It is certainly true that God is a loving and kind God, but it is also just as true that He is perfect in His justice, judgment and punishment which necessitate His warnings (negative preaching).
Doesn’t the person who makes the claim that no one should preach/teach negatively (i.e., concerning sin and what not to do) realize that he is doing the very thing he forbids?! Such a claim is not a biblical teaching because it is both hypocritical and self-contradictory – – neither of which does God commit (Mat. 23:13-14; Titus 1:2).
Furthermore, it is impossible to make a positive statement without implying a negative statement. To preach the positive statement: “Jesus is the Son of God,” is to imply the negative statement: “Jesus is not merely a man” (as many critics maintain). Thus, those who claim there is to be no negative preaching are implying negative statements every single time they preach a positive claim!
A casual reading of the Bible quickly reveals that God required much negative preaching. There was negative preaching toward Adam and Eve,1 Lot and his wife,2 in eight of the ten commandments,3 and in hundreds of the old law.4 It was negative laws by which Jesus overcame Satan.5 Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is full of negative preaching.6 Jesus’ Apostles and prophets spoke and wrote continuously with negative preaching.7 Truly, all throughout the Bible, God required negative preaching.
Why does God require negative preaching? The answer: for our admonition so that we should not sin.8 Thus, as it turns out, negative preaching is an act of love! Hence, what kind of act is it to withhold negative preaching?!!
1Gen. 2:17. 2Gen. 19:17. 3Ex. 20. 4Lev. 4:2. 5Mat. 4:4,7. 6Mat. 5,6,7. 7Acts 2:36; 3:13-15; 7:51-52; 8:21-23; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Tim. 4:2; etc. 81 Cor. 10:6-11.
Gary Henson
Sep 12
“No Negative Preaching!”
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