More On Preaching Politics

 “For while I was with you I resolved to know nothing except Jesus the Messiah, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2 ISV)

Preaching politics from the pulpit reveals faithlessness and fear which, sowing unto the flesh (Galatians 6:8), shall continue to reap division and not the unity for which Jesus prayed in John 17. How is God glorified when the ignorance, prejudice, and fear concerning any social ill or political displeasure is preached instead of His love, omnipotence, and sovereignty? Satan comes as an angel of light to preach such things (2 Corinthians 11:14). God’s grace has not ceased to be sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). When in chains and awaiting execution, Paul did not preach the need for political activism, civil disobedience, or different government to Timothy. Spiritual bigotry is no closer to exhibiting God’s righteousness now than it was during that recent era when, in America, we raped, whipped, and sold slaves on Sunday morning before heading to the local church for service. It would be easier to mix oil and water successfully than to mix faith and fear. The combining of lies with truth, however, has been Satan's modus operandi since the fall of mankind. Leaders of the first century visible church, following the lead of the apostles and also suffering vicious persecution under Nero throughout the Roman Empire, did not preach anti-establishment, political messages. No. They preached Christ crucified and the gospel spread exponentially, miraculously, and without the type of division that political preaching absolutely guarantees. Preaching politics from the pulpit is not completely unlike abusive fathers molesting their daughters since home and church should be the safest gathering places on earth. Let us, therefore, preach Jesus (and Him crucified, 1 Corinthians 2:2) rather than the wisdom of men, the gospel of peace rather than self-righteous condemnation of others, and the love of God rather than hypocrisy, bigotry, and hate. www.ministryofwritinghelps.com

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

There is a difference of opinion inherent in politics. All Tweets aside, America’s founding fathers had the foresight to mandate that voters be able to cast their vote in private to protect the secrecy of the ballot. Preaching politics from the pulpit is not unlike eating meat which has been sacrificed unto idols (1 Corinthians 10:29). William Shakespeare wrote in Julius Caesar 3/2, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.” Please allow me now to write this; friends whose hearts and attitudes threaten to separate us from the way, the truth, and the life need to be expeditiously separated from our lives by the two-edged sword of God’s holy Word, who was and is and is to come. What does it profit a man to gain a flesh-driven political utopia and yet forfeit his soul in the process (Matthew 16:26)?

© 2013 Brian L Hunter

Expository Preaching?

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

Of politically correct humanist self-sufficiency couched in Darwinian overtones and faith flavored promises of going to the next level regarding profundity and wealth, I shall prove to be rather ignorant. I come not with enticing words, three points and a poem, nor a fundraiser in the form of a theatrical performance. No. I fear God too much to allow the world to classify me as a preacher by today’s standards. Just call me Brother Brian if you please. For preaching of the highest order, I would direct ones attention to the oratory of John Chrysostom, other Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers willing to be burned at the stake or thrown into the lion’s den rather than recant their testimony of Christ as Lord, and Jonathan Edwards.

Concerning modern expository preaching, I would also caution us that it is possible to go completely overboard with exposition for the sake of exposition even when based upon thorough and defensible exegesis. Reason, even when doctrinally sound and theologically relevant, cannot save, heal, deliver, or set any captive free from sin. Personally, I will always tend to reject an argument that is mean spirited or made by an individual or group claiming absolute moral and intellectual superiority. In this regard, I cannot imagine that I am altogether different from most people. The question then arises, “Is it Christ or the preacher that is being lifted up?”

We are not angels, saints. Therefore, the mechanics of our communication can easily become more important to us than the power, love, and sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7) meant to be conveyed by our singular message of hope, the kernel of which is Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). We can therefore, much like the Pharisees, “err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29) Has God made us to be ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit? Yes! For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life (2 Corinthians 3:6). Shame on us, if, by way of arrogance and pride, we work against the abundance of life that is the inheritance of all those who are in Christ. Let faith and not condemnation come when we have spoken.

 © 2012 Brian L Hunter