Don’t Invite Me to Preach

It was decades ago when I served on the Board of Trustees for Methodist School of Theology (MTSO). It was graduation weekend and I attended convocation before graduation in Columbus, Ohio where I heard one of the graduating students preach.

I remember the humorous but profound statement this young student pastor made about the context of her ministry. She said “I came to seminary and learned about proper critical interpretation of scripture with attention to historical context and original author’s intent, (a process called “exegesis”). However, I want you to know I am serving in a community and a time when people need extra Jesus.”

We Need Some Extra Jesus

I believe we are in a critical spiritual season where we could benefit from some “extra Jesus.” The Jesus who was unambiguous about rejecting violence, loving your neighbors and enemies, doing good and embracing the work of peacemaking. The Jesus who promoted the mending of broken relationships and adherence to the two greatest commandments which were not to be separated or segregated: Love of God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus’ promotion of the ethic of love was not at the expense of ignoring injustice or passive resignation in the face of humanitarian crises in need of faithful response.

At recent meetings of ecumenical and interfaith leaders, it’s clear that there is broad consensus for moral accountability and a rejection of policies, budgets, government actions, and executive decisions that do harm to people and the planet. For example, 16 million American children and 4 million American persons with disabilities will lose food assistance November 1, 2025 if the U.S. government remains shut down.

Rhetoric that promotes violence as a justifiable response to disagreement is a sad and dangerous affront to Christian principles and mutual respect and responsibility espoused by many faith traditions. Gun violence born of radicalized convictions or hatred toward others is consistently denounced by those of us who cry out “Lord have mercy”.

The death of Charlie Kirk in a horrific traumatic shooting in public was and is devastating to his family and to all who believe that every human life bears the divine handprint of God. All of the death connected to political and hate-inspired violence is dramatically opposite to the gospel of Jesus. We mourn the loss of individuals known to us and the insidious nature of gun violence in America that resulted in 44,000 lives lost in 2024.

Preaching and Teaching

So, it is again the task of those who preach and teach as much honesty and truth, empathy and grace as possible.

Rev. Dr. Manuel Scott Sr. speaking at a School for Ministry for United Methodist pastors in the 1990’s shared what I believe to be ageless wisdom for those who would preach. “All teaching is not preaching, but all preaching includes teaching.”

Preaching is not meant to only remind us how blessed we are to be loved by God. Nor is it meant to be the simple rehashing of ancient Bible stories and pointing us toward heaven as our home. It is the divine human interaction that nourishes us and challenges and empowers us to resist evil, interrupt the “hell" so many people experience on earth, due to suffering, public policy, and societal realities.

Don’t Ask Me To Preach

It is more Wesleyan to advocate for rights of the poor and the sharing of resources than to silently pass out food baskets while quietly assuming capitalism without Christ-centered morality will benefit all equally.

Don’t ask me to preach if I cannot tell the stories of Jesus crossing gender, cultural and ethnic divides, welcoming the marginalized and excluded.

Don’t ask me to preach if you want me to avoid Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion because you have been told this is the definition of neoliberalism or “wokism”.

Don’t ask me to preach if you expect me to paint the scriptures with a water-based theology of soft commandments that are merely suggestions and cheap grace that allows us to cling to our preferred prejudices and historical bigotry.

Don’t ask me to preach to avoid all politics because the mention of firing of hundreds of thousands of federal workers and the pain and suffering caused to families and communities is not the business of the Church.

Don’t ask me to preach to stay silent about the rapid erosion of due process and arrest and detention and deportation of immigrants including documented, undocumented and hundreds of thousands with legally protected temporary status.

Don’t ask me to preach to avoid politics and the Good News of the whole Gospel that would require turning our backs on preaching from Genesis to Revelation. In the last book of the Bible, John sees a vision that is nothing if not diversity and inclusion, (Revelation 7:9).

Don’t ask me to preach if I have to turn my back on the Social Principles adopted by the United Methodist Church that call us to value every person and seek justice and pursue reconciliation.

This is indeed a critical season to preach and teach that the “Kin-dom of God” is calling us to Love Boldly, Serve Joyfully and Lead Courageously.

Be Encouraged

Bishop Julius C. Trimble