Who is Right?
Well, as usual my thought practice has stepped across the bounds of traditional thinking. Today, I was in a discussion about the "content or lack thereof" in sermons. I was in a group of preachers.
I had the temerity to indicate that I thought preaching, although important, is overrated. That sparked a bit of a debate. My point is, that we have a ton of people filling the pews who have never really "processed" their faith. They tend to regurgitate some long standing word they have heard. Rarely, have I met many people who have really struggled through debate and process to come to an embodied faith. Their faith may be embedded, but not really embodied.
They may take good notes. They may be able to quote scripture, but rarely find themselves in any kind of question with what they have heard from the pulpit. I am not talking about the disagreement out of a spirit of antagonism, but really wrestling with what the Spirit is teaching them as a result of what they have heard and studied for themselves. It is part of what I like to call our "McFaith Church Culture." For example, have you ever heard just the simple description of the wine which Jesus produced at the wedding feast being "grape juice?" Sadly, I know a ton of long-time Christians who believe that, because of a missional stance they take.
I do believe the Word is paramount to the building of community. I also believe that long held views can sometimes be an impediment to what God is trying to reveal. Scripture does not change but maybe the hermeneutic does.
Well, the problem is, that often the Christian has not been allowed to wrestle with faith openly, especially in our evangelical circles, for fear of being branded a heretic. Aren't we glad when people really search after God and are put in caring communities where they are encouraged to do so and to really think about their faith?
Is it time to teach people how to think as well as what to think? Are the people right who believe preaching is most important? Am I wrong? Who is right?
What do you think?
I had the temerity to indicate that I thought preaching, although important, is overrated. That sparked a bit of a debate. My point is, that we have a ton of people filling the pews who have never really "processed" their faith. They tend to regurgitate some long standing word they have heard. Rarely, have I met many people who have really struggled through debate and process to come to an embodied faith. Their faith may be embedded, but not really embodied.
They may take good notes. They may be able to quote scripture, but rarely find themselves in any kind of question with what they have heard from the pulpit. I am not talking about the disagreement out of a spirit of antagonism, but really wrestling with what the Spirit is teaching them as a result of what they have heard and studied for themselves. It is part of what I like to call our "McFaith Church Culture." For example, have you ever heard just the simple description of the wine which Jesus produced at the wedding feast being "grape juice?" Sadly, I know a ton of long-time Christians who believe that, because of a missional stance they take.
I do believe the Word is paramount to the building of community. I also believe that long held views can sometimes be an impediment to what God is trying to reveal. Scripture does not change but maybe the hermeneutic does.
Well, the problem is, that often the Christian has not been allowed to wrestle with faith openly, especially in our evangelical circles, for fear of being branded a heretic. Aren't we glad when people really search after God and are put in caring communities where they are encouraged to do so and to really think about their faith?
Is it time to teach people how to think as well as what to think? Are the people right who believe preaching is most important? Am I wrong? Who is right?
What do you think?
posted by Larry at 2:05 PM
2 Comments:
Larry -
I was compelled to begin a Bible Study for young adults at the corps we are attending for the very reasons you're arguing here. Within the group that attends regularly, 90% of them were spoon-fed Bible stories their entire life. They cannot articulate why they profess their faith. They don't have even a cursory understanding of the 11 doctrines, let alone how the same are connected with Scripture. Most preaching they've heard (as have I of late) centers around the need to get saved. How many times do we have to get saved?
As you've stated, rarely are we encouraged to wrestle through the issues we come up against through the course of our journey. If anything at all, we must simply rely on our faith to carry us through. Then, by and large at our age-specific gatherings, we encourage those assembled to get out and do something as if that is the remedy for solving their questions.
Last summer at the Southern Territory's TYI an brave attempt to break this pattern was made - quite successfully, I might add. During daily sessions each morning, delegates were given the opportunity to submit "real-life" questions to a panel that was created for this encounter. Was is pretty and polished? Not at all! Were questions answered completely? Not all the time. The result was a large majority of those delegates went home encouraged and empowered to continue asking the questions and wrestling with the issues.
This can't be left for a once a year in the summer occasion. We must make provision for this type of engagement on a continual basis if we are to raise up new generations of Salvationists who stand strong on the Word.
I believe preaching, exhorting and teaching and sharing of the Word of God is a spiritual gift that God has given to some. Some people are very powerful and persuasive preachers. And, like you, I feel that it has been over-emphasized as a "more important" way to share God's love.
Ephesians 3:11-13 outlines these words from the Apostle Paul: "It is God who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers to prepare God's people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
A sermon, when you boil it down to its essence, is a one way communication of one person to many. God is involved with this communication, but one person is doing it usually.
Preaching is not the most important spiritual gift, it is a spiritual gift given to some and it is intended to be a guide to those who are involved in the work of God. It takes alot more time, prayer, courage, sweat, life-experience investment, energy, enthusiasm, engagement and love to be a true friend to a person. The spiritual benefit of friendship is vastly more important than any sermon ever preached. I have been able to call to mind sermons that people have preached that were important to my heart and spiritual development, but they are few. But I can quickly recall the people in my life who have been strongly involved - who were true friends. Friends who came alongside in times of joy and celebration, who came alongside in times of hard work and dedicated effort. Friends with love in their heart, who came along side in times of fast-paced jammed packed scheduled. Who came along side in times of grief. People who set aside their schedule demands and made room for me.
Friendship and personal involvement is a crucially important work of the Gospel, building relationships is the center of Ephesians 3:11-13 - "to prepare God's people for works of service". Preachers are in their placement of spiritual development to guide the most important work - the building of the relationships so that believers are caught up in a large intentionally created web of love.
Friendship is a more influential spiritual gift, more tangible, more far reaching, than a sermon.
Relationships are more influential than sermons. Hold a baby, pull some weeds, bring a coffee just the way someone likes it, remember an important date, carpool, run a few miles on a track, BE A TRUE FRIEND and you are engaged in the works of service for God.
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