Half of Pastors Worry They’ll Offend Someone if They Preach on Controversial Topics
New polling has revealed half of American pastors are too concerned they might offend someone to speak out on hot-button social and moral issues, but could that problem have a simple fix?
According to research from the Barna Group, the same issues pastors feel most pressured to preach about are also the ones they feel most uncomfortable addressing.
It should come as no surprise the issues at the top of the heap are homosexuality and abortion.
Maybe they should rethink there occupation. Maybe I should say it like this were they really called or did they just think this was going to be Easy Street. Either way I think they should go back to oh say the BIBLE!!! Or start steppin.
"The Bible alone explains the state of things that we see in the world around us. There are many things on earth which a natural man cannot explain. The amazing inequality of conditions,-the poverty and distress; the oppression and persecution,-the shakings and tumults,-the failures of statesmen and legislators,-the constant existence of uncured evils and abuses,-all these things are often puzzling to him. He sees, but does not understand. But the Bible makes it all clear. The Bible can tell him that the whole world lieth in wickedness; that the prince of the world, the devil, is everywhere,-and that it is vain to look for perfection in the present order of things. The Bible will tell him that neither laws nor education can ever change men’s hearts,-and that just as no man will ever make a machine work well, unless he allows for friction,-so also no man will do much good in the world, unless he always remembers that human nature is fallen, and that the world he works in is full of sin. The Bible will tell him that there is “a good time” certainly coming,-and coming perhaps sooner than people expect it,-a time of perfect knowledge, perfect justice, perfect happiness, and perfect peace." (J C Ryle)
Doesn't this news item remind you of 2 Timothy 4: 3-4
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Faith confirms that the Bible was written by God. - Preaching is the channel OF GOD. Acts 20:22-24.
God wrote the Bible. 2Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." = From 2Tim 3:16.
Summing up the witness of the New Testament, we find that human authorship or instrumentality is fully recognised and yet human agency is not conceived of as in any way impairing the divine origin, character, truth and authority of Scripture. It is divine in its origin because it is the product of God's creative breath and because it was as borne by the Holy Spirit that men spoke from God. For these reasons it bears an oracular character that accords it an authority as real and divine as if we heard the voice of God speaking from heaven. This oracular character is a permanent feature and so Scripture has an abiding stability and application - it is unbreakable and indissoluble." (John Murray)
My initial thoughts too, brother. But the survey included all sorts of "ministers" including mainline Protestant, non-traditional Protestant, Catholic, Mormons, Jewish, Islamic, and Jehovah's Witness.
Keeping that in mind I think it not wise to make a generalization about churches due to the answers that were derived from this survey.
It should come as no surprise the issues at the top of the heap are homosexuality and abortion.
“The pressure for leaders, and especially faith leaders, to satisfy everyone on all sides and to avoid offense is very real today, especially in the digital era,” said Roxanne Stone, editor-in-chief of Barna. “The public nature of social media only increases the stakes.”
“I think a lot of guys probably have thought, ‘I don’t wanna hurt my approval rating,’” he said. “It’s the same reason presidents don’t do everything they said they were gonna do.”
The above are from the article.
This is the evolution of the churches today; not all, but most IMO. Like politicians, pastors are simply doing what satisfies their congregations, the same as politicians do what pleases their constituencies. Someone behind the pulpit should preach and teach what the Spirit says to do, not what their followers want to hear or feel comfortable with. A pastor can be faithful and pleasing to God with 5 members or he can be unfaithful to God and have 5,000. The numbers can be relevant or irrelevant; they mean nothing.
Why bringing light to a dark place on a public street corner is a wise decision. In bringing the Church to the streets in proclaiming & declaring why their is Hope to be found in & through Christ Alone. As men need to stand up & be Men by Fathering their Children, n’t taking their lives away!
Today, the same mouthpieces for Planned Parenthood are claiming “lack of access” while black women access abortion clinics at 5 times the rate of white women. Abortion kills more black lives (363,705)10 than all other causes of death combined (285,522).11 In NYC, home of Planned Parenthood, more black babies are aborted than born alive! Abortion, no matter the race, is a tragedy. But in the black community, it is epidemic. Mainstream media, black celebrities, health care professionals & so-called black leaders continue to shill for Planned Parenthood, while our churches (who stood against injustice during the Civil Rights Movement) are mostly silent. Regardless, the truth screams loud & clear. Under the false liberty of ‘reproductive freedom’ we are killing our very future.
The Quiet Christian wrote: Thanks, John Lee. I agree too with your post to an extent. But obedience doesn't necessarily equate to material blessings, as if Godliness was some sort of earthly gain, and having read your other posts doubt you meant that. In fact, we may be blessed with persecutions. Actually, obedience is evidence that we love our Savior and our Father in Heaven. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them: is he that loveth me: and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him, and will show mine own self to him. - John 14:21
Quite so, QC.
In context, the point is that many true believers are sitting under the ministry of the word - which excessively panders to the saints by preaching things like the love of God, the free salvation through Jesus Christ, and an almost antinomian theology - such that the Spirit becomes quenched or even grieved, on account of a lack of obedience, which obedience, as you say, is a showing forth of the fruit of the Spirit.
It is easy to prove that Obedience = Blessings. Simply pick one of the Commandments, break it incessantly, and see what happens to your spiritual life.
Praise God for Godly Pastors who have a Godly fear of Christ. Who want to hold Christ in a Holy reverence in their lives. & by encouraging their flock to be ready in & out of season, in n’t being ashamed of declaring in love. Why their is no King but Christ Alone! Regardless of ones Poltical take is. As morality might keep one out of jail, but only the Blood of Christ will keep one out Hell!; Jhn 10:25-28!
As Abortion is today’s Birth Control, but those who love their Pet Sins, don’t want their Conscience to have too think about how much strength & effort it takes to surepress His truths in acts of unrighteousness!
Thanks, John Lee. I agree too with ypur post to an extent. But obiedience doesn't necessarily equate to material blessings, as if Godliness was some sort of earthly gain, and having read your other posts doubt you meant that. In fact, we may be blessed with persecutions. Actually, obedience is evidence that we love our Savior and our Father in Heaven.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them: is he that loveth me: and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him, and will show mine own self to him. - John 14:21
The Apostles Paul, Peter, and John put a lot of effort into how saving faith and repentence unto life on the inside of a believer needs to manifest itself on the outside of a believer. It is well worth any preacher's time and attention.
Sorry, left out the homosexuality issue which has been preached on as well. Again not as condemning but as guardrails protects against disasters, the preaching of God’s Word protects from coming Judgement on the world. As a child of around 9 I went to a revival with a neighbor. The evangelist drew pictures during his sermon which kept my attention. He not only preached on hell but drew pictures of a man in the flames 🔥 of hell which I have never forgotten these many moons later. Sorry that’s my Indian bloodline coming out . A few years later I was drawn to give my life to God, feeling His love for me and conviction for my sins and a mixture maybe of the preacher that drew pictures .
Jim Lincoln wrote: .. too bad too many pastors don't feel any pressure on not preaching politics.
Preaching the gospel to the choir seems to be a silly way to go. How does that change minds outside the stained glass windows? Speaking on the evils of the day is politics? A self-check on motive could be useful.
When a politician says it’s ok to kill babies and to commit that God clearly says is murder and admonition then they stepped over the line that God has drawn in the sand and we as Christians have to take a stand. Our pastor speaks against both and uses guardrail on the highway as an example of keeping cars from dangerous wrecks and sermons of warnings when committing sins to know what those consequences of destruction will be. Not judging,just warnings of the dangers of those sins.
The second article is about the ill effects of James Dobson, who mixes psychology, politics and religion to a very ill result.👎
http://www.biblebb.com/files/dobson.htm (This excerpt from the sermon addresses the controversy that exists between the ministry of Dr. John MacArthur and that of Dr. James Dobson (Focus on the Family), on the issue of preaching the gospel to change the wickedness of man versus using political legislation to accomplish that end.)
too bad too many pastors don't feel any pressure on not preaching politics.
Dr. Tim wrote: I read the entire article, UPS. A true man of God must preach whatever God lays on his heart to preach. That sometimes means that people will be offended, and some will even leave. So be it. The Bible doesn’t say that we must all appear before the judgment seat of the crowd.
Agreed Doc. Except for citing Joel Olsteen, the article didn't say that the preachers didn't preach the whole Word of God or not offend their congregation. It said they felt pressured about it, one way or the other, per stats. We both said the same thing, preach the Word and let the chips fall where they may.
We have seen here that some don't present truth (and sometimes it is their version of truth) in love and humility, it just hammer over the head and holier than thou posting. Paul's words were, Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. We all could use being careful to address things in meekness and concern when giving the truth of the Word of God.
The Quiet Christian wrote: The wounds of a lover are faithful, and the kisses of an enemy are pleasant. - Proverbs 27:6 The pastor who loves his congregation and the Lord tells them the truth. Likewise, the congegant who is challenged by a sermon or a statement from the pulpit by a reliable pastor and is offended needs to take that to heart as a "faithful wound." Too often us pew sitters want "kisses" rather than "wounds." For if the whole Scripture is given for four purposes with one of those to correct (2 Timothy 3:16), there might be a problem if a faithful preacher isn't calling us up short from time to time.
I quite agree QC with what you say.
In my experience, because of a great need to restore to the church the glorious doctrine of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, thusly JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH, this doctrine has been focussed on too exclusively, to the detriment of Christian responsibility subsequent to conversion. Such that pew sitters begin to enjoy having their heads patted and comforting words spoken, which leads to a false assurance of salvation, rather than ongoing exhortation to obey God through Jesus Christ, by his grace. Obedience = Blessings.
Dr. Steven J. Lawson | 9/27/2010
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