Through his pastoral service at First Baptist Church, in Atlanta, his In Touch TV and radio ministry and his many books, Charles Stanley has become one of the nation’s best known preachers. Preaching editor Michael Duduit recently had the opportunity to visit with Pastor Stanley about his newest book and his preaching ministry.
Preaching: Your most recent book is Landmines in the Path of the Believer. What led to the writing of this book?
Stanley: I began by thinking in terms of my staff, and so asking the Lord to give me some direction to help them. I had a lot of young staff members at that time, and I chose the subjects that people often overlook. We can talk about doubt and some things that are more evident, but pride, jealousy, insecurity, compromise, unforgiveness, disappointment, fear, immorality, slothfulnes—these are the things that I think trip us up, often when we’re not expecting it. So I’ve tried to deal with each of those and identify why they are there and how to overcome them.
Preaching: As you think about those potential landmines in our lives, are there one or two of those that perhaps are more of a struggle for Christians than any of the others?
Stanley: I would certainly think of unforgiveness. I think counselors will tell you that at the bottom of most problems of people, unforgiveness is usually lying somewhere close by. Then immorality. I think we live in a time where immorality is becoming more and more acceptable in the eyes of some people. If I had to choose, these would be the two.
Preaching: I’m assuming this book grew out of a sermon series?
Stanley: Right.
Preaching: As you talk to other pastors, are there some landmines for them to be aware of as they preach on these issues?
Stanley: I think a man has to be very careful at this point. I have noticed in the ministry— and I’ve been a pastor for 50 years—that when a man gets on a particular area, and he just hammers away at that over and over and over again, many times that’s the area in which he has a problem. So we all have to look at these from the perspectives of our own lives.
I think as far as pastors are concerned, pride is a major issue. I will never forget on a plane one night, on my way home, talking to this pastor who was very, very famous at the time. I remember he said to me, “Charles, we’re number one. We’re the biggest and the best.” I can remember it was just like God shot an arrow straight to my heart. It hit me so hard, it’s like He said to me, “Don’t ever let it cross your mind.” I think that is a major issue, and I think today with television and all the kinds of publicity and public appearances and so forth, I think pride is a major, major issue in the ministry.