Jump Start # 3750
Philippians 1:17 “the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment”
Last week a new administration took over the reigns of the White House. Love him or hate him, President Trump has rallied the nation and in a whirlwind set forth a new direction for the country. What an amazing pace he keeps. I love how focused, dedicated and committed he is to what he believes. He puts workaholics to shame.
But in those first few days of banquets, balls, ceremonies, came something rather disturbing. At a national prayer meeting, an Episcopal bishop used the occasion to scold the President. Rather than praying to God, she used the opportunity to lecture the President and to bring politics into the pulpit. The platform of this country is that there is supposed to be a separation between church and government. We don’t want the government telling us how to worship. That was Europe and the cause for many coming to settle in this country. But, we also do not need the pulpit to tell us who to vote for. And, I’ve seen far too much of that in these past few elections.
All of that brings us to our verse today. The motive of preaching ought to be simply to spread the message of Jesus. We are to encourage hearts and teach the lost. But, Paul realized, even in his days, that some were preaching out of selfish ambition and not pure motives. In the context of our verse, some were using the pulpit to make life more difficult for Paul. They used the pulpit with the intention and agenda of causing Paul more grief.
And, we must not think that the pulpit cannot be misused today. It can and it has. Some can use the pulpit to push some agenda they have. Some can use the pulpit to gain a pity party by telling the audience how terrible things are for them. Some can use the pulpit as an easy way to make a living. It’s all about the money for them. Some can use the pulpit to attack someone, knowing that they cannot answer back. The motives behind the pulpit may not be pure.
Here are some thoughts for us:
First, it’s up to us preachers to keep our motives pure. If we have a problem, the pulpit is not the avenue to handle our personal issues we have with others. Why am I preaching this sermon at this time, ought to run through the preacher’s mind. That ought to run through the heart and the mind of the preacher as he is working on his sermon. The audience should never have to guess our motives.
Second, if misusing the pulpit becomes a regular pattern, then the shepherds ought to have a heart to heart talk with the preacher. What’s going on? Why are you doing these things? It is amazing that only certain people could be a prophet. Only certain people could be a king. Only certain people could be an apostle. But just about anyone can preach and they usually do. Some preach because they seek the praise, glory and fame. Most of us who have been doing for a long time would say, “What praise? What glory? What fame?”
Third, misusing the pulpit can cause a lot of damage that can take a long, long time to repair. Could this be why James reminds us that not many ought to be teachers. There comes a strict judgment for what you say. You best be sure it’s what God says before you say it. You must do your homework. You must think about the audience. Your desire is to help people see the Lord. Your motive is love.
Keep your politics at home. Keep your personal agenda quiet. Preach the word is what the young preacher was told. Years ago, the statement was, hide yourself behind the cross. That meant, I see the cross but I don’t see the preacher. I leave praising the Lord not the preacher. The preacher is simply an instrument to help me see the Lord better.
Shame on those who are using the pulpit to preach politics. Shame on those who are preaching with selfish ambitions. We must do better. We must be the people of God.
Roger