Posted by Joshua Woo
I used 'challenges' because that has a positive tone compared to the word 'problems'. Seeing problems as challenges help to at least convince ourselves that which we are facing are indeed tasksand not headaches.
Over lunch, Zhe Hao and I were talking about a list of challenges to current churches. One that we noticed is the incongruity between the pulpit ministry and the personal conviction of the preacher. We have concrete examples of local famous preachers whose personal beliefs are not as unambiguous as what they preach when they are on the stage, with their Bible on one hand and the microphone on another.
We were not talking about hypocrisy of examples like the preachers who condemn adultery on the pulpit but commit adultery of their own. We were talking about preachers who, for example personally were not sure if God willed him or her to live until 160 years old, but who preach as if they are so certain that God willed them to live that long.
In my own experience, a friend and I attended one of the local megachurch. During the service, one of the pastor went onto the stage and started leading the congregation in prayers. He told us that we will live until 160 years old because that is what God had will (or something to that effect).
After the service, we went to the visitors corner which was located two stories above the 'sanctuary' to learn more about the church. We were greeted by two leaders of the church. We were warmly received and ushered to a cozy room to talk.
After I told them that I am currently attending a Presbyterian church, one of them told me that he was from a Presbyterian church in the "been there, done that" tone. I was open to the possibility that he has found his preferred place, so we did not dwell too much on his transfer. If he thinks that he is growing to be more like Christ in this church, then I share his joy.
During our conversation, we inquired about what the pastor's prayer that we will live to 160 years old because that is God's will for his people. We were curious whether did they really think that that is really God's will?
To our surprise, the two gentlemen were not as unambiguous as their pastor. They defended the pastor's prayer not by saying that it was indeed God's will for us to live until 160 years old. Rather their defense was that that was their hope that it is God's will and not that it really is God's will. This is what I meant that there is an incongruity between the preachers' personal belief and the expressed conviction while they are on the pulpit delivering a sermon.
On a personal level, there are times when I have to said what is considered the standard right belief to someone when I am not sure whether is that belief right or not. These are the times when reliability of tradition comes into the picture; how much do we trust a certain received wisdom? Nonetheless, such experience prompts me to ask, "Does that make me a hypocrite?"
On the other hand, Zhe Hao and I noticed that there is an expectation from the congregants that a church leader must have ALL the answers with EXACT certainty. And this expectation sometimes overwhelmed our conscience that we rather provide a standard received tradition than disappointing the congregants. Add to that, people generally are drawn to those with high level of certitude. This is a real struggle for those who are seen as leaders. And perhaps this is the factor that pressured preachers to appear very certain of their conviction on certain things, which are not really certain when you ask them personally.
Mother Theresa is a good example of this incongruity. Most people in the world regard Mother Teresa as a living saint when she was alive (most because not all). However, it was revealed that she doubted God's existence at one point in her life: "In my soul, I feel just the terrible pain of loss, of God not wanting me, of God not being God, of God not really existing." (From Catholic News Service website: Cindy Wooden, Longing for God: Mother Teresa's letters reveal isolation, doubts, dated 1 Mar 2002, [accessed 2 Dec 2010])
However, this congruity not all the time happen due to congregants' expectation. There are times when some teachings need to be presented in a paternalistic manner to prevent harm, like how countries have laws prohibiting the minors from alcohol and cigarette. It is not too stretching to see a similarity of this with the way apostle Paul dealt with the Corinthians: "Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly..." (1 Corinthians 3.1-3)
How should one deliver a message on the pulpit to a congregation consists of members from various background and level of spirituality?
I used 'challenges' because that has a positive tone compared to the word 'problems'. Seeing problems as challenges help to at least convince ourselves that which we are facing are indeed tasksand not headaches.
Over lunch, Zhe Hao and I were talking about a list of challenges to current churches. One that we noticed is the incongruity between the pulpit ministry and the personal conviction of the preacher. We have concrete examples of local famous preachers whose personal beliefs are not as unambiguous as what they preach when they are on the stage, with their Bible on one hand and the microphone on another.
We were not talking about hypocrisy of examples like the preachers who condemn adultery on the pulpit but commit adultery of their own. We were talking about preachers who, for example personally were not sure if God willed him or her to live until 160 years old, but who preach as if they are so certain that God willed them to live that long.
In my own experience, a friend and I attended one of the local megachurch. During the service, one of the pastor went onto the stage and started leading the congregation in prayers. He told us that we will live until 160 years old because that is what God had will (or something to that effect).
After the service, we went to the visitors corner which was located two stories above the 'sanctuary' to learn more about the church. We were greeted by two leaders of the church. We were warmly received and ushered to a cozy room to talk.
After I told them that I am currently attending a Presbyterian church, one of them told me that he was from a Presbyterian church in the "been there, done that" tone. I was open to the possibility that he has found his preferred place, so we did not dwell too much on his transfer. If he thinks that he is growing to be more like Christ in this church, then I share his joy.
During our conversation, we inquired about what the pastor's prayer that we will live to 160 years old because that is God's will for his people. We were curious whether did they really think that that is really God's will?
To our surprise, the two gentlemen were not as unambiguous as their pastor. They defended the pastor's prayer not by saying that it was indeed God's will for us to live until 160 years old. Rather their defense was that that was their hope that it is God's will and not that it really is God's will. This is what I meant that there is an incongruity between the preachers' personal belief and the expressed conviction while they are on the pulpit delivering a sermon.
On a personal level, there are times when I have to said what is considered the standard right belief to someone when I am not sure whether is that belief right or not. These are the times when reliability of tradition comes into the picture; how much do we trust a certain received wisdom? Nonetheless, such experience prompts me to ask, "Does that make me a hypocrite?"
On the other hand, Zhe Hao and I noticed that there is an expectation from the congregants that a church leader must have ALL the answers with EXACT certainty. And this expectation sometimes overwhelmed our conscience that we rather provide a standard received tradition than disappointing the congregants. Add to that, people generally are drawn to those with high level of certitude. This is a real struggle for those who are seen as leaders. And perhaps this is the factor that pressured preachers to appear very certain of their conviction on certain things, which are not really certain when you ask them personally.
Mother Theresa is a good example of this incongruity. Most people in the world regard Mother Teresa as a living saint when she was alive (most because not all). However, it was revealed that she doubted God's existence at one point in her life: "In my soul, I feel just the terrible pain of loss, of God not wanting me, of God not being God, of God not really existing." (From Catholic News Service website: Cindy Wooden, Longing for God: Mother Teresa's letters reveal isolation, doubts, dated 1 Mar 2002, [accessed 2 Dec 2010])
However, this congruity not all the time happen due to congregants' expectation. There are times when some teachings need to be presented in a paternalistic manner to prevent harm, like how countries have laws prohibiting the minors from alcohol and cigarette. It is not too stretching to see a similarity of this with the way apostle Paul dealt with the Corinthians: "Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly..." (1 Corinthians 3.1-3)
How should one deliver a message on the pulpit to a congregation consists of members from various background and level of spirituality?
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