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Currently browsing thread: Preaching Law to the Choir Petersen Sep 23, 2009 11:50:32
Preaching Law to the Choir
Petersen
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Sep 23, 2009 11:50:32 		The problem with so much of our Law preaching is that we're preaching against people who are absent rather than preaching to those gathered to hear the Word and receive the Lord's Body and Blood. As is fitting with our fallen flesh, this preaching is often wildly popular, characterizes frequently by Dr. David Scaer as the boastful self-indulgence of a "self congratulatory society." Perhaps it is best seen in the apocryphal tales of old timey LCMS Reformation services where the pastor preached at length against the pope, who never once has attended a Reformation service in the LC-MS.

The problem not simply that the Law isn't heard by those who need it . The problem is that this preaching feeds prejudice and stokes hubris in the hearts of those present. It fails to convict anyone or glorify Christ.

In contrast, tthe Law is to be preached in such a way that the hearers would not turn to judge their neighbors, or those in the church down the street, but that they would examine their own consciences. The hearer needs to be led to recognize his own delusions and self-justifications, to see how his bad behavior is not exceptional but characteristic, that his sins come from inside himself and are a better expression of his true self than the fiction he presents to the world, all of which is to say that he is thoroughly corrupt and evil. This can be a painful and terrifying experience, but strangely, Christians love it.

Christians love it because it is the Truth and it glorifies Christ. When the Law convicts us of our sins and we say "amen" to it, it and we, have told the truth. The truth feeds faith, underscores humility, and subdues the flesh. Conviction leads to repentance, a sincere sorrow over sin, a desire to do better, and a desperate hope that there is an escape provided not by justice by by mercy. This is the chief work do the Law: to lead to this desire for mercy, to lead to Christ. For the Law shows the sinner his need for a Savior and sweetens the Gospel by contrast.

We preach the Law not to condemn the absent, but to condemn sin and sinners, to teach sinners the hard and humility work of examining themselves, of confessing the pitiful lies we've told and our self-absorption, our thousand pretend ways meant to fool ourselves and our neighbors into thinking we are better than we are, to confront what is really in us and who we really are, not as a way of nagging us to better behavior or to make us feel superior to other people, but to show us how great and selfless Christ's rescue is. Christians love this because it is true and because it glorifies Christ. In contrast, condemning the sins of others is popular, but it does nothing to glorify Christ. Even if the grace of God prevents it from becoming open racism and the like, the only thing it might positively do is glorify morality, and we already have Aristotle for that.  

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  • Sep 23, 2009 17:16:48 Re: Preaching Law to the Choir - Rev. Olson
    This is what I learned from attending services at Redeemer. God prepared me well by giving me an orthodox pastor who properly distinguishes law and gospel. Thanks Pastor Petersen. JCO+
  • Sep 23, 2009 15:27:33 Re: Preaching Law to the Choir - Rev. Keith Reeder
    In Hom II, Dr. Fickenscher spoke on this topic, teaching us not to preach "Bill & Monica" sermons--those that get everyone nodding in agreement because they feel safe and secure as they avoid such public indiscretions.

    Great post! We need to hit (and be hit) where it hurts: in our pride and phony moral superiority to others.
  • Sep 23, 2009 13:55:31 Re: Preaching Law to the Choir - Rev. Thomas C. Messer
    Thank you, Pr. Petersen. I need to be reminded of this. It is often very tempting to allow the specific sins of some in the congregation to hog the preaching of the Law, which is usually rather useless, since they're not there to hear it anyway. I know I have fallen prey to this temptation when someone approaches me and says, "Great sermon! I wish those who needed to hear it were here."
  • Sep 23, 2009 13:30:03 Re: Preaching Law to the Choir - Rev. Eric Brown
    I like to call some things "Glamour Sins". I could preach a rip roaring sermon about the evils of homosexuality, and I'd probably hear good compliments on it. . . but how many folks are struggling with temptations towards homosexuality. Or a rip roaring sermon on the ills of abortion. . . and the best pats on the back would come from folks whom are beyond the days of having kids. People love law that doesn't apply to them. But preach about actually leading chaste and decent lives, supporting and honoring spouses, etc. - well. . . you know. . . that's just not as fun.
    • Sep 24, 2009 07:57:13 Re: Preaching Law to the Choir - Rev. Paul T. McCain
      "Glamor sins" - nice turn of phrase, Eric. Love it.

      The sin people might be struggling with re. homosexuality, in addition to those who actually are homosexuals, is the temptation to shrug it off and regard it not to be sin. This is the danger of the ELCA decision for our folks, they may well read the smooth-talking Bishop Hanson's words about all just gathering under the foot of the cross and not worrying about our differences and how we should encourage people to be "loving" and "faithful" in their "lifelong" and "monogamous" unions and say, "Oh, what could be wrong with that?"

      I think Satan is much, much more insidious than we ever possibly give him credit for.

      I've been ponding of late two Biblical phrases about the nature of Satan and evil.

      "Wolves in sheep's clothing" and "Angel of light"

  • Sep 23, 2009 13:18:33 Re: Preaching Law to the Choir - Pr. Tom Fast
    So does this mean I have to quit preaching against secular humanism, hollywood, homosexuals, the evils of public education, unbelievers, and liberals? What in the heck am I left with then? I don't get it. :-)
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