To all preachers these words of the Savior have something very positive to say. We must not attempt to entertain men with all kinds of so-called sermons on social improvement. It brings no spiritual blessing to the hearts of sinners to hear discussions of political questions, of moral issues, of civic advancement, and, for that matter, any other temporal issue. What God wants sinners to hear is His Word. He tells preachers: "Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season," 2 Tim. 4:2. You and I are to expose the sin and guilt of our hearers. With the hammer of God's holy Law we are to crush their hearts. We are to cause them to tremble that they may ask, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16: 30. And then we must tell the story of Jesus and His love. We must lead poor sinners to the Cross of the Redeemer and tell them, "The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all," Is. 53:6. "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin," I John 1:7. "He hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him," 2 Cor. 5:21. Are you proclaiming this message? Or are you wasting your own time and the time of your hearers with subject matter that does not belong into the pulpit? Unless we proclaim the Word of God, we miss the mark altogether. Only the Word of God is "the power unto salvation," Rom. 1:16.
John Behnken, President of the LCMS 1945-1962, in "Mercies Manifold: Radio Messages Broadcast During the Summer of 1949, CPH 1950, pp. 117f.
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3 comments:
I'm not entirely certain I agree. It strikes me that if a text genuinely sheds light on a social or political matter, we should go there.These are matters we would do well to lay them before our people. We do still have an obligation to serve our neighbor in these matters. But as preachers we must never force such things, but follow the lectionary,and speak to them as they appear in the text.
Rev. Jody R. Walter
Frederic, Wisconsin
Good point.
The thing about such issues is that they may bring Law concerns that are properly addressed in a sermon. Amos, Hosea, Jeremiah, etc., dealt with the moral and political situation in the 8th to 6th centuries BC. Preaching on Old Testament texts almost inevitably brings you into these things.
The only thing about such a sermon is that it cannot be left all Law. A sermon that has not also brought the Gospel is not feeding the sheep.
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