How Does Preaching
Affect Me?
Biblical preaching transforms lives,
but it occurs from the inside out. by Peter Mead
Almost everyone agrees that
preaching should be transformational. But we need to define what it is
that we are seeking to see transformed.
1. Conduct—This is
the most obvious area of transformation. We all love to see a life transformed
from worldly conduct to “Christian” conduct. But we also need to be
wary. Consider Frank. Frank was a drinking champion. He could drink more
than anyone else and still be standing—that is how he got respect in the pub.
Then Frank saw a beautiful young lady going into the church next door. He
started attending. He quickly realized he got no respect for his drinking
abilities but would get respect for church attendance. Everyone in the
church celebrated the transformation of Frank—“look at what the gospel can do!”
Really? Self-concerned glory hunting gave way to
self-concerned glory hunting in a new context (worldly Frank in the pub became
worldly Frank in the church). Not exactly gospel transformation. That’s the
problem with conduct. It can be faked. It can also be manipulated
from the outside. Peer pressure and cultural conformity can bring about
impressive results. But God’s involvement is not required. A Christ-gripped
life will manifest transformed conduct, but it also goes much deeper.
2. Character—Again,
let’s both affirm this and be wary of it. Character tends to be measured as the
sum of the parts of conduct. Consistency in multiple areas of conduct looks
like character. But if one area of conduct can be faked (for Sunday morning),
then multiple areas can also be faked for each time someone is watching. The
Gospel will change a character both profoundly and gradually, but if we aim to
change character in people, we are still liable to apply pressure and treat
them as self-moved autonomous beings (wasn’t that part of the lie in Genesis
3?).
3. Belief—Unless
people are transformed in what they believe, any change in character and
conduct will remain superficial. Belief is more than knowledge. I can
inform people with knowledge, but how do I influence what they actually believe
and trust in from the heart? That seems to go beyond what I can achieve.
All of these things are good, and
all will be transformed by biblical preaching in one way or another. Ultimately
though, if we are talking transformation, we have to go to the next level:
4. Affections—Call it heart, call it values, call it appetites, whatever. The gospel transforms a life
from the inside-out, from the heart outward. It takes the Spirit to plant an
appetite (a relish) for Christ in the affections of someone. This is where
I feel relieved of the pressure to bring about transformation, but also the
incredible privilege of my position as preacher. I don’t twist arms to
conform to behavioral standards for the sake of church conformity. I do present
Christ and the Gospel in all its wonder and majesty and sweetness, and I do so
absolutely dependent on God to bring about transformation.
Biblical preaching transforms lives,
but it occurs from the inside out. Anything more superficial will tempt me
into acting like a mini-god pressuring mini-gods into self-moved determination,
and that just smacks of a fallen world perspective on the whole
thing. God’s Word invites us to trust Him, we should do the same.