How many times have we heard someone say this? We are, after all, accused of being too negative in our preaching and teaching. Don't we know that preaching is supposed to be all positive?
When John preached to the people, he was not as positive as people would have liked, I'm sure. In fact, it was far more “negative” than how we teach today.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Matthew 3:7-8
When Paul wrote, it was often what we would consider to be negative teaching.
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:6-8
And of course, in looking for examples in teaching, we should always look to our perfect example, the example set by Christ.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Matthew 23:25
There are times when sin must be addressed. And when we do so, it is not pleasant. Yet we cannot ignore it because we do not enjoy talking about it. We must recognize sin for what it is: the element that cuts us off from God. As it says in Isaiah 59:1,
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
And anything which separates us from God must be avoided. And in our love for each other, we must help others avoid it and make correction as needed. We do not practice “negative teaching” because we dislike and hate, but because we want all men to repent and turn to God. We do not teach against sin and speak of its consequences because we do not recognize God's love, but because we want all to be able to take hold of the gift of grace. We want everyone to make correction, repent, and turn to God so that everyone can have eternal life.
Throughout the Bible, we are taught to rebuke, as needed (Titus 1:13, II Timothy 4:2, I Timothy 5:20, Luke 17:3). We must call sin what it is, and we must warn against it. When others walk in sin, we must call it what it is, and help them overcome it. When we walk in sin, we must be humble enough to accept rebuke and help, in order to make correction in our own life.
And even, in the end, negative teaching is positive. Our “negative teaching” is done in order that we can help each other have eternal life. We teach in such a way that we can live more like Christ. In doing so, we not only pursue righteousness, holiness, and godliness, but run from sin and worldliness (II Timothy 2:22).
If we do not teach against error, if we do not help others reach the goal, then what good is our teaching? If all we speak are comforting words that fail to have any real meaning, what good is it? If all we do is speak generally and generically of God, without making any application, what good is it? If our teaching is like that, then we are like the false prophets in the time of Ezekiel.
Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace;
Ezekiel 13:10
No comments:
Post a Comment