Sanballat's Screed - Preaching and Singing
Sanballat, first introduced to us in Scripture in the book of Nehemiah, was an enemy of the Jewish people who was keen on preventing the rebuilding of the temple. In chapter 2 of Nehemiah, we are told that amongst other things, Sanballat and his friends scorned the Israelites and used mockery in a vain attempt to frustrate their plans. Using this imagery, "Sanballat's Screed" intends to be short “Screwtape”-like letters from the perspective of Sanballat (of Nehemiah), imagining that he’s criticizing Grace Rancho. As you read these fictitious letters, see the ways in which the enemies of the church might use cunning speech and biting criticism to try to foil God's glorious work and take comfort in the fact that God has promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church.
01.
Dear Grace Rancho,
Expositional preaching? Really? In 2024?
Let me try to help you. Our age is saturated with visual media. Pictures, videos, reels, TikToks. Speeches - especially those without any kind of visual eye-grabber - are outdated. And not only that, the media our people are used to engaging with is interactive. You can like, share, reply, etc. An expositional sermon fails in both of these ways. It is neither visually appealing nor interactive. It really is time to put that old method to bed.
I know, I know. Jesus preached and you’re trying to be like him. And I understand that Paul said that it is through the folly of preaching that God saves people. But let me ask you this: did Jesus or Paul ever live in the 21st century? In the age of smartphones? Nope. We have to adapt.
So get away from explanations of the Bible. Choose the hottest topics (things like relationships, finding joy, or “overcoming”) and make sure you ratchet up the visuals. Throw in a Bible verse here and there to satisfy the Bible-thumpers in your midst. I hear the sermons there are almost an hour-long? Are you kidding me?
Wake up, Grace Rancho. There are more relevant things to do that will draw a crowd. That’s what you’re trying to do, right?
Disapprovingly,
Sanballat
02.
Dear Grace Rancho,
I have come up with some better lyrics for some of the hymns you sing. How about this one, instead of the unrealistic, “Jesus Paid It All” you could sing:
Jesus paid for half!
The rest is up to me
Sin began a crimson stain,
Christ began, I must complete.
Or, instead of those lousy “What is Our Hope in Life and Death” lyrics, you could sing:
What is our hope in life and death,
Christ and me, Christ and me!
What is my only confidence?
Since I’ve worked hard, he’ll set me free.
And the chorus could be:
O sing, hallelujah
I’m pretty sure he loves me
O sing, hallelujah
Just today I do confess
But maybe tomorrow he loves me less.
Those lyrics will do a better job of scaring people into obedience. Too much assurance of God’s grace will make them lazy.
Looking out for you,
Sanballat
