Sincere Preaching

Today’s Gospel Text:  And preach as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay. 9 Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, salute it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomor'rah than for that town.Mt.10:7-15

Reflection: For a sincere teacher, this passage of scripture requires guts to expound; more so, if one has to teach with authority or teach from experience. 

It is said that you cannot preach what you don’t practice. How then can I preach a message which in reality I don’t practice and more so if I don't believe? 

There are some who have been gutsy enough to preach this text; but given it their own slant and watered down the gospel to mere moral codes.  They will tell you to preach by your deeds, meaning to say, by sound character and high standard of morality.

As discussed elsewhere in my article, even the term; "practice what you preach" is false to the idea of true preaching. 

It cannot be so, because when Jesus sent his Dedicated Disciples to preach the Kingdom; he did not send them with a human agenda to transform society, set those who are oppressed by the rich and wealthy free, establish a kingdom of justice peace and brotherhood, work for an equality in society and overthrow every oppressive structures, wipe out structures of sin and corruption, etc.

Nor did Jesus send them out with instructions to witness by deeds in the sense indicated above; sound moral and good character.

The mission of Jesus cannot be confused with any other deeds other than the deeds of the Gospel, the deeds of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit through the chosen instrument of God: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” (vs 8)

Hence what is written, by way of directions, for a mission, is the standard. When a sincere preacher dwells and preaches on this text, he always does it with humility of heart, examining his conscience and reproaching it for not being true. He seeks from the Lord that grace in true humility and sound character to be true to his word in every way, seeking his glory through a weak instrument as himself.

Prayer:  Lord, pour out you Holy Spirit on all who seek to be your instrument and may we never feel deterred by the hostility that surrounds us but boldly proclaim you with signs and wonders.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us