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Humble preaching is often mistaken and labeled as arrogant preaching. Therefore, many of us are guilty of slandering God’s most faithful preachers with the charge of pride while we endorse preachers that possess nothing more than a false humility. We have lost the ability to discern what is a truly humble man sounds like. I attribute this to our allowing the false stories (aka faulty worldviews) of modernity and post-modernity to redefine our terms. This is especially true when it comes to the pulpit. In Preaching As Though We Had Enemies, Stanley Hauerwas gives us this incredible paragraph:

The recognition of our created status produces not tolerance, but humility. Humility derives not from the presumption that no one knows the truth, but rather is a virtue dependent on our confidence that God’s word is truthful and good….Ironically, in the world in which we live if you preach with such humility you will more than likely be accused of being arrogant and authoritarian. To be so accused is a sign that the enemy has been engaged. After all, the enemy (who is often enough ourselves) does not like to be reminded that the narratives that constitute our lives are false. Moreover, you had better be ready for a fierce counteroffensive as well as be prepared to take some casualties. God has not promised us safety, but participation in an adventure called the Kingdom. That seems to me to be great good news in a world that is literally dying of boredom.

A faithful minister will always be accused of being arrogant and authoritarian. The rebellious sheep and the ravenous wolves hate it when he firmly attacks the sin they hold so dear. Friends, do not slander these men. Love them. Cherish them. Preachers like these are a rarity in a godless age such as ours.