Gentle Preaching

For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:5-8 ESV). The Apostle Paul says, “But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.” This is an amazing metaphor, when you consider both the power of the gospel message and the low status of women in that society. This isn’t the only place Paul uses maternal language, either. He calls the Galatians “my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth” (cf. Galatians 4:19). Paul and his companions had compelling news to share, but he didn’t bully people into accepting it. He didn’t have to be aggressive or manipulative because he knew and trusted that the gospel had its own persuasive and enduring power. Like a nursing mother caring for an infant, his relationship with the new believers was marked by intimacy, tenderness, exposure, and vulnerability. Like a mother, Paul was a nurturer: self-giving, responding to the needs of those being nurtured. Gentleness, one of the fruits of the Spirit, helps a strong bond of love and connection to grow and flourish. Today we see a wide range of approaches used to convey the gospel message. Some are certainly gentler than others. It’s interesting to notice how some leaders do share the gospel in ways that are indeed like a nursing mother, who gently offers her child the opportunity to be filled and satisfied. She knows what the infant hungers for and offers what she has so that the child can grow. It’s a beautiful picture of what the ministry of the Word can be. Now, for those of you who disagree, let me quickly add that I am not advocating silence in regard to the dangers or destructive consequence of sin. We ARE sinners. There can be no doubt left in that truth. However, after we have stated the obvious, we must be quick to extol the grace of our Savior. I love the way the apostle uses this theme in the Roman letter. He spends the first few chapters explaining that all men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (cf. Romans 3:23); however, he comes to that wonderful declaration in chapter five that even “while we were yet sinning, Christ died for us” (cf. Romans 5:5-11). Hell-fire and brimstone only have a place in our sharing of the Gospel when they are paired with heavenly peace and eternal life. By the way, most people know from the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives how bad they are; they need to know how they can be good. That message is the message of Christ. Preach that; share that with others.