An earlier article argued against the claim for no or strictly private/indirect polemic. In a simple definition, we referred to polemics as correcting wrong doctrine within the Church. But we had to state in emphasis that polemics did not apply to negligible errors.
For instance, in a recent sermon, I made a mistake of saying the initial army of Gideon numbered about 3200, instead of 32,000 soldiers as stated in the Bible. I did not like the mistake when I realized it during my post-sermon review (because I remember I was not sure in the moment I said it and it reflected in my language). I believe we must strive for excellence in what we do. That was a mistake, but it did not alter the message significantly.
Polemics is not about coming out to point out that Pious lied about the number of soldiers. If we have done that in our work, we repent of it; because the motivation for such a correction may more easily be ungodly. It may also not be worthy of the natural heat polemics often generates. We must avoid such simple mistakes, but we often will make some of those mistakes. Personally, I think slowing down in the middle of a sermon helps me avoid such mistakes and even graver imbalances. If we have the discipline of not being carried away by the excitement from the crowd, our passion for a subject or any other factor, it will be very helpful. God help us all.
In the earlier article, I referred to such mistakes as mine as grammatical or negligible mistakes. Let’s add “numerical”, since that fits my example. If I found such mistakes in a book I was writing, I would edit them. In that regard, they are significant, just not compared to the mistakes that polemics is most directly concerned with.
To use the wrong prescription example, a spelling mistake can still be very dangerous. A misplaced comma can be dangerous. Where from this example? Here! “Please, kill Pious” is different from “Please kill, Pious.” (I certainly uphold the latter. Lol) Small mistakes can be very big dangers in many matters. If such occur in theological matters, we must be concerned. They are no longer small errors. It means we must pursue excellence and precision with the help of God. But if the doctor in our example from the earlier article spelled paracetamol as ‘paratamol’ (even their handwriting is often worse; I’ve seen only one doctor write nicely), unless the mistake is very confusing, going to a radio station to condemn this mistake is high-handed. The magnitude of errors, I mean, determine the magnitude of correction.
We are not angry people looking for preachers to devour. We do not think we are perfect. But if you tell me God is not a way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper or the light; you have certainly gone too far. If you say half of the New Testament is not from God but human opinion, you have gone too far. You deserve a public rebuke! You do! And a private rebuke too.
With love, all humility and all seriousness,
For the sake of the Kingdom,
And to the glory of God alone,
PDS.
God help us all! 🙏🙏
This is a series. Read previous and first episode here.
Next episode is here.