As today’s culture trends toward chaos–with everyone following their own wants, often at the expense of other people–what’s the best way to bring hope and positive change? Alex McFarland says we have the ultimate transformative tool right at our fingertips: the written Word of God.
“As a pastor, I think far too many pastors – rather than being a Moses thundering down from Sinai and giving what ‘thus saith the LORD,’ – are more like B-grade motivational speakers. With the world becoming a powder keg of instability, people are concerned for the future and the state of their soul. Now more than ever, we need to proclaim the truth of God’s Word. This is what we were called to do; indeed, it’s what we were made for. So get out there in the danger zone and talk about those topics that need to be addressed.”
McFarland says the good news is there’s really not an issue that we face today that is not, in some way, either directly or indirectly, addressed by the Word of God.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16
“I want to call on pastors to really preach the Word of God, line by line, precept by precept, verse by verse. There’s a time for topical messages, but I am passionately convicted of this: that what the Lord will use to grow the church, to equip the body, and to really change the worldview of people is the Word of God.”
“One passage of Scripture has more power than a library of apologetics.”
“As much as I love apologetics, if we as pastors and Christian leaders would preach, teach, live, exhort the Word of God–bathe it in prayer, but give God’s take on all these issues–it would change the world.”
In fact, historically, we’ve seen the transformative power of God’s Word reshape the future of humanity–during the Protestant Reformation, for example.
“Somebody said to Martin Luther (during the Protestant Reformation), “You’re the greatest leader, you’re the great reformer!” Luther said “I did nothing; God did it all. I merely preached and taught the Word of God and God did the rest.”
“The Word is powerful, and if we preach it and preach those passages that point people to the issues of the day, God will use that.”
Alex McFarland is a speaker, writer and advocate for Christian apologetics. He serves as director of the Center for Christian Worldview and Apologetics at North Greenville University, a leading Christian college in the United States. He has spoken in hundreds of locations throughout North America and internationally and has preached in more than 1,300 churches. Alex has been featured at conferences such as The Billy Graham School of Evangelism, Focus on the Family’s Big Dig and California’s Spirit West Coast, sharing the platform with Chuck Colson, Dinesh D’Souza, Josh McDowell and many others. Alex is the author of several books, including the best-selling 10 Most Common Objections to Christianity. He is a graduate of Liberty University and lives in North Carolina with his wife.
Scripture, the ultimate change agent
