Graceless Ministers?

Why do some Christians prefer to have preachers who are 'nice' and rather than being 'shepherds' of the flock are the 'pet lambs'?

Let me offer several suggestions as to why this is the case.  First and fundamentally, sin is a deceiver and a reality in all our lives.  Second, sin breaks the biblical balance of the truth.  Third, personal preferences and experiences of preachers tend to distort how we see things.  Fourth, there is a growing dislike within evangelical circles for pointed, clear and direct applicatory preaching - that only disturbs the people, and we don't want that, do we?

No, the truly gracious preacher is the one who demonstrates that he is deeply concerned for two things: the glory of God and the salvation of sinners.  Indeed, God is best glorified when sinners are saved.  So to seek for the salvation of the lost - and all mankind is lost - is to seek also the glory of God.  As Jonathan Edwards famously said, God is glorified in man's dependence.  And for salvation, man is totally dependent on God's grace and mercy.

When a minister 'nails' his hearers to the pew so that they cannot get away from the challenge of the true Gospel, he is at his most gracious.  It shows he cares for their souls.  There is no 'take it or leave it' with such an evangelist.  A gracious preacher pleads with the lost to come to Christ - a sign of great grace; he appeals to them to trust the only Saviour - another sign of grace; he labours in the Word and in prayer so that the lost will no longer be lost - another sign of true grace.

The truly graceless preacher could not care less about a lost and perishing world, or for the eternal destinies of those to whom they preach.