What Should the Preacher Do? I raise this question for myself. This post is for my own examination. And for the church to pray.
When a nation (or world) is on the brink of (or in the midst of) judgment, what should the preacher do?
I’ll give my short answer first, followed by a few thoughts.
Short answer: Preach the oracles of God. Point the nation to Christ.
A few thoughts for my own consideration:
This is not a day for the individual creativeness of the preacher to shine. This is a day for the preacher to remain steadfast. God has ordained preaching for days like this. It’s John MacArthur who said, “When there is a crisis, people look for a program. But God looks for a preacher.” Society is right now looking for some system to fix the crisis. But God has appointed preachers to preach.
The preacher must not become fixed on results brought on by his clever creativity. He will, however, minister uniquely in his day of crisis. But the crisis should not define his duty. Preacher, you are destined by God for this day and God has provided the message for you.
Preacher, as in Jeremiah’s case, these words of God will both tear down and plant. And like Jeremiah, you are not guaranteed ease and popularity.
- Remain resolved to your preaching duty, this divine mission.
- While wanting to be compassionate, careful, mindful, merciful, and responding to real pain in people’s lives, the preacher must not be found dancing around the issues. This is no day for skirting the truth, this is a day for exposing broken cisterns that hold no water.
- Don’t hold back your mourning for the wickedness of the nation while you preach in a day like this. Be like the “weeping prophet” and like the “weeping servant Savior”, act accordingly within the holiness of God.
What about today? What does the preacher do, not just when the nation is on the path to judgment, but when the nation is in judgment?
Rise up in this day, preacher, and preach! (Even if in front of a camera; preach!)
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