CRISIS: While our preaching must respond to any crisis (involving
any sin or error), our crisis-response-mode may tempt us to neglect
other things (about which there is no present alarm). If today, for
example, I preach on marriage, divorce and remarriage with such
repetition and frequency, I neglect other things taught in the
Scriptures, I have fallen under an undue influence. In such a time as
this, we must preach what the Bible says about God's law of marriage. We
should be anxious to tell people what Jesus said, and warn of the
consequences of ignoring Matt. 5:32 and Matt. 19:9. But if
we do this in some sort of obsessive manner, we may betray our
commitment to preach the whole counsel of God, neglecting things of
equal essentiality.
CULTURE:
There is another, very different, influence that may put us in position to
violate our commitment as preachers. I'm talking about what the culture or
market demands. In our time there is great interest in sermons known for
their perceived practicality, popular style, brevity and emotional value.
Generally, people have little interests in sermons delivered to respond to
some sin or error. There is greater interest in vague, good advice, social
commentary or the fashionable, ecumenical approach.
Though it may seem unlikely, there is the
possibility of preachers falling into both of these pitfalls at the same
time! {The devil can easily use the unlikely to slowly accomplish his
purpose.} If you preach on marriage, divorce and remarriage over and over -
then use the rest of your time catering to itching ears, you leave out a
huge bulk of Biblical truth that holds great significance and need. When is
the last time you delivered a sermon about the Lord's church, the Holy
Spirit, the difference between the covenants, the error of premillennialism,
etc., etc., etc?
The solution? Let your preaching be
governed by one thing…The Word!
“I charge you therefore before God and the
Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing
and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.
Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time
will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their
own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for
themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and
be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure
afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim.
4:1-5).
Doy Moyer wrote this, that fits the topic
well:
Balance in Preaching
Preaching is not the easiest task in the
world. The preacher knows that he must address subjects that are difficult
and, sometimes, offensive to some. His job is to preach the word, in season
and out, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with great patience and
instruction (2 Tim. 4:2). He knows that there
will be those who do not want to hear the truth, but would rather
heap up teachers who will say those things they want to hear. And there are
plenty of ear-ticklers available.
The preacher must be bold, uncompromising
of truth, and plain-spoken so as to be understood. He knows that he cannot
water the message down so that it loses its power and focus. He realizes
that he has a great responsibility toward himself and those who hear what he
has to say (cf. 1 Tim.
4:16). When he confronts sin, he
must rebuke it. When he faces false teaching, he must be courageous. In all
things, the true preacher knows that he answers to God first, and is not in
the business of pleasing men (cf. Gal.
1:10).
But there's another side to this.
Sometimes, in our fervor to "preach it like it is," we overstep our
God-given boundaries. In the name of hard preaching, it is easy to "go past
Jerusalem" and start getting downright mean. In order to win arguments and
make ourselves look good, it is tempting to ridicule those who are in
opposition to us. We can become rude, unkind, and abusive. Sarcasm (or
better, irony), may have a proper place, but not when it is at the expense
of gentleness, love, and respect. We can become careless in how we speak to
others, and about others with whom we disagree. We may even begin to thrive
on being offensive. We boast about our little debating techniques: "Did you
see how I got him?" But this is a manifestation of self-righteousness and,
ironically, shows a disregard for God and His Word.
How so? Because, while in stressing certain
commands and steadfastly exercising our duty to reprove and rebuke, we may
ignore other commands. We are to speak the truth in love (Eph.
4:15).
Our speech is to be "with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that
you may know how you should respond to each person" (Col. 4:6). We
are to be kind and tenderhearted, forgiving, and devoid of bitterness,
wrath, anger, and clamor (Eph.
4:31-32).
With those in opposition, we are to correct with gentleness (2 Tim.
2:25).
These are just as much commands of God as any other! To ignore these in the
name of "sound" preaching is not only Pharisaical, it is just plain sinful.
Contending for the faith does not equal being contentious and ugly.
Just remember, there is a difference
between kind and mushy, between graceful speech and that which compromises
truth. We need to learn these differences if we will really be faithful
servants of God. The spirit in which we do something is every bit a part of
the doctrine of Christ as those more difficult issues that we so often
struggle with. Teach the truth, but let's do it in the way God has told us
to do it. Keep the balance.
Other Articles
A Man Called David
Harboring
Grudges
Faith and
Baptism
Would you like
others to read this article?
Please share!