Consider the Source

What if someone like Charles Darwin came to your church and delivered a sermon? How would you react to that? What would you do? Would you stay and listen to him preach? Would you be upset with your pastor for inviting him? Would you walk out of the church service and miss his message?

We often wrongly conclude that the sermons we need to listen to are those delivered by the saved. But what about those who are not saved?

Here is what Jesus had to say about that: 1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach” (Matt. 23:2-3 NIV).

Jesus clearly teaches His disciples that even if the Word of God is taught by those who do not know God, listen anyway to what they say. If a pagan preaches the truth, we are still obligated to listen and obey. It doesn’t matter whether the truth comes from a favorite beloved pastor or bible teacher, or from someone like Nancy Pelosi. If the Word is taught, we are obligated to listen and obey – no matter who is the source.

The only restriction Jesus gave was this: “Don’t do what they do.” Why? “Because they are hypocrites.” Even when you come across someone who does not practice what he or she preaches, you and I are still under obligation to listen and obey.

How often do we hear others say, “Why should I listen to him? He does not practice what he preaches.” Or, “I am not going to church. They are a bunch of hypocrites there.” That maybe so. But Jesus did not say, “If you run across a hypocrite, then don’t listen to him or her. Instead He said, “Do listen and obey what you hear when it is the Word of God being proclaimed” and “don’t do what they do.” Listen for the Word being taught and obey it, but don’t practice the hypocrite lifestyle.

There are two fundamental principles that I want to point out at this time: First, the Word of God is not rendered void and useless just because it may flow from an unworthy vessel. If the vessel happens to be someone like Darwin, the Word of God does not change or becomes powerless. It still is just as powerful and effective as if it was preached by the one and only Billy Graham.

Second, if we are told to listen to the Word of God even if it comes from unworthy vessels, then Jesus is assuming that we would have some understanding of what the bible does teach in order to recognize truth when we hear it. You see, if a pagan preaches, he or she may be proclaiming 30 percent of biblical truth. Seventy percent would be false. Would you be able to recognize the difference? The seventy percent you let it fall from your ears, while the thirty percent you listen and obey.

Sometimes I come across people who tell me, “Those TV and Radio Personalities like, Glenn Beck, Shawn Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, they are no good. They may not even be saved. It is a waste of time to listen to them.”

Such reasoning flies in the opposite direction of what Jesus had taught His disciples. Sure, these men may not be pastors or even attend a sound evangelical church (I don't know this for certain), but when they do say things that are truthful and biblically sound, we are to listen and obey, otherwise, we give the impression that the Word of God becomes powerless and rendered useless because of the source it came from.

I happen to think that the Word of God is powerful and effective because its source is God. Man and the media are only conduits. A conduit only provides the flow of power, it is not the source. Therefore, as I listen to the news, read secular books, and even listen to my favorite bible teacher, I am responsible to obey the Word as I recognize it. And then practice what the Word says.