Do Boring Sermons Bother God?

When all of humanity is called before God, we may find that one of the most grievous offenses catalogued will be ... a boring sermon in the Name of Jesus Christ ... or a boring Bible study, gospel song, free Christian ebook - or Christian article. Our Creator is a fount of inexhaustible information. But, like a lot of things, there is a catch. These jewels are only found in "Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:2,3). While there may be some knowledge available to us in the natural realm, the vast treasure of accurate spiritual knowledge is only in Jesus Christ. There one can learn about the true nature of God - His will and agenda, character and priorities, promises and warnings. But to exit this vault of priceless treasure, only to present ... a boring sermon?

After coming to God on His terms (through the blood of Jesus Christ), it is as though we just crossed a stormy sea, having been tossed "to and fro like drunken men" - where we had "groped in darkness with no light" (Ps 107:27 and Job 12:25). Now anchored at the edge of a vast unexplored continent, we abandon our battered ship (the old man and all his "wisdom"), and, for the first time in our life, find our feet on solid ground. Grateful, relieved and now at peace with God, we gaze upon the horizon-filling continent before us - and instinctively know this expanse flows with milk and honey. The food is substantive and its delights are composed of unsurpassed nutritional sweetness. Behind us we hear, "Come eat of My food, and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding" (Pro 9:5,6). We know we have been invited to, and are welcome to, our Creator's feast. Nothing here looks boring, smells boring, or tastes boring. That is because ... nothing is.

All who enter into, and explore this unending expanse, are highly stimulated - and stimulating - individuals. They "speak of the power of Thy awesome acts ... and tell of Thy greatness. They eagerly utter ... bubble over with ... the memory of Thine abundant goodness, and shout joyfully of Thy righteousness" (Ps 145:6,7). So where does a boring sermon fit into this picture? It doesn't. And where do boring Bible studies, songs, books or articles fit? They don't. If you are in an environment claiming to represent God - and it is boring ... get out. God is not there. He has never been boring, and never will be boring ... and He is not boring now.

Emotionalism versus Emotions

On the other hand, one can find churches that are hot beds of activity - far from boring - at least initially. But, after some time, one who is seeking to grow in objective knowledge ... finds little there. The relationship with "God" arises from an environment of emotionalism and Christian mysticism that is wholly subjective in nature. When concluding The Sermon on the Mount, is it possible Jesus was thinking of these "witnesses"? "Many will say to Me on that Day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and in Your Name cast out demons, and in Your Name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness'" (Mt 7:22,23). The pronoun, "Your," is an intensive in Koine Greek. These people are frantically pleading their case as eternity is stretching out before them. And they know exactly Who they are standing before. They are sure they had actively served Jesus Christ in this life - yet, He declares them lawless. They had falsely represented Him. They had been fervent in their witness ... but had totally misrepresented the God of the Bible. Of course, no one in this age convinced them otherwise. They went to the grave absolutely confident they had served the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yet, any environment graced with the presence of God is a truly vibrant place - but substantively electric. The best way I can describe this is by the reaction of my daughter when she first figured out how to play a piano piece she had been laboring over. She began jumping up and down - overwhelmed with emotion springing from content - she could play it! To grow in the genuine knowledge of God causes one to "greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory" (1Pet 1:8). This is fervent emotion - but not emotionalism.

But, For Those Outside of Christ ...

... sermons are boring - or foolish - or scandalous ... or enraging. And so are Bible studies, any gospel song, or free Christian ebook ... or Christian article. These contrary reactions are not due to a lack of intelligence. Some of the worlds most keen intellects, of yesterday and today, totally reject all the Bible's central claims - and the peripheral ones as well. The information they do grasp ... they despise. Thomas Paine probably knew the contents of the Bible better than most who are in the pulpit, and considered the material atrocious. Today, entire websites are devoted to attacking the Bible point by point. And one thing that enrages these Bible critics is the genuine stupidity of so many believers. Intellectual objections and arguments are met with shallow platitudes and intellectually bankrupt responses. And there is always that "end of discussion" Christian defense: "God said it, I believe it, and that settles it." Well, ... that does not settle it for the Christian antagonist - and it shouldn't. While my best efforts may not subdue and/or adequately address an antagonist's arguments, reasonings, objections, or complaints, I do know one thing. God Himself is willing to go one-on-one with anyone so willing. He is not intimidated by anyone's logic or challenges. "'Present your case," the Lord says. 'Bring forward your strong arguments,' the King of Jacob says" ... "Report to Me; Put Me in remembrance; let us argue our case together; state your cause, that you may be proved right" (Isa 41:21, 43:26). But that must occur now - in this life. And it must occur with one who is willing to honestly weigh His positions. His goal, on this side, is not to destroy the antagonist - just the arguments. In fact, in His power and wisdom, He doesn't just dismantle contrary positions. He takes the whole confrontation one step further. He turns the contrarian ... into an advocate for Him ... philosophically, morally, theologically, scientifically - and every other way you can think of. How can I be so certain of this? Well, that is not a difficult inquiry for me to answer. I fought and argued and then fought some more ... issue by issue and point by point. Now, ... I am writing this ... and have been His willing advocate for thirty years and counting.

It is my hope He will continue to allow me this honor. Quite often, I am a very poor advocate, and it is a great mystery that he would allow me to be a part of such an enterprise. But, amazingly, "He is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Heb 2:11) ... and I am part of the "them" - a converted contrarian. So, to my fellow Christian I confidently say - if any of my Christian presentation is truly boring to you, know ... that isn't God.