In a culture that claims there is no truth but opinions, it is easy for preachers to be coerced into a place where we treat God’s word as a suggestion instead of a command. Today, someone suggested that I “enrich a conversation” instead of opposing another person’s views. What it means is that I should present my ideas in addition to the other ideas (as one of the many ideas) so that they can be judged along with others. It is important to present superior arguments from the Word of God. True! But it is also important to correct falsehoods by calling them what they are.
Such comments like I received are subtle demands on preachers to tone down on the authority with which they preach. We must resist this! It is an invitation to treat the Word of God as one of the many opinions of men.
As Christians or preachers, we are not simply in the conversation to enrich it but to speak the mind of God. Our attitude must speak it. It is not about being arrogant or insulting. But it is also not about being tolerant of indifference towards truth. It is important to listen. But it is also important to assert that the “conversation” ends when God speaks (in a sense that the matter is settled)! While Satan aggressively misleads many, we are not called to simply “enrich conversations” but to pull down strongholds. Pull them down!
The Bible says,
[3] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. [4] For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, [5] casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, [6] and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
(II Corinthians 10:3-6, NKJV)
Of course, as preachers, we don’t know it all. Of course, we may get it wrong sometimes too as humans. But the authority of truth (God’s Word) must not be despised in the name of a “conversation”. If a conversation means the endless pool of conflicting ideas, the God’s clear truth on the matter is the final say.
Pious D. Serwonu
piousdserwonu@gmail.com
October 31, 2023.