NO WRITERS’ STRIKE FOR PASTORS

There was great rejoicing, or at least a bit more than

mild rejoicing, this past week when it was announced

that the writers’ strike had been settled and American

show business could get back on its regular schedule.

One of the results of the strike was that the stars of the

late night shows were unable to do their usual 5 or 10

minute opening monologue, and all their one-liners and

conversational bits during their shows were simply not

possible. As a result the nation was entertained by some

re-runs of old shows.

The reason? The writers were on strike and no one was

available to write for the stars those entertaining bits

of conversation which they do so well . . . . and which

for so doing they are paid exorbitant salaries, in the

millions of dollars annually.

But during all this strike period, we have not heard of a

single church which canceled its services because there

was no one to write sermons for the pastor.

Those pastors not only write their own sermons, but they

also keep busy visiting the sick, counseling those in need,

marrying couples starting a new life together, baptizing

newcomers to the Christian faith, and conducting funeral

services for those who have passed away.

And they do all those things at salaries which pale into

insignificance when compared to the amounts those

entertainers receive -- people who couldn’t even perform

without someone to write their material for them.

If you never felt that you had reason to appreciate the life

and ministry of your pastor -- well, you now have a very

graphic reason. Take a moment next Sunday to thank him

for never going on strike, and for being faithful to his calling.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Evangelical Viewpoint is pleased to present this

new series of essays by Dr. Jerry Beavan, in which he

offers mature discussions of important elements of the

Christian faith, with the goal of helping Christian believers

to live the Christian life more effectively. At age 89, he

already has a lifetime of experiences in Christian ministry,

as a graduate theologian, as a professor in college and

seminary, and as a world traveler involved in government

relations at high levels, here in America and around the

world. The late Dr. Jerry Falwell referred to him as "one
of God's giants and modern patriarchs." Dr. Billy Graham

said of him, "Jerry Beavan is the architect of world

evangelism as we know it today." Now living in "active

retirement" on America's Pacific coast, although physically

impaired, he is using his writing skills, via the internet, to

help other believers gain a better understanding of their

Christian faith. He is the author of several works, including

his recent volume, “A Handbook of Applied Christianity.”