Preaching on a Divisive Topic
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Preaching on a Divisive Topic
What you need to know before you wade into controversy.
Editor's Introduction:
On December 10, 2015, Dr. Larycia Hawkins, a professor of political science at Wheaton (IL) College, posted on her Facebook page that during Advent, to show solidarity with Muslims, she would wear the hijab, the headscarf worn by some women within conservative Islam. She was doing this, she wrote, because "I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because … we worship the same God."
That question started a contentious online debate: "Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?" and led to the professor's suspension.
In the geographical epicenter of the controversy stands Church of the Resurrection, where members include the college administrators who suspended the professor, and students who protested the suspension with a sit-in.
On January 10, teaching pastor Kevin Miller spoke to the question in a sermon. Preaching Today asked him how it went—and what he learned about preaching on a controversial topic.
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Craig Johnson
I appreciate Pastor Miller's prayerful, humble approach to handling difficult sermons. I believe it is possible to proclaim God's truth and still be a peace-maker at heart. We need not compromise on truth in order to love well. That comes through in this article. Our congregation has a number of transgender and homosexual individuals so almost every Sunday feels like an opportunity to both love well and proclaim Scriptural truth without compromise. Jesus never failed to love exceptionally well yet He never condoned or compromised on sin. An accurate witness will include both aspects.