Does Expository Preaching Pervert Scripture?
Here is a controversial one for you: Is it possible for one to take the infallible Word of God, rearrange it to communicate a message we feel compelled to preach, then communicate that as ultimate Truth, without perverting the inherent Truth?
Or should we have a certain humility about us when we preach? Should we make sure to articulate the fact that this is what we make of what Scripture says? Or, better yet, should we simply read what it says, then ask, "What can we learn from this?" and proceed to offer tentative solutions? I think systematic theologians or dogmaticians could use a heavy dose of this humility as well, if indeed my premise is correct.
But is it correct? If so, it has monumental implications. What does the Bible itself bring to bear on this question? What does Revelation 22:18-19 impose on the expositor or theologian?
Thoughts?And here is the rest of it.
Or should we have a certain humility about us when we preach? Should we make sure to articulate the fact that this is what we make of what Scripture says? Or, better yet, should we simply read what it says, then ask, "What can we learn from this?" and proceed to offer tentative solutions? I think systematic theologians or dogmaticians could use a heavy dose of this humility as well, if indeed my premise is correct.
But is it correct? If so, it has monumental implications. What does the Bible itself bring to bear on this question? What does Revelation 22:18-19 impose on the expositor or theologian?
Thoughts?And here is the rest of it.
Hiya,
ReplyDeleteI actually don't think that it is an either/or. I really believe that if a person daily is exposing their hearts and minds to scripture, then the knowledge that it applies to oneself comes no matter what. With this comes the understanding that God would be perfectly right in stepping on me and squashing me, sending me into outer darkness right now, but he doesn't - only because of Jesus and the Cross. In fact it really isn't what I believe, it is how Scripture presents itself. Also, humility doesn't mean doormat, softspoken, or conflict-o-phobic, which is sometimes what people mean (I don't think you mean that, I don't get the impression that you are conflict-o-phobic.)
In addition, I think that expository preaching is the only thing that people called to unfolding God's word can do prevent themselves from perverting scripture. If preaching becomes the mode of communication for what has the pastor's undies in a bundle, then the whole thing inevitably becomes prooftext city. Certainly it is still possible, but the possibility is greatly enhanced for the person who sees the word through their own philosphical lens, rather than being subject to the words themselves, no matter how unfortunate, unreasonable or unimaginable they may seem to one's own reasoning.
Humility is certainly a mark of sanctification but if the humble deny what scripture says and lead people into the tunnels of their own minds and what they may think is right or wrong, I think that the humilty becomes a deadly stumbling block for the person who values it above what scripture actually says.
And I'm really not sure how the Revelation citation comments on this. It seems that the hundreds of instructions,commands,and narrative examples throughout the bible to teach and instruct and rebuke and reprove using only God's word must be looked at as well. Are you suggesting that unfolding the word of God is adding to it? I really don't understand.
Thanks
Jason
I suppose I should have entitled the post "Can expository preaching pervert Scripture?" or "Does it often...?" My point is that if what the expositor "unpacks" from scripture is not itself scripture, and it is communicated as if it were absolute Truth, then this would border on "adding to" or "taking away" from scripture. You're right in assuming I don't humility as wussiness. I'm all about zealous preaching, but most zealous preachers I hear speak as if their interpretation of scripture is absolutely true and unquestionable. I would advocate a zeal that is matched by a verbal, public recognition that "this is what I have gathered from my studies and believe the scriptures are saying" rather than "this IS what the scriptures are saying", unless, of course, the evidence supporting one's conclusions are absolutely conclusive.
ReplyDeleteYou're completely right that those who preach unexpositorily but instead prooftexted, topical rants are even farther off base. BTW, I don't think that exposition is necessarily always bound to the book-by-book, chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse format. Topics can be addressed expositionally. Preachers like Piper, who spent HOW many years in Romans neglect to feed their flocks from a wider breadth of God's Word. I love his preaching... but there has to be a balance between breadth and depth.
I agree with the part about anyone needing humility when searching for ultimate truth. I think it is very possible to take the text of the Bible and do several things with it: draw out the more subtle truths, put the truths in words that allow one to better apply them to their situation, or take the truths found in scripture to help us realize undiscovered wisdom (although Ecclesiastes seems to say that just about everything said today has already been said). Wouldn't the verses where Jesus explains that a teacher draws both old and new treasures out apply here? The scripture is jam packed with truth and it is not always easy to draw it all out. Furthermore, aren't many of the truths found in scripture somewhat abstract. They can be retold over and over again in many different ways. A large portion of the Bible is story, the rest of it is based within a larger story. Such writing begs further discussion and not just a strict adherance to the original wording.
ReplyDeleteCaleb,
ReplyDeleteMy thinking on this issue has become more nuanced over the past few months, to say the least. You know, really the issue is whether preaching in general does pervert God's Word. Like I said in my response to Jason, my title presumes too much. Should've said "Can..." And the answer is obviously, "Yes."
Scripture itself is full of prescriptions and descriptions of God's Word being preached, with over 30 different verbs communicating this. If it weren't for these, we might have had to limit ourselves to the public reading of the Word (which is also commanded in Scripture). But they're there, and so we can, indeed must, preach the Word, in season and out. But it is a tremendous responsibility to do so, and it comes with the intense scrutiny of God. We will be judged according to how we handle His Word, and those of us called to preach will be judged more strictly than others. This should be cause for utter trembling every time we prepare our sermons and prepare to give them. We are, quite literally, standing on Holy Ground.