Pulpit Language, 3 of 4

"Two men went up to the temple complex to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took his stand and was praying like this: 'God, I thank You that I'm not like other people--greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.' "But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, turn Your wrath from me--a sinner!' I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." - Luke 18:10-14 HCSB

The expression of extreme emotions in worship is actually encouraged in the Scriptures with the sole stricture being that the expression be honest. The only prayers that Jesus ever criticized were the ones that were too long, repetitious or showy.[1] All through the Psalms, the book of Job and Lamentations, we read prayers, hear songs and listen to sermons in which God’s prophets express their deepest longings. Some even dare to question God, crying out in essence “God, where the heck are you? Is this any way to run the universe?”

It is precisely because we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way we are and managed to get through the experienced unscathed that we are instructed to approach the throne of God with great boldness.[2] We don’t have to tiptoe around in our worship, afraid of getting the doilies dirty, or that we will offend because we did not raise our pinkies as we sipped on the tea. We have a rugged, masculine and strong Master who loved a good time and a good laugh.[3] He never crossed the line into sin, but He wasn’t your Aunt Bea either.

When a woman who was apparently known for her sinful lifestyle followed Jesus into a house and anointed with expensive perfume,[4] the disciples indignantly questioned, “tis houtos apoleia?” In Greek “tis” means “what”, “houtos” means “this”, and “apoleia”[5] means “utter destruction consisting of eternal misery in hell.” Basically Jesus’ hillbilly disciples were saying “What the hell?” Jesus didn’t rebuke them for their language but for their hard-hearted lack of love.

The Ransomed have committed themselves to a Person, not a set of rules. We follow a Messiah, not the Rule of Benedict. As followers of a loving and frank King, we offer the same honesty to each other. We use whatever language is necessary to wake each other up to the ever present danger of the roaring lion[6] that all God’s sheep face.


[1] Matthew 6:5-7
[2] Hebrews 4:15-16 cp Ephesians 3:12
[3] John 2:1-10; Matthew 9:10-13; Mark 2:15-17; Luke 5:29-32; 7:36-39; 15:1-2
[4] Mathew 26:6-7
[5] Matthew 26:8; Strong’s #684
[6] 1 Peter 5:8