Why Are Some Pastors So Afraid to Speak the Truth?

Christian leaders from many streams in the body of Christ are making a call-to-arms—not downcast, but competently strategic—identifying today’s historic cultural crossroad, assessing the price to be paid and providing a plan moving forward and assurance of victory, based on the Word of God.

Pastors from many denominations are uniting to deal with poverty, racism, defense of marriage, religious liberty, the application of biblical economics to national life, prison reform, terrorism, Israel today, radical Islam, human trafficking, reaching millennials, entertainment and media, Hispanics and immigration, pornography among Christians, pastors and the civil government and the overall cultural assessment as it relates to the application of the principle of the kingdom of God.

Our recent Future Conference, a four-day event attended by over 1,850 people and featuring 56 speakers covering 27 topics, was an edgy, gutsy, relationship-driven learning event designed to educate, embolden and activate pastors, Christian leaders and all followers of Christ to courageously and dangerously live out the Lordship of Jesus in the context of the most challenging issues in the current cultural landscape. Our methodology was to connect today’s key thinkers and activists with “boots on the ground” believers, who will apply transferable and transformational constructs to improve the quality of life in their respective communities.

Unfortunately, these challenging issues and controversial and tabooed topics are by no means few anymore. Many were emphasized and experts in each field were brought in to further explain and bring practical solutions, in the hope that those interactions would expose pastors to some of the top experts and develop further contact with them, their writings and their thinking.

However, as many of you know (quoting the well-known musical, “The Music Man,”) “Ya got trouble my friends—You’re in terrible, terrible trouble!”  And while many of us know our nation is in trouble (the catalytic reason I chose to host the Conference), most don’t know why—or are in denial about the answer. Our nation is in trouble because of the church.

The problem is, though the Bible speaks to the messiness of our culture and resultant civic and national issues, the church often lacks a clear proclamation of biblical Truth.

Instead, we have come to believe that it is no longer acceptable for a pastor to preach about certain topics or issues, such as homosexuality or abortion or the sin of massive national debt, without being labeled “political.”  Beliefs and behaviors that have been viewed historically as wrong by the church are now often ignored—even sometimes even praised—in pulpits nationwide.

The real question is, “Why?” What is happening within our church walls?

First, many church attenders no longer recognize authentic biblical preaching. Secondly, many pastors are allowing the world to dictate what is “political,” enabling them to be silenced. Or they are permitting parishioners—many of whom do not adhere to an authentically biblical worldview—to prescribe what is preached. “Make me feel good” they might say. But don’t make me think. Don’t teach me how to apply biblical principles to present-day governmental, nation and community issues.

All too often lately, a minister will receive an email on a Monday morning hinting, “Pastor, if you are going to be ‘political'”—there is that word again—”then our family may have to leave,” implying, “… and with us will go our tithe money.” At that point, some clergy back down out of fear, or because they worship the idols of attendance and offerings. But the above issues are not “political.”

But these issues, and others, biblical and moral—not “political”—and we cannot be silent about them.

I have seen the future, and it is NOW. For us as pastors, let biblical clarity reign—from our pulpits!

For us as Christian leaders, let biblical principles be espoused—in everyday life.

For us as serious followers of Jesus, let biblical application to national issues be understood—even in casual conversations.

I thank the Lord for the the more than 1800 courageous believers who responded to the call to attend the Future Conference, and were encouraged, empowered educated, emboldened and activated to make a difference in our nation and our world—for Christ’s sake.

Dr. Jim Garlow is senior pastor of Skyline Church in San Diego, whose one-minute commentary, “The Garlow Perspective,” is heard daily on more than 850 radio outlets. Follow him on Twitter at @JimGarlow.