answer 13

The same purpose as an excellent teacher, should you want to learn more about something.

Say, the bible.

Answer 14

There is not enough scrutiny nor selection in eligibility for preachers. Most are self-proclaimed, speaking almost like they are prophets in their own rights. I am not denying they may not have the best intentions, but too many examples of preachers who lead massive organizations have been a terrible example..not found until much too late. Too much power is given to churches and the pulpit.

Answer 15

People go to see a doctor if they are sick, a lawyer for legal troubles, an electrician to rewire things in the house, etc.

In short, people seek out a professional who specializes in something because there are things we do not do for ourselves.

Preachers are "theological specialists"--their career is founded on researching theology and interpreting it.

Answer 16

They need a human being to help interpret the scriptures, and to help them pray!  (Oo!  Doctrinal problem?)

Answer 17

How True.

Answer 18

If you don't have a preacher you might read the Bible for yourself and notice that it doesn't exactly make sense.  You have to be given the official excuses.

Answer 19

A preacher isnt a middle man, he just helps interpret the word in the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. They generally are pretty well versed in the Bible and spreading the "Good Word". They can be inspirational, they can take the boring bible and make it relate to whats going on in your world. They are there to be a mentor, and a supporter.  

Answer 20

Because preachers have the God given gift of teaching.

Answer 21

Someone has to be the fall guy

Answer 22

Hey, somebody needs to take and spend the money that the suckers are handing over, don't ya think?

Answer 23

The purpose of a preacher is to teach the message

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

A preacher is not necessary for a relationship with God

Answer 24

Romans 10

14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"[g]

16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"[h] 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

What does the Bible say versus what people want to believe! The entire context of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the early church was one of unity and support of one another holding fast to the teachings of our Lord.  The concept of inividualism and lone worship of a god that one chooses to worship doesnt exist in the Bible.  

Hebrews 10

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the 'assembling' of ourselves 'together', as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Act 20:28

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Rom 15

5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of 'unity' among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Act 1

14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Eph 4:11

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Answer 25

The purpose is to guide people to GOD's truth. However, it appears, that the preachers need to be taught as well.

GOD bless

Answer 26

If some members of the community need help (in a confidential way), how would I know if if a pastor didn't tell me?

What if I have a problem I need help with?

What if the church sponsors missions, etc. Who will coordinate those things?

They serve a 1001 functions.

I had an Uncle that sounded just like you. Sometimes what you don't see is what you get. Hmm like God.

God love you!