on 6 March 2024
Dear all at IPC
Over the last few months I have had more opportunity to listen to preaching than I have in a very long time. It’s been a real joy to have Reuben and Andrew minister God’s word to me week by week.
One of the things I’ve noticed is that, in my listening, I’ve become a master at applying the word to others. I recently read about “whataboutery” as a misdirection technique. That is when I hear something which could apply to me but in my head I think “but what about so and so: they really need to hear this”. I have subtly managed to redirect the application to someone else and somewhat nullify the truth.
I suspect I’m not alone in this because it is so very easy. To agree with what’s being said in principle, but raise the objection ‘but what about this person or that situation…what would so and so think if they heard that’ or ‘Mr or Mrs could have done with hearing that’, ‘if only so and so had been here’.
There’s an example at the end of the gospels of ‘whataboutery’, in the last chapter of John. The risen Jesus has appeared to Peter and charged him three times to feed his sheep. Jesus explains that will involve a long and tiring life of ministry and a future painful death. He finally reminds Peter, “follow me”. Peter then sees his old friend John and asks the Lord, “What about him?”, to which Jesus replies, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:17-22) It’s as if Jesus says to Peter, ‘I will work out my purposes and plans for John’s life, what concern is it of yours? You mind your own business and do what I’ve told you, follow me’.
I expect it was slightly awkward for Peter, but Jesus makes his point clear. There are different people in God’s kingdom, with different gifts and different temperaments that have different ministries. Peter’s overwhelming priority in life was to be following Jesus.
In listening to preaching it is easy to see the application to others more clearly than the one to ourselves. Jesus’ masterful illustration shows us this regarding the man who has a plank of wood in his own eye but is very keen to point out the speck of wood in his brothers (Matt 7:3,4).
There are also times when, listening to faithful preaching, we will not like what we are hearing. The application of God’s word might cut across what we believe or like to think. It may well confront a pattern of behaviour or thought. It will certainly critique the culture in which we maybe have become comfortable. God’s word shows me where I’m wrong and at that point there is a confrontation between my will and God’s will. Good preaching is always confrontational! The temptation to raise points of objection about what others might think or offence they might take is dangerous, because it stops me dealing with my sin. The subtlety of my sin means that I can hide in complexity, claiming it’s not as straightforward as the preacher is making it. The truth can equally be lost by endless caveats and qualifications.
‘Whataboutery’ can mean I deflect anything I don’t want to hear. As we come to God’s word, the right posture is to come wanting to hear.
Little Samuel, finally recognising that God was speaking to him, said, “Master, speak your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3) Psalm 95 beautifully expresses the joy of God’s people gathering to worship and yet finishes with the warning, “Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah”. It is a reminder to them and to us of the seriousness of hearing God speak and not taking notice.
One of Jesus most oft repeated commands and warning is he who has ears to hear let him hear. He tells us in John’s gospel that, ‘Whoever is of God hears the words of God”. (John 8:47) The danger of whataboutery, is that if is allowed to become a habit we can inoculate ourselves to God’s word. We see the need of others but fail to see our own need.
It’s why the prayer of Ulrich Zwingli the Swiss Reformer is so helpful:
‘Living God, help us so to hear your holy Word that we may truly understand; that, understanding, we may believe, and, believing, we may follow in all faithfulness and obedience, seeking your honour and glory in all that we do; through Christ our Lord. Amen.’
Your Minister and Friend
Paul