BREAKING DOWN OR BUILDING UP?

Words have tremendous power—power to harm or to heal. We can build bridges to God and man or barriers between us with our speech. It is possible to use our mouths to supply grace or to siphon it.  

This is true for all of us, but is particularly a concern for those who preach and teach God’s people. Hence, the warning of James, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (3:1)‬‬. 

This begins a powerful section in James’ epistle on the potential of our talk for good or evil. One who has authoritative communication and an audience to impact faces a more intense scrutiny of his speech. It is a sobering consideration. As the children’s song warns, “Be careful little lips what you say.”  Paul echoes that here, and we must ask does my talk as a pastor break down or build up?

The speech that breaks down is described as, “corrupting talk.”  Our lips can spread toxic talk that infects others with harm. There are at least three ways this occurs.

We may speak words of discussion that are filthy. Usually, these are private conversations. It is the use of innuendo around the opposite sex, and locker room talk around our fellow man. 

We might speak words of delusion that are false. Doctrinal error in the pew comes from deviants in the pulpit—the malignancy of heresy that threatens the church’s life. 

We can speak words of division that are fractious. Our words, rising from a bitter spirit, infused with anger, turn the preacher into a fire-breathing dragon with potential to burn the church down. 

Instead we must aim for the speech that builds up, “good for building up.”  Our sermons in public and speech in private are to be edifying.  Paul points to three needful qualities. 

Such talk is intentional, “but only such as is good for building up.”  It is a matter of choice. God has given us the power of His Spirit to equip us to excise corrupting speech and extend constructive words.

Such talk is instructional, “as fits the occasion.”  It is a matter of context. There are times when the context of a congregant’s conduct demands confrontation and at other times  consolation. The way we say something, when we say it, and why we say it can be as meaningful as what we say.

Such talk is incarnational, “that it may give grace to those who hear.”  This is a matter of content. Our messages are to be filled with grace. We can impart that from God’s Word because we have ingested it from it. Our lives as well as our lips witness to the incarnation of our communication. Our objective then is to be channels that bring grace to those who hear and heed our message, so it will become incarnate in them.

Will we speak words that break down or build up?  One day we will give answer to Christ, the Living Word, for the life or death from our tongue.

FOLLOWING THE SHEPHERD

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,”. (Ephesians‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

The pastor has been assigned the duty of leading God’s flock. He can only do so effectively as he follows the Lord our Shepherd. The closer he abides in communion with Jesus, the clearer will be his sense of direction for the people. The nearer he walks in fellowship with the Lord, the more he will reflect Christ to the local congregation and community where he serves.

Paul indicates two gifts needful for us to seek in prayer—the wisdom and revelation given to us by the Holy Spirit. Now, these spiritual insights are available to all believers for each has God’s Spirit indwelling them. Yet, our focus in this devotional is that wisdom and revelation are indispensable for Christ’s appointed  shepherds.

We seek PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF GOD’S WORD. That is the Spirit of wisdom. As shepherds it is vital to immerse ourselves in God’s Word, that we may clearly hear the Shepherd’s voice. We are taught by His Spirit what the inspired text means. But, that is only part of what we must share with the flock. We are not only to show them what the verses mean, but tell them what they are to do about it. There is too much “ought to” preaching and not enough,“how to” preaching. Ponder the Proverbs—see how wisdom is applied in every dimension of life. Let us help the flock to gain such wisdom.  What they are fed on Sunday is so they will be led on Monday!

Further, we seek SCRIPTURAL DIRECTION IN GOD’S WILL. This is the Spirit of revelation. Here we must exercise some caution based on context. At the time Paul wrote this, the canon of Scripture had not been completed. Believers had the Old Testament writing, but the compilation of New Testament texts was in formation. This epistle would be part of that. God spoke directly and authoritatively to the Apostles and also through prophets in local churches. Now, since the final and full revelation of Scripture has been given, the way we hear from God is from the text. When the Scriptures speak, God speaks.  

However, the specific indication for a decision requires Scriptural  illumination. A host of issues are vital to a church moving forward in the will of God. So we pray about the choice of leaders, the building of a structure, the priorities of a budget, the addition of ministries, and a myriad of other matters.  There is no specific text for most of these decisions.  Yet, if our minds are grounded in God’s Word, the Spirit can guide us in God’s will. 

As the visible shepherd of a local flock, let us walk so closely with our Good and Great Shepherd that we will lead His sheep into green pastures to feed in and beside deep waters to drink from—as those who will give account for their care.

TOUGH AND TENDER

Picture in your mind, an NFL linebacker with rippling muscles and hands of viselike grip, who on Sunday afternoon can bring down a quarterback on a blitz—and on Sunday night can rock his newborn to sleep and caress his wife with those same hands. That is illustrative of the balance between tough and tender needed in a pastor leading a church to confront sin among the membership.

There has been a lack of toughness to tackle this issue in many churches. It is in part a reason for the anemic faith and compromised testimony of a significant number of members.  Yet, there are pastors who are leading their church to confront spiritual malignancy in the body of Christ.  Obviously texts such as Matthew 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 5-6, and 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 are prominent in guiding the church in this matter. But, do not forget Galatians 6:1. It reminds us that we must deal with the erring not only with toughness, but tenderness. 

Think of a doctor setting a broken bone to heal. Someone was running, they stumbled and fell, fracturing their arm. They are in pain. Sin can do that to any of us. That is why Paul warns the church to be gentle in dealing with such brokenness. We all can be tripped up by temptation. Pastors are not immune. The competent doctor does not just grab the arm and roughly yank it here and there, for such would bring further hurt and not healing. Skillfully, he sets the bone. He does not ignore the problem, but he does not exacerbate it either.

Discern the cause and cure for correcting the stumbling soul. Apply the proper measure of church discipline with the right mix of toughness and tenderness. The church elders must teach and model this for the church members to follow. It is part of preaching the whole counsel of God.

HARD HEARTS AND HURTING HEARTS

How many points does your sermon have?  Every sermon should have one—and here I am not speaking of an outline, but an objective. John Newton stated his this way, “My grand point in preaching is to break the hard heart, and to heal the broken one.”  While Newton is best known for penning, “Amazing Grace,” he was not only a writer of hymns, but a preacher of the Gospel. We would do well to adopt his aim—for sitting in our congregation will be those hard hearts needing breaking and hurting hearts needing binding.

THE GRAVITY OF THE GOSPEL

 

Preaching is serious business. There will be a severity in the preacher’s judgment before God for there is a gravity in his assignment to men. Paul’s strong rebuke here is not for a church member who strays into sin, but for the pastor who errs in his sermon.

Improper motivation may be the spark that ignites the hellish fire of Gospel distortion.  The desire to please men may temper our passion for reproof and cause us to tailor our proclamation to suit the congregation’s fancy.   Pride goes before a fall,  and the Apostle does not mince words when he calls upon such ear-tickling, man-pleasing preachers to fall into the abyss!  It is horrible to consider that a pastor might end up in hell—and far worse, be the pied piper who charms others to follow!

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”  (Galatians‬ ‭1:8-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

We can fear God or fear people.  We can seek God’s approval or man’s. We can speak in view of earthly gain or eternal reward. We will choose one to the exclusion of the other.  “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:10‬)

If we please God, it is certain that we will displease many people. Our intent is not to be obnoxious preachers whose goal is to offend, but that the approval or censure of man is immaterial—rather we pursue the commendation of God. Just know that there is a price to pay for that. But, the cost of perverting the Gospel is infinitely more. This is the gravity of the Gospel—the difference between heaven and hell.