The Cambridge dictionary defines “preachy” as “sounding as if you want to give someone moral advice.” In light of that definition, is being “preachy” a good thing or a bad thing for Christians who want to witness to unbelievers? Many modern-day so-called experts on evangelism tell Christians they should not be “preachy.” I say, maybe we should be “preachy”—it depends on what one means by “moral advice” and the word “preachy.”
The Issue of “Moral Advice”
First, consider the issue of “moral advice.” The definition above implies that it is wrong to foist your moral views on other people. But the Bible says that is exactly what we are supposed to do as ambassadors and representatives of Jesus Christ, Savior and Judge of every soul. Every truth and command in Scripture is either a moral principle or has moral implications. There is nothing a-moral about the Bible’s teaching. The Bible is not neutral. Neither is God. Neither is Jesus. Jesus proclaimed, “He who is not with Me is against Me” (Matt 12:30).
That is categorical, dogmatic, and black and white. The whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is a disclosure of God’s morality. The 10 Commandments are inherently moral. Calling sinners to repentance is inherently a moral demand. Jesus’ whole ministry was composed of telling people to stop sinning (Luke 5:32). After healing the man who had been lame for 38 years, Jesus exhorted him with this moral demand: “Do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you” (John 5:14). James, Jesus’ half-brother, declared, “Cleanse your hands you sinners” (James 4:8). Long before that, God commanded all people to “repent and live” (Ezek 18:32).
The current culture is dominated by a relativistic worldview. We are told there are no universally binding truths or moral demands. “You have your truth and I have my truth,” is the popular adage. We are told that it is a universal truth that there are no universal truths. Christians are supposed to tip-toe around, being sure not to hurt anyone’s feelings or “offend” anybody with the demands of biblical morality. If we do then we might be scorned, called out, rejected…or even persecuted.
The Word “Preachy”
Second, consider the word “preachy.” It is a slang adjective to describe someone who comes across as dogmatic and commanding when they talk to people. Sometimes it is used to describe someone who is rude, insensitive, arrogant or myopic. Christians are definitely not to be rude, insensitive, arrogant or myopic when sharing the truth of the gospel with unbelievers. We are to be “gentle” and reverent when interfacing with non-Christians (1 Pet 3:15).
But at the same time, we must be proactive, forthright, assertive, and confident when we share the gospel verbally. And when we do that, it can be perceived as being “preachy.”
Many unbelievers accuse Christians of being “preachy” as a false accusation in an attempt to escape the guilt they feel from the intrinsic truth in Scripture. The gospel message is an inherent call for sinners to repent, and people don’t like to be called “sinners,” and sinners don’t like to repent.
The natural inclination of an unbeliever is to resist the truth of the Bible, no matter how gently and considerately it is presented. The truth of Scripture is divine and supernatural. When preached and then comprehended by an unbeliever, that truth is carried by the Holy Spirit and pierces to the most inner recesses of a person’s being, to their very conscience, exposing their sin, rendering them naked and helpless before a holy God (Heb 4:12-13).
This work of the Spirit causes guilt. And sinners do two things with guilt. They will either repent of it or they will run from it and try to hide it. The sinner who tries to hide his guilt when exposed by the truth of Scripture will routinely accuse the Christian of being “preachy,” with the goal of rationalizing sin and rendering the Christian’s message illegitimate. Being “preachy” is politically incorrect and a personal offense.
Christians Must “Preach” the Gospel
Ironically, the only way to verbally articulate and share the gospel is to “preach” it. The Great Commission literally commands all Christians to “preach” the gospel to all people (Mark 16:15; cf. Matt 24:14; 28:19-20). Jesus told His disciples that His main job as the promised Messiah was to “peach” the gospel (Matt 11:5). Mark summarizes Jesus’ entire three-year ministry by noting that Jesus’ priority was “preaching”:
Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15).
The apostle Paul said God called him to do one thing: “preach” the gospel (1 Cor 1:17, 23; cf. Acts 9:15, 20). In fact, Paul said God made him a “preacher” (2 Tim 1:11). As a preacher, he probably sounded “preachy.” Philip “preached Jesus” to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:35). Noah didn’t just build massive boats. In the Old Testament at the time of the Flood, Noah was a “preacher of righteousness” (2 Pet 2:5). All the Old Testament prophets, from Moses to Malachi, were “preachers.” Today, every Christian is called by God to be a preacher.
There are two main words used in the New Testament translated into English as “preach.” They are euangelizzo and kerusso. They are similar, yet have distinct nuances, and in many cases overlap.
Euangelizzo is made up of two words: eu- (meaning “good) + angel (meaning “message). This verb emphasizes the content of what we share with sinners, namely, the good message or the good news.
Kerusso refers to a public crier or a herald, one who shouted out loud the edict of the king, an edict which all citizens were required to obey. And the herald spoke with the authority of the king as his representative. So kerusso emphasizes our authority and the manner in which we relay the good news; and that manner is with bold, verbal, authoritative proclamation.
Eungelizzo is the message; kerusso is the method and manner of that verbal delivery. And both of these words are translated as “preach.” There is no way to share the gospel without preaching it.
Conclusion
So, the next time you get accused of being “preachy” when sharing the gospel to a sinner, or the next time you hear some well-meaning, misguided Christian try to tell you to be like St. Francis of Assisi, who supposedly said, “Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary use words,” remember the clear teaching of Scripture. God has called all believers to “preach” the gospel to all people. And as you do you will probably sound a bit “preachy.” And that’s OK. Jesus was “preachy.”
