Controversial Issues

Dear Pastors

Those of you that read my ‘stuff’ will know my passion and conviction around relevant preaching and teaching. I haven’t met a Christian yet that when asked the question, would you like your pastor to preach about the challenging issues of our day say No. Most everybody says a big fat yes. Some feel the liberty at that point to go on a riff about...well, you can guess.

Here is my question. If every day Christians don’t hear us speak AND pray about these issues from the pulpit then how can we expect them to have an answer or some kind of considered response when these subjects come up in everyday life?

Here are a few suggestions:-

• Preach a series called ‘Hot Potato Issues’ or something like that. OR
• Sprinkle these (and other) topics throughout the year.
• Christians want to hear what the Bible says not what your opinion is. Actually, I have discovered that non-Christians are interested as well.
• That said a few concluding remarks as to where you land on a particular issue will be very helpful.
• A follow-up evening of conversation and Q & A would be a great way to ‘work the angles’ on an issue.
• Provide a good set of notes with further reading and/or a study outline.
• Please remember all of the issues of our day the Bible speaks into. They are fundamentally issues around personal life, family life and community life well before they are part of political life.

From my reading and interactions over the last 6 months or so, here are my top 10 (in no particular order) of issues that get frequent ‘air time’ in articles, videos, in the blogosphere and on various social media platforms.

1. #BlackLivesMatter. Is this a moment in time we should STOP and talk about Racism in NZ?
2. Sex before marriage. I’m committed to him/her so what does it matter?
3. Homosexuality. A surprising number of Christians are unsure if not in support of homosexual relationships.
4. Politics. When social and moral issues that matter to us end up in the ‘political system’, how should Christians respond?
5. Euthanasia. Is it ever right to assist someone to die?
6. Marijuana. Is it just a weed or is it harmful for both individuals and society?
7. Conspiracy Theories. When the truth (or the facts) no longer matters.
8. Egalitarian and/or Complementarian? Women are equal but...
9. Abortion. Why it is so wrong?
10. The Poor. They might always be with us but what should we do? What must we do?

Hope this is helpful?

I would be interested in what you would say are the pressing and relevant issues we should address in the pulpits around NZ?

Blessings

Alan

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.