BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER
FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION

Preaching must discern culture when communicating unchanging content
This is the second of a three-part series on “Issachar Implications”

“Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command.” 1 Chronicles 12:32 NKJV

The past week’s article introduced the Old Testament sons of Issachar, men who are known for their wisdom and discernment of the culture.

The preacher of the gospel message would do well to emulate these men by retaining the unchangeable content of the gospel and at the same time recognizing the necessity of adapting its presentation so it can be understood by culture.

The preacher must develop an understanding of the interrelation of the gospel and culture with:
—special reference to God’s revelation;
—interpretation and communication of God’s revelation;
—response of the hearers to their conversion, their churches and their lifestyle;
—critical reflection on the implications of the communication of the gospel on culture; and
—identification of tools required for additional communication of the gospel.

In today’s church, many seek to pattern their ministry and function in terms of the two roles that the culture most admires: the manager and therapist or the CEO and counselor. Yet the biblical model is primarily prophet and shepherd. When you constantly have to remind people who is in charge, chances are you are not.

Don’t assume that new is good and change equates as improvement. Or that anything that looks ‘old hat,’ ‘antiquated,’ ‘rigid,’ ‘traditional’ are to be avoided or changed. Theological conservatism is often equated with ignorance and apathy or with guarding and protecting the antiquated truths of passing generations. Those who preach biblical truth are often viewed as incompetent and irrelevant. Some will try to marginalize the gospel because a thirst for success. Culture has an amazing power to shape behavior.

Some churches have migrated from customary sermons and worship forms and norms. Being non-traditional in method does not equate with cultural relevance. Traditional nor non-traditional must not be the precipitator of: “make-me-feel-good-or-I-won’t come-back-sermons;” funky homiletics or promotional gimmickry. There is no more value in having a contemporary sermon that does not communicate than having a traditional sermon that does not communicate.

The person in the pew may not be interested in Jebusites and Hittites, but he is also not interested in “shuck and jive” couched in biblical language. The hurting person is looking for lasting answers. We must be a scale of values noticeably different from the society around us. That allows us in our preaching to get to the root of the problem, the nitty gritty.

Quite truthfully our sermonic offerings know only an intermittent glory! Everything clicks every seventh Sunday or so. Babies don’t cry. Children stop wiggling. Hardened golfers are rained out. Senior adults turn their hearing aids up and lean forward in their pews. The angels sing. We bring the greatest exposition of all time. Our gestures are seismic, our text crackles with fire, and our psyche congratulates us in the splendor of our calling.

We suddenly realize in that moment, the fulfillment of our calling. I am a preacher! What a sermon! The congregation feels like a family. Love and acceptance are felt. Fellowship has come from above to abide within. Then we start getting ready for next Sunday.

In communication with culture there are so many novel hypotheses and interpretations. There are so many books and so many voices giving directions which contradict one another; that the minds of many are hopelessly bewildered. This mental confusion is everywhere.

The Christian church cannot escape the confusion. The impression has gone abroad that Christianity is not what it used to be; that the Bible is not the book it was when we were young; that the old doctrines have been--if not discredited at least--seriously modified; that Jesus of Nazareth must be looked at from a different viewpoint; and that the Christian church is not worthy of the veneration and support which was given to it by our fathers.

Oh Lord, may we be as wise as the sons of Issachar, discerning the times instead of being molded by them.

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You may contact Dr. John Sullivan at
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