DO NOT BE A BIBLE BULLY!

Paul was a man capable of confrontation. His knowledge of Scripture and power of speech meant he could lacerate his listeners with the Spirit’s Sword—the Word of God. Yet, he restrained himself—though in his flesh was tempted to do so. Did he not have the right?  Did he not write that the Word of God was the Sword of the Spirit?  True on both counts. Yet, authority is to be used to bless others and not to blast them. The Scriptural Sword is to be wielded against the foe and not our fellow soldiers. The preacher is not to be a Bible bully!  Let us examine 2 Corinthians 13:8-10.

We are to be CONVICTIONAL, “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth,” (v. 8).   By no means did the Apostle compromise the message. He was a man of clarity and conviction. He did not go along with error to get along with people. The Corinthian church was planted in a pagan environment that sought to mold them into its image. The struggle to resist and rather be shaped into the image of Christ was real. Sometimes they faltered and Paul found it necessary to be very direct. 

Our church members live in such a hotbed of heathenism. The peril of compromise with the culture is relentless. The temptation to be silent—like Lot dwelling in Sodom—is persistent. The Serpent whispers, “Believe what you want—but be nice and don’t try to force your beliefs on others. Jesus was nice and you should be.”  Sadly, many pastors reinforce that flawed thinking. Our people are ill-prepared to make a difference in the world. They do not have the distinctive qualities of light and salt that push back the darkness and restrain the rottenness of the culture. Pastors MUST equip the congregation with truth. Being concerned for others in their struggles does not mean we cannot be convictional about their sins. Indeed, we must be “for the truth.”  The Word of God will stand when all in this world perishes in judgment.

Yet, we are to be COMPASSIONATE, “For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete,” (v. 9). Paul was willing to sacrifice for the cause of Christ. He would pour himself out on the altar for the glory of the Lord and for the good of the church. His joy was found in expending his energy for others and not for himself. Many an hour was invested in intercession for the saints and when he saw them making progress in sanctification, then he knew his labor was not in vain. 

Being for the truth means that we are for the church. Elsewhere the Apostle spoke of the proper balance, “speaking the truth in love,” (Eph. 4:15a). Adrian Rogers expressed it this way, “Loveless truth is brutal. Truthless love is hypocrisy. Love in truth is necessary.” (The Adrian Rogers Legacy BIble, p. 1324). The result of conviction (truth) and compassion (love) is completeness (growth).  Then we will see that the people “may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ,” (Eph. 4:15b). 

Thus, we are to be CONSTRUCTIVE, “Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction,” (v. 10‬‬). There is a danger in “speaking off the cuff,” in our sermons. Paul faced the reality of this. He said that he was glad he was not physically present with the people—for in his emotional state he may have lacerated them with a sharp tongue. 

If you preface a point in your sermon with this, “I might not should say this, but…” you probably should not say it. Paul was able to calm down and write a constructive message instead of a destructive one. God can use spontaneity in sermons. If the Spirit leads us to say something off script then we should follow His prompting. We are there to please God and not people. Yet, in the heat of the moment, it is more likely we may act on a fleshly impulse and blame the Spirit for it. 

I advocate writing out your sermons as Paul did here. As you read over your notes and think through the text, you are more likely to resist the temptation to be a Bible bully. Our desire is to be constructive in using our preaching to build others up and not tear them down. We do not speak to “get something off our chest,” but to get Scripture into their hearts.

I think Paul was following the Jesus model in ministry.  Our Lord pictured His method this way, “A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory;” (Matt.‬ ‭12‬:‭20‬‬).  The bruised reed—a plant bent and bruised—must be tenderly straightened or it will break rather than heal. The smoking flax—the wick of a lamp barely glowing—must have a gentle breath to cause it to burn again instead of being blown out by a forceful breath. This is how we must deal with struggling saints—and we have pews full of them. 

I have written these words of A. J, Gossip in the front of my Bible as a reminder, “The mass of trouble in a congregation is quite unbelievable. And they come up to church, looking to you to help them, hoping for some word to bring them through.”

Will our speech be constructive “for edification,” or destructive, “for destruction”?  Will we build up the church or blow it up?  Do not be a Bible bully!