Weekend Thoughts (II)-On Critiquing Preachers
One thing that I have always noticed is the lack of discernment (some may say gullibility) in regards to Christians who listen to preachers. I, too, shake my head everytime everyone around me says "Amen!" when a preacher mouths off some "health-and-wealth" statement or commits a clearcut exegetical mistake.
Some would say that we have no business critiquing men called my God. I think the Bible speaks to the contrary, when it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 that we should "test all things". Without a doubt many Christians are familiar with the verse. Yet they don't seem to be applying it consistently. Thus, by critiquing the preacher, I find that I tend to get more truth in the end- as well as complying to the word of God.
However, some would add that another mistake is that of being hyper-critical. I concur. It might, I think, be a little bit too much to nitpick every single thing in a sermon that in the end we end up disagreeing with every single preacher we encounter. No doubt there are imperfect sermons- but we must always keep in mind that although it is important to analyze the small print, we must nevertheless look at the big picture and decide whether those errors impede the truth of the sermon as a whole.
So then, when I listen to a sermon, I always pay attention and listen to the truth that is contained within it- as well as to any errors. This is why we must always take the initiative to study the Bible on our own. We should expect pastors to spoonfeed us; and it will also make sure we are able to detect any problems in a sermon.
What about pre-judgements? I think they are valid in some cases. For example, if a preacher that is known to have in the past expounded bad theology, certainly we should be a bit more careful the next time around we listen to him. Or perhaps to avoid him altogether.
To sum up, pastors and those who are responsible for teaching God's word will indeed be accountable before God and they will be judged with greater strictness (James 3:1). Nevertheless this does not mean we can sit back, relax, and imbibe everything they have to offer us and if we end up in any errors, we plead to God that it was their fault.
This should not be.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Some would say that we have no business critiquing men called my God. I think the Bible speaks to the contrary, when it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 that we should "test all things". Without a doubt many Christians are familiar with the verse. Yet they don't seem to be applying it consistently. Thus, by critiquing the preacher, I find that I tend to get more truth in the end- as well as complying to the word of God.
However, some would add that another mistake is that of being hyper-critical. I concur. It might, I think, be a little bit too much to nitpick every single thing in a sermon that in the end we end up disagreeing with every single preacher we encounter. No doubt there are imperfect sermons- but we must always keep in mind that although it is important to analyze the small print, we must nevertheless look at the big picture and decide whether those errors impede the truth of the sermon as a whole.
So then, when I listen to a sermon, I always pay attention and listen to the truth that is contained within it- as well as to any errors. This is why we must always take the initiative to study the Bible on our own. We should expect pastors to spoonfeed us; and it will also make sure we are able to detect any problems in a sermon.
What about pre-judgements? I think they are valid in some cases. For example, if a preacher that is known to have in the past expounded bad theology, certainly we should be a bit more careful the next time around we listen to him. Or perhaps to avoid him altogether.
To sum up, pastors and those who are responsible for teaching God's word will indeed be accountable before God and they will be judged with greater strictness (James 3:1). Nevertheless this does not mean we can sit back, relax, and imbibe everything they have to offer us and if we end up in any errors, we plead to God that it was their fault.
This should not be.
Soli Deo Gloria.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, November 27, 2005 at 3:25 PM.
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