Preaching- A matter of personal opinion?

[Brian Blankenship]

In recent days, with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright contraversy, it seems that some of what he says is true. Some is just his personal opinion about America. Where he gets into trouble is when personal opinion is preached from the pulpit. Does preaching personal opinion ever come into play or is it something we should shy away from. Sean Hannity interviewed another pastor today on his radio show who basically called Barak Obama a pimp who was pimping white big chested women at the beginning of his campaign. They played a clip of this pastor's statement from his sermon about Obama, and I was appalled at what was said.

I wonder if one of the reasons that people are having such a hard time in our churches is when personal opinion is espoused, instead of preaching the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm interested in what you have to say.

[Crystal Lutton]

I think that we are called to preach to the community we are because, in part, of who we are as the messengers. That said, I think that our opinion of life and Scripture is very different from the things you're talking about. If I get up and give an ungodly rant about bad drivers, for instance, I'm not preaching or shepherding. I'm just being out of line. I don't think it's always a black and white line, but I think it's one we should be aware of and looking for and desiring to not cross. Just because we have a podium doesn't mean everything we say is worth being heard.

[Brian Blankenship]

I think that we are called to preach to the community we are because, in part, of who we are as the messengers. That said, I think that our opinion of life and Scripture is very different from the things you're talking about. If I get up and give an ungodly rant about bad drivers, for instance, I'm not preaching or shepherding. I'm just being out of line. I don't think it's always a black and white line, but I think it's one we should be aware of and looking for and desiring to not cross. Just because we have a podium doesn't mean everything we say is worth being heard.

Crystal, I wasn't talking or meaning the difference between black and white. I was talking about comments that are said that have absolutely nothing to do with the gospel. In fact, the comments aren't said in love at all. They come across as harsh, and as a matter of my opinion. In my book, the minute I close my bible, I have nothing to say from the pulpit. Its not about skin color at all.

[Dale Cozby]

Some would say all preaching is just personal opinion.
Others give personal opinion and call it the Word of God.
Others would say Paul preached personal opinion at times and it was alright back then so why not expect it now, as long as we know how to seperate the two.

So I ask, what does the scripture say about it?

We should discern the messages we hear, rightly dividing the Word,
we should realize that wolves have crept in among us to scatter the flock,
we should be on our guard against false messages,
we should test the spirits,
and we must also realize that even godly men of all races make mistakes in judgement based on thier own prejudices and experiences (AND are under grace even as we are under grace)

[Crystal Lutton]

Crystal, I wasn't talking or meaning the difference between black and white. I was talking about comments that are said that have absolutely nothing to do with the gospel. In fact, the comments aren't said in love at all. They come across as harsh, and as a matter of my opinion. In my book, the minute I close my bible, I have nothing to say from the pulpit. Its not about skin color at all.

I'm sorry, Brian, I think I confused you with my black and white comment. I was referring to a line in the sand we cross, not skin color.

[Hans Deventer]

Brian, I don't think there is such a thing as preaching without personal opinion. As much as I would want to preach the pure word of God, it is still the word of God as Hans Deventer understands it. i understand I am still called to preach God's words instead of mine though. My consolation is that God, knowing this, has still chosen people to proclaim the gospel. So in all humbleness, I preach.

[Roland Hearn]

You beat me to it Hans, that would be my point. We all agree with certain tenants and perspectives but we make them our own so when we preach we preach our opinions and ideas but hopefully that are consistent with truth and revelation. More to the point I think is that a pastor or preachers best preaching resource is his or her own personal journey and the dynamic of grace in their lives. To preach out of your own encounter with God is to preach with integrity but it can be nothing else but your own opinion. Naturally personal experience is opinion cannot be the sole source of understanding but what we understand we must make our own before it can be effectively preached.

[Hans Deventer]

That's right, Roland. And the interesting thing is that personal experience does give some authority, or at least, it can't be denied ;).
But we should take care that our personal stories always point to God. There's way to much "I, Me, Mine" in church already. George Harrison captured that quite well.

[Crystal Lutton]

Or, to clarify further . . . what Hans said :)

[Ryan Scott]

By the way, the "pimping" that pastor referred to was the Obama Girl videos that circulated around YouTube last year and had nothing to do with the campaign. It was just some guy who really liked Obama and figured more people would watch a video with a pretty girl in it than some middle-aged white guy.

The Pastor might have a point if Obama were actually behind those videos.