© Rev. Lance Carrithers, all rights reserved.  Permission required to copy any portion of this message by any means. Email for permission: lance@firstchurchdc.com

"Tempted"

Luke 4:1-13

           Each year, the lectionary begins Lent with the story of Jesus being tempted by Satan in the desert.   The temptations come in the form of turning stones into bread, worshipping Satan, and testing God by jumping from temple peak.     Of course, Jesus does not succumb to temptation.   He uses the sacred texts to resist the Devil’s taunts.    The score board lights up.     

            But then again, Lent IS a time of introspection, a time to consider our own mortality, our own sinfulness, our need for a savior.  And so it is right, I would think, to allow for a bit of reflection upon temptation. 

            I don’t know what your temptations are.  It would be foolish of me to try to guess.  Some of us are tempted by power, others of us by lust, still others of us by substances like alcohol, drugs, and food. 

            I wish temptation were as stark as Jesus’ encounter with the Satan in the wilderness.   I might be able to resist temptation if I were certain that it was the Devil I was dealing with.   Who doesn’t want to defeat the Devil?   Our children in the day care sing a chapel song about taking the devil out of his little black box and smashing his face before locking him away again. 

            But temptation often looks more like heaven than hell.   Looks more angelic than devilish.  That’s how temptation gets you after all.  

            As I said, Lent is a time for personal reflection…so it won’t do any good for me to talk about what I think might tempt you.   So I am going to stay with my own temptations.    More specifically, the temptations I face as a preacher of God’s word.  

            John Ortberg, pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in California recently told a national preaching conference that there were ten deadly sins of preaching.  His remarks were summarized by Skye Jenthani on his weblog, “Out of Ur.”  I read them over and found that Ortberg was right on…these were not only the temptations of every preacher, these were the temptations of your own preacher.  (Many thanks to Skye Jenthani for the summaries!)

1. The temptation to be inauthentic
This is the desire to present an image to others that makes me appear more holy, intelligent, or godly than I actually am. In the end this is a foolish pursuit because the truth of who I really am will always leak out.

2. The temptation to live for recognition
After finishing a sermon the question that runs through most preachers’ minds is, “did they like it?”  But I need to learn to root my own identity in something other than applause and compliments.

3. The temptation to live in fear
What if I fail? That question plagues many pastors. But there is a difference between failing at something and being a failure. Again, one’s identity must been hidden in Christ and not accomplishments.

4. The temptation to compare
With the radio, television, and the internet my generation of preachers face this temptation more than ever.   Our culture of celebrity pastors causes preachers to constantly compare and imitate. This does nothing good for the soul.

5. The temptation to exaggerate
This seems closely linked to the first temptation.   Overstating facts is how I might try to create urgency and cause you to listen to what I have to say.   It also allows the preacher to manage his or her image and appear better than one really is.   Ortberg also linked this temptation to plagiarism—passing someone else’s story, sermon, or idea off as our own so as to win approval.

6. The temptation to feel chronically inadequate
This can help me excuse poor preparation, and poor delivery.   The busy-ness of ministry is the crutch of feeling inadequate and causes the preacher to seek pity.  Again, the focus in too much on the preacher and not on the One we worship.

7. The temptation of pride
Having people listen to you give a monologue every week can make the preacher prideful.  Ortberg’s antidote?  A spouse.  Pride also is the cause of the preacher’s greatest mistake in any sermon.  Using oneself as an illustration for others to follow, thus making the preacher the hero of his or her own sermon.

8. The temptation to manipulate
Having a pulpit and speaking the words of God might give some a power rush.  Sermons can be less about God than about manipulating others into doing what I want them to do.

9. The temptation of envy
This seems related to number four, the temptation to compare. But envy carries the nuance of desire and ambition.  Such selfish motivations undermine spiritual health.

10. The temptation of anger
Ortberg uses this quote from the late Henri Nouwen:    “Anger in particular seems close to a professional vice in the contemporary ministry. Pastors are angry at their leaders for not leading and at their followers for not following. They are angry at those who do not come to church for not coming and angry at those who do come for coming without enthusiasm. They are angry at their families, who make them feel guilty, and angry at themselves for not being who they want to be. This is not an open, blatant, roaring anger, but an anger hidden behind the smooth word, the smiling face, and the polite handshake. It is a frozen anger, an anger which settles into a biting resentment and slowly paralyzes a generous heart. If there is anything that makes the ministry look grim and dull, it is this dark, insidious anger in the servants of Christ.”

             There they are.   These are not your temptations, they are mine.  They are subtle.  The results can be tragic.  These are the areas I seek God’s strength to overcome.  I have been and I am tempted.  

         As I said, I don’t know what your temptations are.   But chances are, you do.   What are the temptations of your particular work or role?   What are the personal temptations you face.   What are the temptations that if you are not careful, will seduce you and pull you away?

            For a moment, I want you to think of your temptations.   I have a worksheet that possibly will help you.   (Ushers pass out)

            We are going to allow for a few minutes for you to reflect.   Then we will pray together.   For strength.   For God’s help.   For sustenance.  For the tempter to finally depart from us.

                                     (MUSIC)

 Let us Pray:

Holy Lord.   Lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil.   And for each temptation that comes our way, give us courage and strength to resist.  And for each time we cannot resist, forgive us.  Plant in us a seed of holy desire to do what is just, what is right in your eyes.  All thanks be to your Holy Name.   Amen.