Lazy Preaching

In my travels this summer I’ve heard several sermons from different preachers. Some were good, some were great; some were… not. I expect a pastor to have studied the scripture, connected it to other scriptures, carefully considered the original context and thoughtfully and prayerfully crafted a message that brings practical application to the congregation. Some, however just don’t. Some appear to give the passage a brief skimming then focus on a line or two of scripture, then spend their creative energies trying to conform the passage to their own agenda. Some ignore the context and message all together, and instead of trying to enlighten, encourage or instruct the listener, they try to entertain, making jokes at every turn, apparently judging the success of the message with a laugh-o-meter.

One particular sermon sticks in my craw. The "text" was presented as being from Philippians 2:5-11, an amazing instructional passage encouraging the Philippians to give up vain ambitions, to serve selflessly, following the example of Christ. The pastor instead, used only the line, “Have the mind of Christ,” in his sermon and used it to push a legalistic agenda. He glorified church attendance and Bible reading, as an end not a means. He used anecdotes to lift up the example of a friend who was most of the time "away from the Lord," but made his kids go to bed at 10 on Saturdays so they could be in church.  Because that’s the way it should be. He told us to read the Bible daily, because we brush our teeth daily. Not to grow, not to learn, not for the joy of developing a relationship with our Creator and Savior. Just because we should…. “have the mind of Christ,” and Christ did what was expected of him. The only other thing I remember was that he hinted strongly that parents should (be able to) spank and asked for “Amens,” repeatedly.

Now, none of these “points” is wrong. We should want to be in communion with other believers and are encouraged by the writer of Hebrews not to “give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another.” (10:25) However, nothing in this scripture commands us to be in church “every time the doors are open.”  When preached without the joy of community, this reeks of Pharisaical legalism. Reading the Bible daily is something we should do, not as a chore; not as we brush our teeth, but with delight. Psalm 1:1-2 tells us, “Blessed is the one… whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on it day and night.” This delight in God’s law reminds me of a fiction buff’s passion for reading, a stat head’s propensity for crunching numbers. The meditation reminds me of the way I look at my wife, considering every freckle, the little scar on her cheek, the sparkle in her blue eyes when she catches me looking at her and smiles back. We should delight in God’s Word to us and meditate on it as we gaze into the eyes of a lover, not endure it as we brush, floss and gargle at the sink for five minutes before bed. As for corporal punishment, discipline is necessary and the Proverbs 13:24 tells us, "Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them," but how does discipline and spanking fit with a text on humility?

Someone apparently spent less than five minutes with this scripture and missed out. He missed out on Christ's humility that led him to wash his disciples feet. (John 13:4-17) He missed out that this whole passage about having the mind of Christ, isn't really about obedience, but about peace, fellowship and love through humility, servant-hood and sacrifice. He missed out, as did everyone who laughed at the jokes, and everyone who amen-ed when prompted, and everyone who left church thinking they had been fed. 

When pastors present the Word with such haphazard irreverence, presenting their agenda rather than revelation, they set themselves on a pedestal. They disrespect the Word, and the One who sent it, contradicting Philippians 2:3 "Don't try to impress others." They would be better off to read the scripture and sit down. John 13:16 tells us that after Jesus washed the disciples' feet he told them, "Nor is the messenger greater than the one who sends the message."  And James 3:1 cautions us, "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly."

On a positive note, such lazy preaching has motivated me to read closer with more intention, to delight in and meditate on the Word of God.