Listen to the Preacher

If nothing else, a recent controversy in the presidential campaign has stirred us to think about the power of words… particularly the power of preaching. As you know, the retired pastor of one candidate has had a few phrases from two old sermons quoted incessantly. His words have been saved for an “opportune” time of maximum political impact, quoted out of context, and repeated until every listener was numbed. All of this has served to smear the candidate who sat in that preacher’s pews for the past twenty years.

Let this be a warning to you, my friends: somebody may hold you accountable for the sermons that you have heard.

Perhaps I am the only person in our town who has heard a complete sermon by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Over the years, he has been a frequent guest at a national conference for Christian preachers that I have attended. His sermons were always rooted in scripture, proclaimed Jesus as Savior and Lord, and were delivered with passion. In that particular crowd, the typical response was, “I wish I could preach with that much honesty and fire.”

But the recent flap reminds us that honest preachers may receive death threats, even from people who otherwise profess to be Christian. Jesus said it would be like this, and he should know. Shorty before his crucifixion, he warned his followers, “The hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God (John 16:2).”

Whatever else people say about Rev. Wright, he is firmly within the prophetic tradition of scripture. In the Bible, the prophets did two things: they spoke passionately on behalf of God and they talked back to the kings. In God’s name, the prophets named the injustices of their day, indicated when the emperor wore no clothes, and called the faithful and the unfaithful to account. As a result, they often paid for their ministry with their lives.

Preaching is risky business for all concerned. God certainly holds each preacher accountable. “On the day of judgment,” says the Lord, “you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter, for by your words you will be justified or condemned (Luke 12:36-37).” But God holds listeners accountable, too, for the spiritual condition of an audience determines their response to a sermon. As Jesus aimed his donkey toward the Holy City, he lamented, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Luke 13:34)”

Now that Rev. Wright has begun to re-emerge from protective seclusion, I decided to listen to him once again for myself. I found the online version of his speech at the April 27 dinner of the Detroit NAACP. It was stirring, challenging, and humorous all at the same time. He spoke to empower people to claim their God-given dignity, and received a standing ovation by those in attendance. At least one critic reacted to that speech as “dangerous.” I suppose if you are threatened by racial equality, full inclusion, and holy justice, that would be a natural response. As for me, I have a lot of Bible verses jangling around in my head and reached a different conclusion.

As the controversy continues (and I’m sure it will), here is what I would suggest: read the Bible. In particular, read the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, and Micah. Take note that God loves the world so much that he sends the prophets to offer a word of correction. Watch what happens to the prophets who speak out against abuse, for they themselves will be frequently abused. Most of all, decide if God’s concerns are your own.

As for me, I’ll hunker down and wait for whatever response comes from writing these words. It comes with the territory.