Who's Going To Tell?

 Romans 10:14-15 "How can they hear..."

I attended Festival of Homiletics (in person) this year! Each human being has their own set of gifts. If you know anything about me it is that I am a gifted preacher and I love the preaching and teaching ministries of the church. I also preach from the margins because "How (else) can they hear...?" 

In a world where influence and power often dominate the discourse, it's easy to overlook the profound beauty and transformative potential found in preaching from the margins. This unique perspective brings fresh insights, amplifies the voices of the marginalized, and allows us to embody the very essence of love, justice, and compassion. "How (else) can they hear..?"

The verses in Romans 10:14-15 beautifully encapsulate and urge us to recognize the crucial role of preaching in bringing the message of hope and salvation to ALL people. The significance lies not only in the act of preaching itself but also in the fact that God calls us flawed mortals (even from the margins) to do this work. "How (else) can they hear...?"

This work allows us to shine a light on narratives that often go unnoticed or unacknowledged. When we preach from the margins, we affirm the inherent worth and dignity of those who have been pushed to society's edges. To be clear, this is not to deny the worth of those not at the margins, so keep your drawers. Sharing the stories of the marginalized is an act of solidarity that compels us to confront systemic injustices and advocate for change. It invites us to resist evil, injustice, and the poison of oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. "How (else) can they hear...?"

When we limit our perspective to dominant narratives, we risk stagnation and a loss of depth in our understanding of the good news. Thus, preaching from the margins challenges us to revisit and revitalize our understanding of the Gospel. This is a radical act that embraces the fullness of humanity and reflects the heart of God. Preachers who are afraid or otherwise resistant to raising God's voice above the practice of oppression, are literally engaging in theological malpractice! The fear and reticence are usually rooted in loss of comfort, privilege and other shitty reasons cloaked in a watered-down version of the incarnation. Tell the truth and shame the devil because "How (else) can they hear...?" 

To do this work, preachers who neither live nor engage much with the margins should begin by hearing the stories of those who do - without censoring them. They should faithfully attend to their own emotions instead of adding this burden to those at the margins. Until the repealing of human dignity is truly uprooted and cast away from our realities, this work must be done because "How (else) can they hear...?" 

I love the preaching ministry and I love that I have the gift of preaching (and writing) from the margins. The Festival of Homiletics (Woodstock for Preachers) gave me an opportunity to hear preacher after preacher do this work! I had a blast! "How (else) can they hear?" Well, I am always happy to tell! 

#festivalofhomiletics #foh #preachingfromthemargins #preachinghopetoawearyworld #preaching #holywork