“Woe is me if I preach not the gospel”

Outside the chapel, Paul’s words belie the most simple of Christian conditions. The call to serve GOD through Christ is deeply personal. “Woe is me,” we might argue, “not woe is we.” Then we keep going. “Woe is me If I preach not the gospel.” This is on me.

Of course, the countless seminary students, undergrads, professors, visitors, family, friends have passed before these words and become subject to them. Not by proximity, or as if going through some magic gate, but in the reminder that we Christians have a troubling and difficult task before us: we are to preach. And it isn’t so much an individual freedom to preach as much as an obligation to preach with others. For nobody preaches only to themselves.

'Preaching this way is itself really kind of weird.' Click To Tweet

Most of us know preaching as the solitary act of the pastor. Really, there’s a reason we often call him or her a “preacher.” They are the one standing up front, often in a special place, raised, at a podium or a pulpit. And there she is, the one person who stands there and starts to speak. Like we expect a visiting professor to deliver some sort of speech or lecture.

Preaching this way is itself really kind of weird. I mean, we all heard some scripture and this person stands up and like, breaks the ice with a joke or tells this random story about their kids and you’re wondering what the heck they are talking about and then you start to hear it, and you go oh no, don’t…don’t…you’re gonna make that connection, ’cause I wouldn’t…oh, he’s going there isn’t he? Yep. He is. Oh, but…that isn’t too bad, really. That’s…something new. I didn’t expect that. Not bad.

I still don’t know why he told us about his kid, though.

And for as much as I am comfortable with this form, this old, old form, I do get weirded out by it. And I wonder if people really understand that this is only one small part of preaching.

The Rest

If your tradition is anything like mine, then one of your friends’ favorite quotes is that great one from St. Francis:

Preach the gospel always; if necessary use words.

We love it because it is poignant and breaks that whole dude in front of the room definition of preaching. But the real reason is that it is cover for not actually talking about Jesus with other people.

“If necessary” it says. It isn’t. I’m “doing” the gospel. I volunteer at the soup kitchen sometimes. I’m here, aren’t I? This is me preaching!

Sure it is.

It certainly seems that St. Francis’ statement is dealing with our talking about Jesus vs. acting like Jesus. Like some dichotomy between saying and doing. We wear Nikes. We don’t just talk about wearing Nikes.

The profound part is deeper than that. And simpler. And far less confrontational. The key word as I see it isn’t preach, gospel, or necessary: it’s always. “Preach the gospel always”. In this way it isn’t about words or actions, but words and actions. It is about living and being so that the Good News is revealed in you.

It is also radically anti-clerical. Not in a low-church way, or in a my denomination doesn’t ordain preachers, nanny nanny boo boo way, but in a dude, we all preach way.

In many ways, the most profound realization I’ve ever had is recognizing how much I preach. Not in a preachy, Madonna “Papa Don’t Preach” way. But that I’m proclaiming the Good News all the time. Maybe that’s the point.

Ask Yourself

What is preaching to you? When have you noticed preaching? When has it moved you?

What is good preaching for you? What affects you? What does it reveal to you?

When are you lost? When does the preacher lose you? Or win you?

What are your expectations of preachers? Do you have a set expectation? Do you let them get to you? Challenge you? Make you cry? Make you think? Give you a chance to see into a different way of thinking?

Do you preach? Have you intentionally preached. Would you even know if you had?

What would it be to expand preaching and do different things? How game are you? What is stopping you?

Can you share with others part of your story? What you’ve experienced and who you are because of it? Can you name where GOD is in your world? And share it? What would make you more comfortable for those “necessary” times?

Do you share both the trouble and the grace? Do people hear the laments and the challenges and the doubts to go along with the hopes and blessings and assurances? Do you hear it all in your own story?

What would it mean to practice sharing your own story? To be prepared for the opportunity? What would it be to share that intimate stuff? Not just stories about your kids, but your dreams and moments of soul-crushing adversity. Can you share them? Will you?

 

[This is Day 10 of How to start deconstructing church. The next in the series is “Sermon as Teaching”. To start from the beginning, read the introduction here.]