2. Because of the function of preaching.
Preaching does more than impart information. It both models and fuels sound doctrine in the church.
Yes, preaching on Sundays imparts biblical information. But that’s not all. Expository preaching—that is, preaching in which the words and goal of the text control the words and goal of the sermon—teaches the church submit to and meditate on biblical texts. Expository preaching ought to be a preacher’s weekly example of joyful submission to the text. It also models how to meditate on Scripture as questions are posed and phrases are explained. Therefore, the preacher disciples his hearers to submit to and meditate on Scripture by his manner of preaching.
Preaching to the Sunday gathering is the fountainhead of pastoral ministry because you feed the whole church at one time as they all sit together under the Word. But the fountainhead is not the whole fountain. Preaching fuels the church in sound doctrine beyond Sunday. The preached Word reverberates through the pastor’s ministry and the church’s discipling of one another.
There’s more to pastoring than preaching. Pastors pray for the flock (Acts 6:4), teach in other contexts (Acts 20:20), oversee (Heb 13:17), equip (Eph 4:11), and model mature Christianity (1 Tim 3:1–7). God gives several other complementary ways and contexts to ground your people in sound doctrine: classes, meals, conversations, one-to-one Bible reading, Bible studies, small groups, etc. Preaching is not the whole of pastoral ministry any more than the Sunday gathering is the whole of the church’s life together.
As the church shares life, they share Jesus and his words in their relationships. The local church and its relational web is the divinely designed matrix for discipleship and doctrinal maturity (Eph 4:11–16). Therefore, preach the Bible so they speak it to one another. Additionally, if your church has a confession of faith then ground them in those agreed-upon words. Strengthen their unity in the church’s confession; prefer them over your Calvinistic labels. If you trust your Calvinism is biblical, then know it is not necessary to use those specific terms. [1]
During the pastoral search process for my church I refused to use the label “Calvinism” when specifically asked because they imported meaning unseen and unknown to me. Their “Calvinism” turned out to be Hyper-Calvinism. Instead, I gave them my understanding of how God’s ultimate choice and our penultimate choices were compatible to which they agreed. I pointed to their statement of faith and told them I wholeheartedly affirmed what they confessed.
3. Because of the goal of preaching.
The goal of teaching and preaching is neither theological erudition nor the unashamed embrace of the label “Calvinism.” Instead, “the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim 1:5). Our goal is love: love for God, one another and our neighbors (Mark 12:30–31, John 13:34–35). Why? Because in the obligatory pursuit of knowledge (2 Pet 3:18), Paul warns that “knowledge puffs up but love builds up” (1 Cor 8:1). And since God resists the puffed-up but gives grace to the humble, we pour ourselves out for our people’s growing experience of grace (1 Pet 5:5; James 4:6). God forbid that we contribute to God resisting our people as they grow in the theological pride that drips from our pulpits.
Two alternatives to doctrinally informed love are (1) sentimental intentions void of discernment, and (2) conceptual knowledge that never leads to acts of love. Fearing theological ignorance, we may overreact and make theological awareness the goal instead of the means. But theological awareness must not be pursued for its own sake, but for love’s sake.
Pastor, ground your members in the goal of God’s love in and through them by teaching them Scripture. Preach according to the function and goal of the Bible, and in doing so you will exemplify the divine love for your people that you pray to produce. In short, aim finally for biblically discerning love, not loveless theological articulation.
Conclusion
Because of the content, function and goal of preaching, I plead with you to preach the Bible, not Calvinism. Trust that your church’s confidence in the Scriptures is more vital for their souls than their submission to certain theological terminology.
Ask yourself: Why are you passionate to teach Calvinism in the first place? Because Calvinism, biblically conceived, once humbled you and lit a flame of joy in your heart that you never wanted to go out. Amen! But I wonder: Were you soundly convinced of Calvinism after reading systematic theology? Or were you led to joy from God’s Word?
Brothers, if you resolve to preach the Bible instead of Calvinism you will immediately find relief to the burden of moving your people toward more nourishing theological waters. God’s Word will do the work. Trust the Bible, not your or others’ theological acumen.
Otherwise, you may impress your people with your theological precision to your glory. You may increase their theological tribalism. Or, you may increase their suspicion of your teaching and close them off to the glory of God’s sovereign freedom in saving his people.
But if you preach the Bible explicitly with unwavering confidence in the text, then over time your people will learn God’s Word. They’ll trust it. You’ll strengthen them for future suffering in ways not possible by twisting their arms to embrace Calvinism. God’s Word will be honored as your church’s true confidence. And you will shepherd them with God’s peace and patience, reflecting our good Shepherd.
