Preaching and naming names: when is it appropriate to mention the names of other preachers?

In the manuscript below you will notice that I “call out” one of prosperity preachers by the name of Creflo Dollar. My sermon on Philippians 4 dealt with Paul’s contentment both in hunger and in abundance. I mention Creflo Dollar and his comment that you won’t have peace if you don’t have money. I believe that such teaching is a serious offense to the teaching of the Bible and contrary to the heart of the gospel.


This, however, does raise a good question, namely when is it appropriate to mention the name of other preachers in a sermon, particularly when it is a point of disagreement?

This Specific Example

In this particular example, I not only feel it is appropriate but I believe it is important to do so. The reason is that believe that prosperity gospel preachers manipulate the gospel and do serious harm to the body of Christ. The prosperity teaching, namely that God promises His children will be healthy, wealthy, and always abounding, is a serious assault on the biblical text and completely contrary to the teachings of the Bible.

Therefore, as a pastor who takes the protection of his flock very seriously, I will unapologetically continue (when appropriate) to expose those teachings and teachers in the culture who do serious manipulation to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have, and will continue, to address serious theological error that are in the mainstream Christian culture.

The Larger Context

Given what I have stated above, one should not conclude that preaching should be a time of name calling and should only been done when the situation warrants. Here are a few questions I think are important to consider.

1. Is it a gospel issue? Is what you are addressing a minor disagreement or a major theological issue. There is a significant difference between the disagreements preachers have about minor issues as opposed to issues that are leading people away from the integrity of the gospel. If it is a serious gospel issue, then I think it is appropriate, in a Christian spirit, to address it straight on.

2. Is it a character attack or a theological attack? I certainly do not believe that it is appropriate to get into character issues. Theological issues, particularly those that are of serious nature, should be open to public criticism because the integrity of the gospel is at stake. Therefore, so long as personal attacks are avoided, theological critique is appropriate if the theological issue is significant.

3. Is it biblical or a personal agenda? Preaching should never be about personal agendas but faithfully teaching the biblical text. I do not believe that it is appropriate to merely address personal disagreements in a sermon. However, exposing another’s view (when a gospel-centered issue is at stake) in light of the biblical text is appropriate.

At the end of the day it is the pastor’s responsibility to faithful care for the flock of God. In a politically correct culture we are supposed to tolerate all beliefs and never expose error. The gospel of Jesus Christ, however, does not give us such freedom. Though not a common practice, I believe that there are occasions when the integrity of the gospel is at stake and preachers must be willing to graciously address those issues, along those who advocate them, for the protection and edification of the body of Christ.

Pastor Wes

Series: Life at Peace
Title: In all things content
Text: Phil 4:10-13, 1 Tim 6:6-10
Date: November 22, 2009

Introduction

I will never forget several years ago the first mission trip I took to Mexico to build houses. I remember going the entire week without a shower because there was no running water at any of the facilities. A restroom was a bucket and a place to hide. I remember walking inside of what the family was living in and watching a little boy, not much older than my son, as flies consumed his bowl of cereal and followed the spoon as he brought it too his mouth. I remember another little boy who had tied a string to a bug and would watch it fly around as though it was a new toy plane. And I remember the look on the families face as though were overjoyed with simple things like a bar of soap. And I remember how all week long they smiled and seemed far happier than me.

And I remember flying back home reading about a new, high-tech, $5000 toilet that was soon to be introduced in the US featuring a wireless remote to raise and lower the seat, a deodorizer, a warm-air dryer, water temperature controls, why it even had massage options. And I remember returning to a nice bed and nice long hot shower. And I remember thinking to myself… “Would God be enough?” Regardless of the conditions I lived in “Would God be enough?” Could I say, as the Psalmist said…

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I
desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the
strength of my heart and my portion forever. [Psalm 73]

This issue of godly contentment is at the core of living a life at peace. And we live in a culture that is very discontent.

• We are discontent with what we have so we go into debt to have more.
• We are discontent with where we are so we keep moving hoping that we’ll be happier at the next stop.
• We are discontent with our marriage so we decide to find someone else that might make us happier.

And there is a voice within us that keeps saying I think I should already be here, I should already be able to retire, I should already be having children, I should already be a supervisor, the church should already be doing this or that. And that voice of discontentment destroys the peace in our lives. And while there is nothing wrong with having those desires, sometimes those desires control our ability to be content and live a life at peace.

Illustration: U2 song, “I have climbed the highest mountains. I have run through the fields. I run, I have crawled, I have scaled city walls. But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.”

Some of us here this morning are still looking and searching for something bigger, something better, something that we think we fulfill us.

We see here in Philippians 4 a man who had learned to be content.

Teaching

Here is a man who sets in a prison cell because of corrupt officials awaiting a possible execution over false charges. Here is a man who writes a thank you letter to a church that he loves who was dealing with some relational conflict. He wanted to be with so that he could help them work through their issues. But Paul was in prison, He couldn’t be where he wanted to be. He feels confined by the prison cell. And yet Paul was content to remain where he was, in prison, in chains.

The Peace of Contentment

• Paul says, “I have learned in whatever situation to be content.” The word content comes from a Greek word meaning “self-sufficient or independent.”

o Stoics: It was used by the Stoics in those days as a detachment of emotions or an indifference to all things. It was a chief virtue.

o But that is not how Paul is using the word. Paul doesn’t mean don’t care about anything, for Paul content was “an inner peace that comes from knowing that God is in control of his life.”

o In the book Authentic Faith, Gary Thomas says that “Contentment is nothing more than ‘soul rest.’ It is satisfaction, peace, assurance and a sense of well-being that is cultivated by pursuing the right things.

• Though Paul had desires and dreams and goals he was not controlled by them. “By now I should be set free” “by now I should be in Philippi” “by now, by now, by now.” Paul had learned to walk in peace in the present.

I) The example of Paul’s contentment (11, 14-19)

• Notice in 11, 14-19. If one didn’t know of the great relationship Paul had with these people they might think this is offensive. Paul wants to make clear that while he is deeply appreciative of their gift, he wasn’t in want. He was fully confident in God. His joy was not bound to their gifts for it was rooted in the sovereignty of God.

• Paul sets the example for us here. That our peace is not based upon what we get or what we don’t get. It we get something, we’re thankful, if we don’t we trust God.

• “But this is the Paul” “He is a super Christian”. But Paul said, “I have learned to be content.” This is not something he got at Apostle school, this wasn’t some overnight supernatural work of God, it came through continuing to walk with God through all seasons.

II) The extremes of Paul’s contentment (12)

• Notice both extremes that Paul gives.

o Abounding: Those times in my life when my goals are being met, my desires are be fulfilled…we find our we are pregnant, I get the raise, we have lots of food in the refrigerator, the tests come back positive, the surgery went well…I am at peace. And most of us would be content if this were always the case. God bless me and I’ll promise to be content.

o Lacking: Those times in my life when my desires are not being fulfilled, retirement is forced, the job is lost, the economy is failing, a friend hurts you, are you content? Paul is! Because knows that sometimes God brings you low, sometimes God gives a torn in the flesh, sometimes God brings you to a point of hunger to save your soul, He brings you to the point of little so you’ll find much in Him, sometimes God brings you low so you’ll lift Him high, and sometime God will take everything away to show you that he is everything after all!

o Paul was satisfied with little. It didn't matter that he was a prisoner, it didn't matter that he was chained to a Roman soldier, that he ate things we wouldn’t want to smell, that he stayed in a place that was greatly lacking in comfort. As Paul said in 1 Tim 6:8, “ But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” [translation: if you have a t-shirt and a loaf of bread you have enough…and of course a cell phone, computer, and ipod right?]

• Illustration: This is why I get so angry at advocates of the prosperity gospel. As one pastor (Creflo Dollar) stated, “See there are some people that do not believe in prosperity they don‘t want to hear that God is a God who wants to put money in your hand, well you need to hear about money because you aren’t going to have no joy no peace until you have some money.”

o If you have to abound to be content your peace is not in God, it’s in His gifts!

III) The endurance of Paul’s contentment (13)

• Paul says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This if often one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. We have made it mean, “with Jesus I can do anything!” “I’m going to try and bench press 400pds because…” “I’m going to dunk a basketball ball because…”

• Paul uses this verse in the context of living a life of contentment, namely how am I able to be content when I have nothing and content when I abound…the strength of Jesus Christ.

• "I can endure all things." He uses a Greek verb, ischuros that means to be strong, or to have strength. He is saying, "I am strong enough to go through anything because of Him who infuses His strength into me." Paul says, "I'm content, I've seen the power of God."

Transition: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

So we see in Paul an inner peace that he learned by walking with the Lord that grounded him both in lacking and in abundance through the power of Jesus Christ. By why should we pursue this kind of peace?

1) Godly contentment is great gain

a. You are truly able to enjoy life. You won’t be tossed around by the waves.

b. We should be content so we can invest in what really counts. Three billion people today are outside Jesus Christ. Two-thirds of those without a Christian witness. If we, like Paul, are content with the simple necessities of life, thousands of dollars at TBC and millions of dollars in the SBC and hundreds of millions of dollars in the Protestant church would be released to take the gospel around the world.

2) Godly contentment maintains a right perspective

a. Test 1: what did you have when you came into the world? What will you take with you when you leave? Everything else is bonus!

b. Test 2: If you want contentment and peace, do not compare what you have to what others have. Compare what you have to what you should have which is hell. You and I were a train wreck waiting to happen, we were hell bound because of our sin, and God intervened. God opened our eyes to see His glory and as a result we have so much more that we could ever deserve and yet so many of us remain unsatisfied.

3) Godly contentment protects from temptation
a. If we don’t learn godly contentment we will be tempted to doubt God when we are hungry and ignore God when we abound.