Sunday, November 16, 2014

Overwhelming Exhortation

One of the worst types of preaching is when Scripture is regularly taken out of context and used to harangue a congregation about their sin.

People start to think defectively about themselves and deficiently about others.  Over time a whole group of people can find themselves delighting in self-abasement and growing proud in a distorted spirituality.

Everyone misses out on experiencing the deeply satisfying joy of salvation in Christ!

A Misguided Goal

Some preachers make it their primary goal to talk about sin Sunday after Sunday.  It pervades every sermon as the main theme.  They proceed to propose the same solution for all of life’s situations as merely more obedience.  The preaching is a constant and overwhelming exhortation.

The chiding can be relentless, alienating leaders and bringing distress upon the rest.  Ironically, the goal of a holier people is not achieved.  And maturity in Christ remains a long way off because a true and deep understanding of Scripture is never given.

It is amazing how such preachers can disregard the clear intent of a biblical passage and its larger context!  Though the text might be used as a source of great encouragement, or an opportunity to expound on the glories of Christ, instead it is hijacked for moralistic purposes.

The Proper Emphasis

The emphasis throughout the New Testament is much more positive.  For example, the Apostle Paul addresses nine of his twelve letters written to churches to the “saints,” and the remaining three to the “church.”

He gives prominence and value to our being “in Christ.”  Even when dealing with situations of sin these truths are usually only a paragraph away.  Our hope is in Christ, in being “in Christ” and in the reality of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives, not in ourselves and our obedience.

If you are that reproving preacher, you need to closely re-examine the Scriptures in order to observe and appreciate all the magnificence of its message.  If you are a leader dealing with a pastor who scolds and berates, you need to confront and require corrections for the sake of the congregation.  If you are a member, you will need to find healthier streams of instruction, and you may need to move on altogether.

What we as Christians need is more and deeper explanations of who Christ is in the fullness of His glory.  When the focus shifts from identifying ourselves primarily as sinners to identifying ourselves as saints in Christ, the results are joy, revitalization and growth in holiness!

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