Preach the Truth, Not Just Truths
Preach the Truth, Not Just Truths
By Fr. Scott Adle
Guest posters should probably fear to go where Frs Eckardt and Beane have trod, but perhaps they would consider this a friendly amendment.
Along with various and sundry illustrations, stories, anecdotes, and conversations while aboard an aeroplane, perhaps let us add that there are wholesale swathes of true things that aren’t really pertinent for sermon material.
Walther, in his 24th Evening Lecture, complained thusly:
During this awful time matters finally came to such a pass that rationalistic preachers, to counteract the idea that they were superfluous in this world and to prove their usefulness, would treat from their pulpits subjects like these: Intelligent Agriculture; Profitableness of Potato-raising; Tree planting a Necessity; Importance of Genuine Sanitation; etc.
Hmmm . . . wanting to counteract the idea that they were superfluous to the world, and wanting to prove they were really useful engines, they gave up room in sermons for . . . all sorts of stuff that’s not about Christ or Christian doctrine.
And, for the sake of argument, let’s say that what was said about potato raising, genuine sanitation, and the rest was totally correct. The response of the hearers in such a circumstance should probably be, “So what? Why are you wasting time as a pastor talking about that in a sermon?”
Many are the times we as pastors may think that the same old doctrines we preach week in, week out, are superfluous. “Who doesn’t know this by now?” We therefore are tempted to want to discuss other topics, topics that we think will be useful.
Again, for the sake of argument, let’s say that your thoughts on such matters are completely accurate, should you take sermon time to talk about crime statistics, human biodiversity, or climate change (or lack thereof)? Why not spend time on the truths expressed in calculus, the engineering of OLED televisions, and the (supposed) Heliocentricity of our “solar” system?
Even when people deny whatever truth there may be in such things, they can live a pretty normal Christian life. While we aren’t against what may be true in any of those topics, neither are they worth spending sermon time on. Some things may be true, but not all things are beneficial, brothers.
Of course, as individuals and citizens, we may have all sorts of takes on these and many other things. Fine. Yet, “let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
As we look at the Ascension readings, the apostles asked Jesus “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Is this a bad question? Maybe, if they were thinking the same things as before Holy Week.
But there is also a sense in which it is a good, Christian question. To look around at the messed up world, and to want Christ to end it all and make it new and better – to some extent, this is what we pray for in the Lord’s Prayer, and which will happen on the Last Day.
Jesus tells them it’s not the time. They have things to do before that Day. However, He doesn’t then go on to discuss with them how they are to explain the truths of “intelligent agriculture,” advanced mathematical principles, or government structures (even as helpful as we would find that stuff).
Instead, “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.’”
As you read the rest of the book of Acts, you see in their preaching and teaching, this is what they dwell on: Jesus crucified and risen, and calling people to repentance over sins and the forgiveness found in Christ.
Are there other truths out there? Sure. But don’t be the guy talking about potato farming in your sermons, just don’t.