Practice What We Preach

As a local pastor and parent in a small western Iowa community, I was asked to serve on a group that was tasked with developing an after school character-based program. Our goal would seek to improve student behavior and attempt to hinder development of many destructive habits that were beginning at younger ages. Part of the process included identifying the behaviors we were targeting and, of course, the use of alcohol was one of the major concerns since there was evidence of its use at the middle school level. There was agreement on the message of “abstinence” since it was obviously against the law, but when the leadership requirements for the adults who would work with the kids were discussed we had a difference of opinion. I argued that it would be hypocritical for an adult to tell a child that they shouldn’t drink when they were actively engaged in the habit themselves. Of course, that raised the indignation of teachers who drank. They reasoned that we should just stress the “age” requirement as the motivation for abstinence. I, the lone voice on the committee, stressed the fact that at the very least such reasoning would be arguing from a position of weakness, since it is hard to “say” one thing while you are “doing” the opposite. Legalism – without the power of an obedient life – is powerless and futile! Would anyone take a thief seriously if he “preached” against stealing? Would anyone take an unrepentant adulterer seriously if they were to “preach” against sexual immorality? Needless to say, my view failed to sway the majority and the leadership requirements were softened.

The church faces the same struggle when it comes to sharing the gospel with the world around us. When we are engaged in activities that find their source in the world and its selfish, sinful philosophy, and fail to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and God’s word to “lay” such things down, we find ourselves in the midst of a conflict of interest. It’s hard, if not impossible, to attempt to tell others that they need to turn from sin and follow Jesus when we are nursing our own “pet” fleshly indulgences. We must find a way to make our message and our own obedience come into line for our “words” to be heard – in other words, practice what we preach! Only then will we be able to give others the Real Answers they need to hear.

How exciting to be His people,

Pastor David Vanderpool