Preachers, the News Cycle Should Not Be Your Lectionary

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Karl Barth only made one mere mention— in passing— of Hitler’s regime from the pulpit. “Do not make the little man in Berlin more interesting than the LORD Jesus Christ!” Barth warned the students in his Preaching Exercises course. Barth issued that counsel immediately after Hitler was elected to office. And still Barth’s preaching was sufficiently faithful to the gospel to get him exiled back to Switzerland.

It’s difficult for me to overstate how wearied I am by preachers who chase headlines like lawyers do ambulances, thinking that every event that merits a chyron necessitates a comment from the pulpit. Charlie Kirk, of whom I was only vaguely aware prior to his assassination this week, is but the latest example. For too many preachers, the news cycle is their lectionary.

The week’s events and the din on social media— in the absence of any actual details— reminded me of this article in Christianity Today by Chris Nye.

Chris is the author of several books, including most recently, A Captive Mind, which explores Christianity's relationship to ideologies. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and various other publications. He lives with his family in Portland, Oregon. To connect further, visit chrisnye.co.

Chris was a guest on the podcast several years ago to discuss his article.

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