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Preaching on a Divisive Topic

What you need to know before you wade into controversy.

Kevin Miller

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.