One of my heroes growing up in the Churches of Christ was a gentle,
godly man who was known for saying, “We preach exclamation points, not question
marks.” Now there is a sense in which we ought to be more than a little
skeptical of this statement. We ought to be sensitive to the fact that while
Scripture is sufficient in matters of life and godliness (2Tim. 3:16-17; 2Pet.
1:3-4), there are many areas where we must exercise judgment and caution (e.g.
Rom. 14). It is not virtuous to be dogmatic when we ought to be reserved.
Speaking more loudly does not make what one says more true.
Having made that qualification, there is much to commend in the original
statement. Far too many preachers and pastors have exercised a teaching
ministry of thinking out loud when they should have been proclaiming “Thus says
the Lord.” It may be easier and less controversial to speculate, rarely taking
a side, to simply facilitate conversation, but it is not the task to which ministers
of the Word are called (cf. Acts 20:28-32; 1Cor. 1:22-29; Eph. 4:11-16; 2Tim.
4:1-5). It is not speculation that will call men out of darkness and into God’s
marvelous light; the gospel is the Spirit’s instrument for doing so (Rom.
10:17; 1Pet. 2:9).
There are times for a preacher, pastor, or teacher to be cautious,
charitable, and to give others the benefit of the doubt. But there are times to
name names, denounce false doctrine, and identify soul-damning error for what
it is (e.g. Matt. 23; Gal. 2:2-6; 5:12; 1Tim. 1:5-11, 19-20). We need wisdom to
distinguish exclamation points from legitimate question marks, and we need to
spend the greater part of our time and energy proclaiming the former rather
than the latter. Unfortunately it often seems as though some Christians are
more willing to divide over tertiary issues than to rightly draw lines over
primary issues. It is just as wrong to be dogmatic about matters of judgment as
it is to refuse to draw lines where Scripture is emphatic and clear.
A faithful teacher of the Word will raise thoughtful questions and help
hearers to think more carefully through issues of Scripture and theology. But
merely raising questions is not the teacher’s ultimate role. We are called to
proclaim truth, not question it. May God grant us the wisdom and courage to do
so faithfully and effectively. –JME
