Formulary Friday: Preaching the negatives

One of the things I was taught when I was learning to preach was the importance of preaching the negatives as well as the positives. That is, you need to be willing to say what is wrong as well as what is right. For example, I've recently found myself teaching why some views of Holy Communion are neither Anglican nor biblical, when teaching positively (I hope!) about the resurrection and ascension.

As I've preached more, I've learned that preaching the negatives is a sure way to get criticism! I suspect I'm not alone in that. In preaching the negatives, you may be pointing out the very sin or error that someone wants to maintain. You may even be told it's not your job to be so negative, divisive or offensive. Surely as our culture moves away from its Christian heritage, we will experience this response with greater frequency. For example, many faithful ministers will be called homophobic for teaching a biblical view of same-sex relationships.

Now, of course, there are good and bad ways of teaching a negative, but suggesting that we shouldn't do it, or that it is not our job, is profoundly wrong and unhelpful. Why?

First, in the Ordinal, in the ordering of priests, the Bishop asks:

“Will you be ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God's Word; and to use both publick and private monitions and exhortations, as well to the sick as to the whole, within your cures, as need shall require, and occasion shall be given?”

The expected answer is:

“I will, the Lord being my helper.”

This is a rather more thorough way of saying, “Make sure you teach the negatives!” If you are a minister in the Church of England it is part of your job to work hard to keep your congregations free of all false teaching and to confront it where you find it.

It is still there in Common Worship, where the Bishop asks:

“Will you faithfully minister the doctrine and sacraments of Christ as the Church of England has received them, so that the people committed to your charge may be defended against error and flourish in the faith?”

Second, the Ordinal is reflecting Scripture on this issue, for example Paul says:

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:2 NIV)

This is in the light of false teaching and of course Paul has already pointed out that Scripture itself is useful for this (2 Timothy 3:16) and that the church is kept healthy as sound doctrine is passed on (2 Timothy 2:2, see also Titus 2:1ff).

Criticism can tempt all but the most bullish of us to pull back from teaching negatives. However, if we want healthy churches, we need to do it. It is, perhaps, worth examining ourselves to see if we are. And perhaps, when we face the criticism, we can point out that it is what Paul tells us to do as part of our ministry and what we have promised to do at our ordination.