Eric Metaxas

Growing up in rural southern Indiana, I heard my parents say on numerous occasions that they wanted preachers to “preach the Bible”. I never knew exactly what they meant by that statement and unfortunately lacked sufficient Spiritual maturity to even ask what they meant with that statement. I just assumed that in some way preachers used the Bible when they preached!  Thankfully, I have a much better understanding today of what it means for a preacher to preach the Bible through expository preaching.  My wife and I are especially blessed to have a senior pastor who does this every week when he is in the pulpit. Simply stated, expository preaching involves explaining the meaning of Scripture and how it applies to the lives of listeners in today’s world. I intend to expand on this understanding as I discuss two recent books written by best-selling author Eric Metaxas.

In his books, Letter To The American Church and Religionless Christianity, Mr. Metaxas, is critical of the weak response of the American Church to the Progressive left cultural agenda, including, but not limited to, Abortion, Transgenderism, Critical Race Theory, Cultural Marxism, LGBTQ, DEI, and Cancel Culture (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Progressive Agenda”). Mr. Metaxas believes that the American Church is largely silent and has failed to oppose the Progressive Agenda in any meaningful way. He cites several reasons for this failure, including the American Church’s overzealous desire to be “winsome”, respectable, avoid the appearance of being “political”, and a misplaced desire to remain popular and reluctant “get its hands dirty” in confronting the Progressive Agenda. Mr. Metaxas contrasts the American Church’s cautious approach to the Progressive Agenda with Jesus’ robust and unapologetic preaching and teaching in confronting sin, greed, and corruption in his earthly ministry. He further compares the timid response of the American Church to the Progressive Agenda to the largely silent response of the German Church in the 1930s to Adolph Hitler and Nazism. Mr. Metaxas believes that if the German Church had been forceful in opposing Adolph Hitler and the Nazi movement, the horrific carnage wrought by Hitler and the Nazis could likely have been averted. He is of the firm belief that time is running out for the American Church to step up courageously against the Progressive Agenda and prevent this movement from destroying the historic freedoms enjoyed by Americans.

It is not my intent in this blog to undertake a comprehensive review of Mr. Metaxas’ books. I believe he captures the Progressive Agenda very well and commend his books as an excellent read for those concerned about the impact the Progressive Agenda is having on our country in matters of religion, education, business, and the culture at large. While I believe that it is appropriate for groups such as Turning Point USA to directly and forcefully challenge the Progressive Agenda with grace and civility as the late Charlie Kirk did, I advocate a different approach for the American Church which I will discuss next.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Let me provide a few examples of how God’s Word in Scripture speaks directly to some important contemporary cultural issues. In Genesis Chapter 1:26-31, the Bible makes clear that God made man in his own image and created male and female, and man is to take point in being the steward of the plant and animal world. Jesus affirmed in Matthew 19:4 that God created man as male and female and in Matthew 19:5 confirmed that marriage is between a man and a woman. Psalm 139:13-14 makes clear that unborn children are an act and a creation from God. Romans 1:18-32 makes clear God’s displeasure with those who engage in aberrant sexual misconduct, and God’s displeasure for those who display disregard for God by engaging in idolatry by worshipping the things in the creation order instead of worshipping God alone. To be sure, these Scriptures barely touch the surface of what God’s Word tells us regarding the Biblical world view we should embrace.

God did not enable American Evangelical Churches to have his Word in Holy Scripture so Bibles could sit largely untouched in church pew racks or in church libraries. Nor did God intend that Holy Scripture be used as a mere adjunct reference for preachers in the pulpit. It is my firm belief that if the pastors of American Evangelical  Churches faithfully pursue expository preaching by preaching through the Bible from the pulpit, they will powerfully proclaim for their listeners the ultimate source of truth from God’s word which will provide God’s design for life and how life should be lived. The contrast between expository preaching from the Bible and the Progressive Agenda will make abundantly clear to listeners the moral and Spiritual shallowness and dystopian nature of the Progressive Agenda.  I can say with complete confidence that the Progressive Agenda is no match for the truth of God’s Word any day of the week!

God bless you and thank you for the privilege of your time in reading my blog.