Thank God For The Preacher
Mike Bowling Lyrics

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As I walk down the street of a sin-stricken city
I see the misfortunes of men
A man in the gutter lying there lifeless
Clutching a bottle in hand
He was some mother's darling
Maybe some young man's father
But, now he's a prisoner to sin
No hugs in the morning and no family altar

He's gets by the best way he can

Thank God for the preacher, who told me of Jesus
For I'd be a beggar if not for his grace
Lord help me show others, your love and your mercy
Make my life a witness to others I pray

At a little white church house at an old tear stained altar
A prayer for god's mercy was heard
Though his sins were many and his burdens heavy
He took the Lord at his word
The angels rejoiced as he was forgiven

Shouts filled the temple that day
I will never get over that trip to the altar for I was that sinner who prayed

Overall Meaning

In "Thank God for the Preacher", Mike Bowling describes his encounters while walking down the street of a city plagued with sin. He observes a man lying in the gutter, holding a bottle and no longer in control of his life. The man was once loved and adored, but now he is lost and consumed by sin. He feels hopeless and worthless, with no morning hugs or family altars to turn to. Without intervention, he is destined to remain in this state of despair.

The refrain of the song reminds the audience of the impact of the preacher's outreach. Mike appreciates the efforts of preachers who spread the word of God, for without their grace and guidance, he would be lost, the same as the man in the gutter. The preacher's teachings and the mercy of the Lord helped him mend his ways and find salvation. Mike recognizes the importance of sharing God's love and mercy with others in society who have given up hope.

In summary, "Thank God for the Preacher" is a tribute to preachers who spread the word of God and save souls. It highlights the plight of men and women consumed by sin who find hope and salvation through the teachings of preachers and the love of God.

Line by Line Meaning

As I walk down the street of a sin-stricken city
I observe the failures of people in this city.

I see the misfortunes of men
I witness the bad luck and unfortunate situations of human beings.

A man in the gutter lying there lifeless
I see this person lying on the ground defeated and lifeless in appearance.

Clutching a bottle in hand
He is holding onto a bottle in his hand.

He was some mother's darling
He was a beloved child to a mother.

Maybe some young man's father
He might have also been a father to a young man.

But, now he's a prisoner to sin
But he is now a captive to his immoral actions.

No hugs in the morning and no family altar
He lacks the warmth of family mornings and the benefits of family worship.

He's gets by the best way he can
He does his best to survive in any way he can.

Thank God for the preacher, who told me of Jesus
I am grateful for the pastor who introduced me to Jesus.

For I'd be a beggar if not for his grace
Without God's mercy, I might be poor and in need of assistance.

Lord help me show others, your love and your mercy
God, please assist me in displaying compassion and kindness to others.

Make my life a witness to others I pray
I pray that my life serves as an example to others and testifies to God's goodness.

At a little white church house at an old tear stained altar
In a modest church building stands an historic, tear-soaked place of worship.

A prayer for god's mercy was heard
A request for God to demonstrate mercy was answered.

Though his sins were many and his burdens heavy
Although he committed multiple sins and carried significant burdens,

He took the Lord at his word
He believed in God's words.

The angels rejoiced as he was forgiven
The angels celebrated when he received forgiveness for his sins.

Shouts filled the temple that day
Loud voices echoed throughout the entire temple on that day.

I will never get over that trip to the altar for I was that sinner who prayed
That occasion of praying at the altar is one that I will never forget because I was that sinful person who prayed.

Contributed by Brayden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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