Preaching across the Divide by Amantha Barbee
How in the world do we respond to the continual societal stresses as shepherds? How do we respond to our flocks, our neighbors, even ourselves? Every day seems to bring about yet another moral, emotional and spiritual challenge. In an age of social media and instantaneous worldwide news, how do we address our congregations?
We are reminded in Matthew 5:33-37, “Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”[i] This passage speaks to the necessity to speak the truth. Yet there are times that we feel we cannot. Why? I’ve heard many reasons:
“My congregation can’t handle that yet.”
“The elders would run me out if I preached a sermon on THAT.”
“I just need not to rock the boat for a couple more years and I can retire.”
“I can’t stick my neck out by myself. I may just fall.”
“I don’t have the nerve to preach like that.”
“I have too many conservatives in my congregation to preach about that.”
Now, let’s review Matthew 5:33-37 again. Yes, we made vows to the Lord. Yes, we have promised to tell the truth about Jesus. Jesus happens to be the biggest proponent of justice in the Bible. Are we not asked to follow the teachings of Jesus? The difficult thing about following Jesus is the fact that we too will suffer, like Jesus. We will be met with the same opposition. Yes, your very own congregation will complain (Luke 4:29). Yes, the elders will complain about difficult subjects in a sermon (John 4:1-25). Yes, even preachers get lame duck syndrome (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). Yes, we are called to go boldly before the Lord, even when it’s hard (Hebrews 4:16).
We, as clergy, really have no excuse. We must preach the Gospel, no matter how difficult. How do we do that? It starts in the mirror. We must ask ourselves the tough questions and be honest with ourselves and with God about our answers. What are those questions?
How do I contribute to the racism or prejudice in the world?
Do I fully understand that I am a part of it?
Do I believe that minorities have equal opportunities in the United States?
Do I believe that a public university with 30,000 students has given its best effort when only 90 Black males were in the freshmen class?
Do I believe that systemic racism exists?
Do I believe that the very denomination in which I serve played and plays a part in perpetuating the issues?
Do I believe that all political leaders have everyone’s (that means minorities, too) best interest at heart?
Do I believe that members of the LGBTQ community are going to hell, no matter how faithful they are?
Do I believe that I have the only right answer to God’s kingdom?
Do I really respect others’ religions or the right to not be religious at all?
Do I believe the church has failed Black men in this country?
Do I believe that if you were not born in the United States you really shouldn’t be allowed to stay, even if you have a family with children?
HERE IS THE BIGGY: HOW DO I BELIEVE JESUS WOULD ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? AM I IN LINE WITH WHAT I THINK JESUS WOULD ANSWER?
When we, as clergy, can honestly answer these questions for ourselves and face our own truths, it is then that we can, with transparency, honesty, and boldness, preach the Gospel in accordance to Jesus Christ. God alone holds the answers to these questions. What we are faced with is what we deem is right and what we deem is wrong. The fact of the matter is that we are called to preach the hard stuff. We are called to ask the tough questions. We are called to sit in discomfort to get to the heart of the matter. We are called to be uncomfortable ourselves. We must lead by example. There are several passages in the Bible that I would prefer not to preach or teach but it is in those very texts that we find God, not just for ourselves but for our congregations as well.
An additional part of the example is practicing what we preach. If we preach about fighting for justice we must be willing to go out to the battlefield and fight. Preaching justice with no action is an empty message. If we call our congregations to action and we take none ourselves we are being hypocritical. Jesus went to the leper’s colony. He didn’t just talk about it. Jesus turned over the tables at the temple. He didn’t just talk about those who were financially oppressing others. Jesus participated in interfaith work. He didn’t follow social expectations, but engaged directly with a Samaritan woman. He ministered and worked with all. He didn’t ask one of the 5,000 their faith. He simply fed them. Our truth is predicated on how we live our lives. For our congregations to accept the difficult truths of the society in which we live, we must be able to offer real life examples – not something we read about someone else’s journey, but be willing and able to share a page from our own book of life. It is then the message becomes real. Difficult realities are hard to deliver, but they are certainly better received if they are coming from a place of sincerity, experience, and hope.
John 8:31-38 challenges us to tell the truth: “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.” If we are feeling bound in our congregations, or preaching from a place of fear, we certainly are not free. We must claim and reclaim our freedom in the Lord! If we call ourselves Ministers of Word and Sacrament, and mean it, we really don’t have a choice. Speak truth my brothers and sisters and be free.
[i] All Scripture quotations from the New Revised Standard Version.
The Rev. Amantha L. Barbee is the pastor at Statesville Avenue Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. She majored in vocal performance at Appalachian State University and University of North Carolina-Charlotte, and believes that music is a resource for healing and uses it to bring people together. Her love of music led her to 20 years of service as a church musician prior to her seminary studies. As an M.Div. student at Union Presbyterian Seminary, she earned the E.T. George Award for excellence in Homiletics and Worship, and she is currently a doctoral student at Columbia Theological Seminary. Prior to her call at SAPC, she served as a program director in an area women’s homeless center. Additionally, she serves on the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s General Assembly Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations and as the Chairperson for the Clergy Coalition for Justice. Rev. Barbee is the moderator for Mission, Justice and Outreach for the Presbytery of Charlotte and seeks to lead harmony and justice within the presbytery, which she fully believes will spread through the city. She is also a supporter of the Women In Transition program at the YWCA, KIPP Schools and NW School of the Arts – Charlotte, NC.
Rev. Barbee believes that she is a servant and you will find her with her door open, in the halls of the hospitals, at community functions and having conversations with the patrons of Loaves & Fishes. Rev. Barbee is a disciple.