Celebrity preachers and God’s people
Who will forget the force and authority of Billy Graham’s voice? Especially that signature declaration, “The Bible says!” His was a voice of clarity and eternal certainties, for the Bible tells me so! Some think we need voices like that, today, but how do we know what the Bible says?
Expanding the oil pipeline in Western Canada is in the national interest, say some. Others, with Bible in hand, resist. They fear harming God’s temple, the earth. Who is right?
The U.S. government recently passed a huge tax cut. Some think Canada should too, lest we fall behind. Others say the tax cut begets greater inequality, escalating social tensions, requiring more military, home-land security and police; stronger borders, higher walls, more prisoners and guns for everyone, including teachers. It is the price of freedom, we are told. Is Jesus pleased? A message in my inbox suggests that mass killings are divine punishment for trusting in military might and weapons. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword, etc. On Facebook various posts proclaim “Slaughter: judgement for taking God out of classrooms.” What does the Bible say?
We do not have a modern-day Billy Graham declaring, “The Bible says,” but we do need the Bible, God’s word and the Spirit of Jesus. Do not look for a celebrity evangelist; look to each other, the redeemed, the Body of Christ. Listen and re-discover together what the Bible says to us, today, for our time. Billy Graham, during his long life, changed his mind when given new insight for changing times. And so it is for us. Each generation must listen to the Bible anew. That is not because the Bible is not reliable, but our understanding is unredeemed, in need of subjection to God’s will, refined by love.
Listen anew
Reflecting on Billy Graham’s remarkable ministry reveals both the enduring, unchanging Word of God and the need to continually update the human response to that Word. Graham was ambivalent about the intersection of politics and faith; sometimes he was drawn to the civil rights movement, to presidents and policies of all political stripes, to world leaders including Communists. At other times he distanced himself or took a critical stance. Son Franklin is less nuanced. Franklin’s endorsement of president Trump is without hesitation and therefore dangerous. God should not be linked to any partisan agenda. God’s judgement is on all.
When you hear, “the Bible says,” be discerning! The Bible has been used both to support and to denounce slavery, Apartheid, the welfare state, resource extraction, male headship, a minimum wage, global warming, President Trump and more. When we claim to speak for God, humility is appropriate, not because God’s Word is in doubt, but our understanding is in doubt.
How then to discern what the Bible says, particularly on significant public policy issues? We do so as a community in reliance on the Spirit. For example, the Christian Reformed congregations in B.C. are asking the denomination, through Synod 2018, to focus on the biblical principles for public discipleship. It is a call to the community of God’s people to submit anew to the Bible’s teachings on how to bring shalom to the nations. To be a blessing to the nations was Israel’s calling, Jesus’ mission and our calling, too. We don’t have a celebrity voice to point the way, but we have the Body – Jesus’ people – to whom the Spirit is given for the good of all. It is enough! Our strength is our reliance on God and his Word.
