For quite some time now, there has been much said about "positive" and "negative" preaching. In my opinion, the failure to define properly these terms has caused confusion, unrest and even hard feelings in some cases. Some seem to define them as: Positive--even bad is good; and Negative--even good is bad. Or, the "positive preacher" tells everyone to be "good," and emphasizes their good points; while the "negative preacher" condemns everyone as evil sinners and emphasizes their failures. It is easy to see how these concepts are incompatible and strife and conflicts are inevitable.

Our responsibility to God to "edify" the church demands that we be "balanced preachers." "Balanced preaching," is both, positive and negative. In order to have a good harvest, it is just as important to clear the field of weeds as it is to plant the crop (and vice versa). The man who emphasizes "weed control" to the neglect of the "seed planting" will not be a successful farmer.

I've heard some sermons(?) that left me feeling like a "scum bucket with a hole in it." If I had not been deeply rooted and grounded in the truth by Christian parents, I easily could have left the service feeling that there was very little hope that I would ever actually go to Heaven. Does that type of sermon reflect the "good news" of the gospel that is to be preached to the whole world? Whether one intends to do so or not, sometimes he can come across as one who has never seen a genuine Christian in his life (except maybe when he looks in the mirror). That there are hypocrites, half-hearted Christians and worldly people in the church few would deny, but I do deny that that's all there is in the church! Those that are faithful need to be fed, too. Those that are faithful, but weak, need to be strengthened.

It has been stated that immorality will thrive on "positive preaching." In private, one preacher(?) told me that he was sick of that "positive preaching junk." That it was true that immorality would thrive on "positive preaching." Less than a year later this same man had deserted his wife and children. Evidently his "negative preaching" was not a reliable safeguard against immorality either. Brethren, we need a "balanced diet."

It is always easier to preach lop-sided sermons. It is easier to preach that hate is a sin, than to teach how to love, what true love is, and how to love one's enemies. It is easier to preach against divorce, than to teach how to choose a mate for life, how to overcome the hardships of marriage, and how to fight off the worldly attacks against the home. It is easier to preach "how not to live" the Christian life, than to teach "how to live it," but both are needed. Brethren, sometimes we treat only the symptoms, rather than the actual disease itself. For example, we preach against the sin of forsaking the assembly (Heb 10:25). This we must do. But we should also be concerned with why some do forsake it. Usually, it is for economic reasons. But, why do they place their jobs before God? Maybe what they really need is to be taught the importance of making a real commitment to God, to really seek Him and His kingdom first in their life. Teaching the importance of the assembly is very important. But at the same time, if the person could understand what putting God first in their life means, they would be better prepared for choosing between Him and their job. We know that a doctor cannot cure a disease by treating only its symptoms. Only an insincere doctor would say, "take two aspirins and call me in the morning."

Look at Paul's teaching in Ephesians 4. "Put away lying. ..speak truth" (v. 25); "steal no more...labour, working with hands" (v.28); "no corrupt communication... but that which is good to the use of edifying" (v.29); "Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another..." (vs. 31, 32). This is balanced preaching. We must be more diligent in really helping brethren overcome their weaknesses.

Take an inventory of your sermons. Divide them into three categories: (1) for non-Christians; (2) for unfaithful Christians; and, (3) for faithful Christians. How balanced is your preaching? "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine," (II Timothy 4:2).