Speculation vs. Proclamation

I do a lot of speculation on this blog. Speculation is the act of speaking ABOUT God. It questions, analyzes and discerns. Theology is speculation. This is different than preaching.

Preaching is proclamation. It’s when a preacher speaks FOR God. Boldly. Simply. And truly.

God speaks in two words, law (which always comes first) and gospel.

I’ll paraphrase from Paul…

“Damn you!” (Gal 1:8-9)
”I forgive you!” (Gal 3:13)

The law brings a sinner to nothing. It convicts. It holds nothing back…

“America has a white supremacy problem.”

Humans stop here. I want to stop here. Lock the sinner up and throw away the key. Good riddance.

But God’s second word is the main one. It’s the one that creates, frees, grants, gives, opens, softens, and transforms… That word is the gospel promise of God’s absolute, unconditional, unearned, undeserved love.

The gospel word comes from outside of the law. God uses the law to bring us to our knees - the only place we’re receptive to God’s promise.

This gospel word can only be heard from the mouth of a preacher. The world will not give it to us. Our own brains won’t give it to us. All we have is law. And law cannot change. It can only convict.

I pray that you have a preacher in your life who delivers God’s words boldly with heart.

Grace + Godspeed,
Jonas