Contempt

“Let no one, then, treat him with contempt.” – 1 Corinthians 16:11

Before a visiting preacher says a word, most of us have already made up our minds.

We notice age, gender, tribe, clothing, even the car in the parking lot.

Even mature believers do this too, sadly.

I have watched it happen for years in ministry.

Paul knew the habit well.

When he sent young Timothy to the unsettled church in Corinth, he saw the danger and wrote a sentence that deserves to hang above every church’s entrance: “Let no one treat the preacher with contempt.”

Another translation uses the words, “look down on him.”

Notice where Paul places the responsibility.

He does not tell Timothy to demand respect.

He tells the congregation to ensure that no one withholds it.

Contempt is a sin the church commits, and the church must answer for it.

Of course Scripture is full of dismissed men of God.

When Samuel came to Jesse’s house to anoint a king, David was not even invited to the table.

He was out with the sheep, the youngest son, easy to forget. God corrected the prophet: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Jesus fared no better.

In His hometown the neighbours sneered, “Isn’t this the carpenter? Are his sisters not here with us?” and Mark records that He could do only a few miracles there (Mark 6:3-5).

Contempt did not merely wound the Master.

It closed a door that faith would have opened.

That is the real cost.

And disdain is never passive.

It silences truth and fractures fellowship.

It also reaches higher than we think.

Jesus told His disciples, “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” (Luke 10:16).

To slight the messenger is to slight the One who sent him.

Honoring a faithful servant is honoring God.

Paul reminds us that God has placed His treasure in clay jars (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Ordinary, breakable people carry the glorious message.

Scripture demanded that Corinth must have a choice about Timothy.

If we believe that, we cannot keep throwing stones at the jars.

So what does protection look like?

It starts with our mouths, and then our fingers on social media.

Paul told Timothy not to entertain an accusation against an elder without two or three witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19).

Gossip is contempt spoken behind someone’s back.

Next, we speak up when a leader is mocked, just as we would defend a brother or sister.

We also pray.

Even Paul asked the churches to pray that he would speak boldly (Ephesians 6:19).

And when a leader truly stumbles, we restore him gently rather than expose him publicly (Galatians 6:1).

Here are three things to do the next time your invites a visiting preacher.

First, examine your first impressions.

If he/she seems too young, too plain, or too different, ask yourself whether you are judging the message or merely the packaging.

Repent of the packaging part.

Second, refuse to be part of the audience for criticism.

When someone begins running down a servant of God (even if you don’t agree with parts of his teaching), decline to join in.

Steer the talk toward the truth of God’s word.

Third, put honor into practice.

Write an encouraging note; it doesn’t cost much.

Present him/her with a gift or an offering.

Pray by name for the one who has brought a message from God, regardless of your first impressions of him/her.

Scripture demanded that Corinth must have a choice about Timothy.

It still does today.