Our Daunting Hope
Can preaching really change anyone?
Mark Labberton
July 1, 2005
Spiritual transformation is our deepest and most profound human need: to be turned inside out (from being absorbed with ourselves to absorbing love for God and our neighbor) and right side up (from worshiping the creation to worshiping the Creator). This transformation is the most difficult thing in the world. Why else would it require the death of God's only begotten Son? It is the the most costly change. Spiritual transformation requires death in order for there to be life. If this were not enough, remember too that the transformation God seeks and offers through Jesus Christ is as extensive as it is intensive; it includes the re-creation of all things even as it includes the re-making of each part. Scripture assures us again and again that this intensive and extensive cosmic transformation can be counted on and will be complete. The Bible also says it is not yet done. This is why prophets and preachers do some of their best work when they have their mouths open and don't say a thing. Put another way, we preachers are at our best when what we do comes from standing in awe before who God is and what God intends. Awe-full transformation
Preaching is never helped when, as preacher, I think that what God wants to achieve my preaching can accomplish. Instead, biblical wisdom teaches that the transformation for which we preach is far higher, deeper, and wider than our preaching could ever express, let alone accomplish. This doesn't sound like good news, but it is essential truth that every preacher must learn.
We must not fall prey to a spiritual sleight of hand: preaching salvation that depends on God while preaching transformation that depends on human management. The staggering truth is that the height and length and depth of the ...
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