How are pastors called to address critical and "hot topic" items like Abortion and Homosexuality?
Today, we will just jump right into the deep end. A full sprint--no stretching. Pastors are seemingly becoming less vocal about cultural "hot-topic" items, and I want to address a couple of those. If we believe that God's Word is the final authority of our lives, then we must not be afraid to meet head on these subjects. We are not called to pick and choose what is good to share from God's Word. We must not run from 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "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 be complete, equipped for every good work." ESV
All Scripture is God breathed. Not some, not this part or that part, but all. It is both life giving and disciplinary. Scripture says, "it is healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." (Proverbs 3:8 ESV) Here we see that trusting in who God is and leaning on Him instead of ourselves is good for us, not only physically, but spiritually. How do we come to trust in Him above ourselves? Through His Word.
We also see that God's Word " is sharper than a two-edged sword." Hebrews 4:12
Two Ways To Handle Issues Like Abortion and Homosexuality
1. Be Expositional in Your Preaching.
This is the one sure-fire way that you cannot avoid cultural "hot-topics". Many pastors today have gone to a topical style of preaching, which isn't all bad. I do believe that it has its place. However, when you preach topically, scripture can easily be taken out of context; thus leading us to be tempted to leave things out. When scripture is preached in an expositional manor--Expositional meaning, verse by verse and book by book through the Bible. There is nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. We cannot dance around issues, politics, and money. We must meet them head on.
During my time in student ministry, I wondered many times if expositional preaching was "too much" for the students. Quite the contrary! Students, especially are hungry for truth. I had a friend tell me, "If they can learn trigonometry in school, they can handle the Word of God." This was eye opening to me.
We must not look at our flocks as though they cannot handle it. Indeed, we are not leading them from a mindset of "give them what they want," but we should be leading from a place of "Give them what they need."
We are doing them and ourselves a great disservice if we shepherd them this way.
2. Be Bold in Your Preaching.
To the aforementioned point, giving them what they need comes with boldness. We cannot stand before them each and every week worried about who may or may not get mad, upset, or their feelings hurt. We have already established that the Word of God will teach, correct, reprove, and cut deeper than a two-edged sword. So, do not worry about what you will say to offend them. If you clearly communicated God's Word, there will likely be "toes stepped on."
The problem today, is that we spend more time worrying about who not to offend than who needs Jesus. We spend more time praying that we don't make the "big givers" mad, and not enough time praying for the man or woman that has been in our church 30+ years and doesn't know the Lord. Be bold, pastor.
Abortion and Homosexuality and clearly outlined in scripture as egregious acts of sin, and we must never forget that. We are quick to point out other types of sin in our world, churches, and communities, but with these, we will come off too radical. So, we shy away. Sin is sin, pastor and we must love our sheep enough to tell them the truth.
Final Thoughts
While it may be challenging to face these subjects, we must remain true to what we have been called to do. Yes, we should preach verse by verse and book by book; Yes, we should be bold, there is something to be said about a third ingredient--Grace! While we should be bold, would should also have grace in the way that we approach these issues. Tell them the truth about sin, but don't leave them in their sin. Help lead them, shepherd them to the Father. The one who graciously gave himself for us. I do believe that it is the greatest act of love to tell someone of their sin, but we also must remember our sin condition, too. We cannot approach these issues or any other issues with the attitude that this could never be me. We carry the same sin nature as the next person. We are all capable of committing egregious sins against God. The difference is in who we trust to take away our sin. Do we lean on our own understanding? Or do we lean on Christ?