BREAK THE CHAINS OF OPPRESION AND THE YOKE OF ...

PREAChing who believe that “those at the top” will do what they feel like doing anyway? I
believe that everyone, in fact, has the potential to do something. But only when
the preacher is prepared to go beyond ageneral appeal, “earths” it and comes up
with some concrete ideas as to how the congregation can follow up this directive
concretely: through asking such questions as: “What do you pray for?”, “For
whom do you vote?” and “Is the maxim ‘learn to share’ part of the way in which
you bring up your children?”
One more comment on this: we should avoid playing off the different ways of
taking action against one another (as many of us, including myself, have done in
the past): active struggle against contemplation, political action against local initiatives,
missionary work against social commitment. Instead, in learning from
the New Testament teaching on talents and gifts we should encourage each
member of our congregations to discover their own gifts and potential and to use
these on the path of justice. 6
2. Anyone admonishing his or her congregation should reflect on the likely consequences.
I have never forgotten the following incident: as a young minister, I
spoke with great conviction and in fiery words in calling on my congregation to
boycott products from the apartheid regime.
This included silver Krugerrands being offered at the time in our banks. A
woman who helped out at the weekly children’s services, called me up to ask:
“After applying for 50 jobs, I now have the chance of a job with the Deutsche
Bank; should I take it? If I do, I will have to sell those coins you spoke about in
the church on Sunday.” This scene set me thinking and made me ashamed of
myself. Our purpose should not be to rob our directives of all their essential clarity
and radicalism.
But as preachers, �we should � be �aware of what we �are �expecting
of our congregations.
It does not cost a theologian much (at least not in my context) to commit
him/herself to economic and ecological justice. On the contrary, in return for
simply showing sufficient commitment, he or she might even be awarded a
church commission and get the chance to meet lots of interesting people
throughout the world. For the members of our congregations, however, a similar
commitment may be a matter of life and death. We must be aware of this, and an
appreciation of their difficulties must also be perceptible in our preaching.
I have left the most important aspect to the end: even where the sermon is focusing
on the obedient action of the people, it must not cease to speak about God.
For, according to biblical and Reformed understanding, it is not only our justification
that is the work of God alone, but our sanctification too (cf. 1 Cor 1:30;
1 Pet 1:2). Of course, this sanctification does not occur without us: God has
6 In this respect, the “Plan of Action” is very helpful, as it demonstrates the whole variety
of what can be done.
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– PREACHING ON JUSTICE – 21