It is not easy to become a preacher in today's society because his teachings are not always embraced by the people. Just like the prophets in the Old Testament, preachers nowadays "will confront compromise, condemn moral digression and powerfully denounce sin in the hope of reconciling man to God."
Pastor Shane Idleman writes in an article for Charisma News that preachers will inevitably "ruffle feathers and step on toes from time to time," but that should be the result of the truth being spoken as opposed to the preacher having an arrogant or judgmental heart.
"In a sense, a preacher is called to break the heart, a pastor to mend it; one concentrates on repentance, the other restoration. Although there can be a mixture of both preacher and teacher in a person, there is often a clear difference. Pastors (and teachers) aim for the mind; preachers aim for the heart, will and emotions — to stir and to convict," explains Idleman.
There are several more differences between pastors and preachers. While the pastor builds, the preacher tears. The pastor counsels but the preacher convicts. The pastor might be full of hope, but the preacher is full of fire. The pastor listens while the preacher speaks. The pastor normally sees the good in others but the preacher sees "the depravity in man."
Idleman adds that the pastor desires to be among people, but for the preacher, his desire is to be with God alone.
"The world and carnal Christians despise them (preachers) because they challenge the sin they enjoy," he says.
It is Idleman's prayer that God would raise up many humble preachers, or "men who allow God to shape their sermons and penetrate their hearts to bring America, and the world, to their knees."
