Thursday, October 16, 2014

Please Subpoena My Sermons

A great hue and cry has arisen from some people in the Christian community over the fact that "the city of Houston has issued subpoenas demanding a group of pastors turn over any sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender identity or Annise Parker, the city’s first openly lesbian mayor."

I can't understand the outrage. What in the world is wrong with Christians who complain about this demand for their sermons? Such a subpoena should be a cause of rejoicing, not dismay.

I would to God that someone would subpoena all my sermons. I am not embarrassed about what I have said from the pulpit. As the Apostle Paul wrote, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ" (Romans 1:16). I preach "Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2), and work hard to present "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). Nothing I have said in my sermons (there are a couple on YouTube), or written here on this blog, is meant to be private communication that must be shielded by law from nosy people. Good heavens - the whole point of preaching is that it is meant to be public. The more people who hear it, the better. The sorrow of any true servant of God is not that too many people listen to his message, but too few!

A preacher who believes what he says to be important and true wants everyone to hear it - friend and foe alike. I believe that those who feel differently have no business in the pulpit.

"But," someone might ask, "what if turning over my sermons to government authorities results in persecution?"

So much the better! Remember in Whose steps you walk. Jesus' preaching resulted in crucifixion. And his apostles, when they preached his gospel and were beaten for it, "rejoiced that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus" (Acts 5:41).

Preachers, make your sermons public or do not preach them. If those messages are ever demanded of you, give thanks to God, comply, and rejoice.