November 20, AD 2010

Preaching to the Choir
Frank Allnutt

From as far back as I can remember, preachers have been ribbed—and oftentimes criticized and even mocked—for “preaching to the choir.” And, perhaps that is justifiable, considering the meaning of the idiom—trying to get people to believe what they already believe.

But there shouldn’t be a rush to judgement. Pastors who focus heavily on evangelical preaching take issue with the accusation of preaching to the choir and argue that even the biblical shepherd will momentarily leave his flock to seek and save one that is lost. After all, who knows how many lost sheep might be sitting in the pews along side the tolerant born-again regulars?—granted, many of whom never seem to grow weary of hearing the same come-to-Jesus appeals from the pulpit, Sunday upon Sunday. (Notwithstanding some who succumb to drowsiness.)

I have nothing against preaching to the choir. Actually, I believe we need more of it. And it’s what preachers are to do. The concern I’ve had for decades is about the content, method and balance of what is preached.

The recent Barma Group survey that indicates only 9 percent of Evangelicals hold to a biblical world view raises the question: where are Christians picking up those non-biblical world views? From the pulpit? From the Progressive Civil Religion of Barak Obama? From the Pantheistic Civil Religion of Glenn Beck? From the historic Christian Americanism Civil Religion? Not to mention innumerable sects, the occult, humanistic religions, ideologies and philosophies.

Of the 9 percent of Evangelicals who profess to embrace the biblical world view, I wonder: which biblical world view? For there are innumerable misperceptions. What do such world views say about God? About the nature of man? About the world? About relationships? About behavior? About the future?...

We are called to wholeheartedly love God and others, and out of such love to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost. And to make disciples—to preach to the choir, if you will. But always in love and the doctrinal truth of the Bible.

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©Copyright AD2010 Frank Allnutt. All rights reserved. Content herein may be quoted, subject to the "fair use" doctrine of U.S. Copyright Law.

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