Controversial Text? Or Divine Comfort for Grieving Saints?
Have you ever had the experience of trying to explain a matter to someone while watching them become distracted by a single word or phrase, thus missing the point? This happens when we listen to others for what we want to hear, rather than hearing what is actually being communicated. I’ve sometimes wondered what biblical writers would think of many of the controversies over what they wrote. Perhaps their response would be, “You are missing the point!”
In our current sermon series on 1 Thessalonians, Pastor Conley made this excellent point in his sermon introduction to one of the most debated passages in this letter (and even in all of Scripture), 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. His introduction considered this question: is it possible that all of the debate surrounding this text actually misses the point of why it was written? If this text was intended to be the center of a controversy, would Paul have chosen to end the paragraph with these words: “Therefore encourage one another with these words”?
There are two main reasons why I would encourage you to listen to this sermon introduction again.
- Four Cautions. Pastor Conley gives four helpful cautions for how we approach this biblical text and really any text of Scripture, particularly “controversial” ones. The cautions are vital to helping us not miss the point of what the biblical authors are saying. Listen to the cautions, write them down, and let them instruct your interpretation of Scripture.
- Theological Humility. Towards the end of the introduction, Pastor Conley displays exemplary theological humility, culminating in this statement: “I’ll just confess when I thought about this text some months ago, thinking about preaching on it, I didn’t know that I would be preaching it the way I’m going to be preaching it today. And I think I was better served to read what the text says and what it communicates to us.” No pastor is above Scripture. Rather, a faithful pastor submits himself to what God has actually said, adjusting as needed. This is Life by the Book in action. Praise God for a preaching pastor who leads this way!
Watch the clip below, then the whole sermon, and be encouraged!