Bold Words and Compassionate Hearts: Why We Need Both
I was listening to an interesting article about a pastor in Charlotte who was fired from his church. Now, the question is why? The article leaned toward the idea that he was dismissed simply because he was preaching social justice. However, the church has a deep tradition of being involved in social justice issues as best they could, speaking out, and more. It is a largely white, wealthy church in a community of the same.
When they interviewed parishioners, they said that this simply was not the case. Or maybe I should say this was not a simple case, or the case cannot be put so simply. They pointed out that their attendance had diminished by half. They expressed that what they heard from the pulpit week in and week out was guilt for who they are. Finally, they also said that the pastor was ignoring his pastoral duties such as visiting the sick. The pastor pointed out that he hired someone to do this full-time. Hmmmm…. Might there be more than one side to this story? I believe so.
As a pastor, I know how important it is to visit the sick, care for the lonely, and tend to the dying. This cannot be completely farmed out except at maybe the largest of churches. I also know that all members of the church are responsible for the care of one another. I also know that we must be bold and speak the truth but do so in love. Was this pastor failing to love his people? I do not know. I would have to go back and listen to numerous sermons and make my own determination.
The book of Jeremiah has a wonderful, and important story, about Hananiah and Jeremiah. They were both prophets in Judah, during the time when Babylon had conquered the southern kingdom of Judah. They were under the yoke of a foreign oppressor. Now, the prophet Jeremiah said that this yoke would continue for many years. Israel must pay for its sins. Jeremiah literally walked around with a wooden yoke over his shoulders to demonstrate his point. Hananiah came along and took the yoke off his shoulders, broke it in two, and said “No, God would redeem Israel soon. Don’t worry.” Well, Jeremiah responded: “Boy, I hope you’re right, but that’s not what God told me. God said that in one year, you will die, and Israel will still be under the yoke.” Guess what? Hananiah died. Jeremiah was right. So, we have the book of Jeremiah and not Hananiah!
Hananiah spoke what the people wanted to hear. He was supported for it. Preachers must be willing to preach God’s word and not simply what people want to hear. Unfortunately, none of us are prophets. We don’t get any new word from God. Rather we must faithfully preach and interpret (Yes, every preacher interprets. Everyon. Period.) God’s word. Yet, we do so in love. We do so in love because God’s word tells us to do so. We do so in love also because quite frankly if we don’t, people will not listen.
Thankfully, I preach at a church that loves pretty well, including their preacher. I have the freedom to speak God’s word, even when it is hard to hear. We are called to love the Lord our God and to pursue God’s justice in this world. People can talk about what that looks like, but there is absolutely no mistaking that God’s word calls us to love God and neighbor. All neighbors. The ones in our pews. The ones in the Refugee Welcome House behind our church. The ones at the meal for the homeless. All.
What do you think?
-Pastor John Trump
