Sermon Central
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Just Plain Old Ron
Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jun 3, 2026 (message contributor)
The lad who led me to church was married to Rhonda. This created some confusion for his four year old son. When he would see me he'd say, "Hi, Rhonda." I would correct him, but it never clicked. One day I emphasized it by saying, "Ron, just plain old Ron." Next time I saw him he said, "Hi, just plain old Ron." I laughed, but I liked it.
Many years later, it seems all the more appropriate. Many have given me titles, but in the end I am still just plain old Ron. I am a small town boy raised by a widow that God has allowed to do many things I would have never imagined. I have been called many names, but the only one I will cherish is the one given to me on a white stone.
Just off the top of my head, I could put eight things in front of my name, but Bro. Ron works for me. I got into a discussion about degrees because so many churches wanted ThDs/PhDs and such. I said that all of that is fine, but the only BA that matters is Born Again. The only Masters I have to really deal with are the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If the DR in front of my name doesn't mean Divinely Redeemed it doesn't mean a thing. Besides, Paul says the God calls the weak, the base and the foolish and I am highly qualified in those areas.
Indeed, he said, "not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:," yet those are the majority of men the churches look for. Fortunately, he did not say not any are called. The irony is the Lord inspired a man that could have had a long alphabetical list after his name to write that and he even considered his background dung.
Another interesting thing I have seen is that we have the highest educated pastors imaginable, but the Western Church is dying in many places. However, in areas where there are no seminaries the Church is growing even under severe persecution. Maybe we have it backwards. Either we need less educated clergy or we need persecution. Maybe both would be helpful.
D.L. Moody was an eighth grade educated shoe salesman with Dr. R. A. Torrey as an associate. That is a pairing I doubt we would see these days. Moody won a reported million souls. Torrey prayed for people and they were healed, yet never claimed he had the gift of healing. He was James 5 in action. Oh, that we could have such teams like that again.
All in all, I am glad that I am just plain old Ron so that He can get glory for whatever He does through me as like Paul, "in my flesh dwells no good thing." Anything good had been because of Him and my awesome supportive wife. I am thankful for my "just plain old" brothers and sisters that are suffering and dying for the name of Christ. They are members of the other side of the Hall of Faith mentioned in the last verses of Hebrews 11. Those bodies are healthy and do not need doctors. it would appear. Maranatha!!!
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