As a young pastor I was supplementing my income by working for a contractor who was a member of the church. I was priming the new siding on a house, working right behind a couple of guys who were nailing it on. After several yelled out comments like, "Where is that preacher?" or, "Use that preacher." The foreman came around the corner of the house and explained that they weren't talking about me. They had a stick that was cut in such a way that if you hooked it over the piece of siding already nailed up, it would give a guide as to where to nail next one. They called it a "Preacher," because it kept them straight. Weightlifters are familiar with "Preacher-curls." The exercise prevents the lifter from cheating; the biceps have to do all the work.
I'm not sure that it would occur to today's carpenters or body-builders to use "preacher" as a word that describes keeping something in line or honest. The problem is too few preachers proclaim a message of authority. If the Bible is God's word then we have a life and death communication that will not allow equivocation. If the standards of much modern preaching were used in carpentry and exercise the house would be, at best, kinda-sorta straight, and weightlifters might use a hydraulic assist while claiming to work on their biceps.
If the Bible is the Word from God to man, then we better proclaim it and obey it. If not, it really doesn't matter.
It's STTA.
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