Sometimes we hear people describe a sermon preached as either “positive” or “negative.” The word of God does not use these terms to describe preaching. So to get an idea what these descriptors mean, we need to look to modern dictionaries. That which is positive is “marked by or indicating acceptance, approval, or affirmation” (Merriam-Webster). Conversely, “negative” would indicate “denial, prohibition, or refusal” (Merriam-Webster). Upon looking at these definitions, it is no wonder why people generally prefer “positive” preaching.
Again, the terms “positive” and “negative” are never used in the Bible to describe preaching. But by the definitions above, some preaching may fall into one of those categories. Positive preaching would include topics like the love of God, the sacrifice of Christ, the gospel being open to all, unity among believers, and the eternal reward of heaven. In contrast, negative preaching would include the wrath of God, the judgment of Christ, the regulations and doctrines contained in the gospel, withdrawing from unfaithful Christians, and the eternal punishment of hell. Generally, people will prefer the positive teaching because they can feel good about those things. The negative teaching produces sorrow, guilt, and fear.
Can we simply choose to preach only the “positive” and ignore the “negative”? Surely people would like that sort of message more. However, we have an obligation to teach “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27, NKJV). Those things listed above that some might consider to be negative are contained in the word of God. Therefore, they are part of the “whole counsel” that must be taught. Those who only preach the positive are not serving faithfully as preachers of the gospel.
When the Lord called Jeremiah to proclaim His will, He told him, “I have put My words in your mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9). What was he to do with the words of the Lord? He was to “pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). According to our definitions, four characteristics of Jeremiah’s message would be negative and only two would be positive. When Paul charged Timothy to “preach the word,” he told him to “reprove, rebuke, exhort” (2 Timothy 4:2). Two of those are negative and only one positive. Are these verses teaching that two thirds of all preaching should be “negative”? No. Different congregations and individual Christians have different needs. There may be times when they do not need that much “negative” preaching. Other times, they may need more.
What we need to remember is that “all Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16) and that “every word of God is pure” (Proverbs 30:5). So while man may try and classify some teachings of Scripture as positive and others negative, all of it is from God and “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Let us learn to ignore the labels man has placed upon the word of God and simply teach “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Any preaching that does this, whether considered positive or negative by others, is what God expects. And following God instead of the pressures of men is always positive.
