Martin Luther declared, "How difficult an occupation preaching is."(1) Then Luther continued by a discussion of the intensity of the attacks

1. Preaching the Gospel - Why is It
Difficult?
Martin Luther declared, "How difficult an occupation preaching is."(1) Then Luther continued by a
discussion of the intensity of the attacks from Satan on those who would presume to "preach the word
of God."(2) In this short essay, I will discuss how four important themes concur with Luther's statement.
The first of these themes is the importance of our definition of the gospel to our preaching ministry. The
second theme is the importance of the Holy Spirit to the task of preaching. The third theme is our
definition of preaching. The fourth theme is metaphors for understanding the preacher. I believe that
these four fundamental concepts from all point to the validity of Martin Luther's full statement,
specifically the difficulty of preaching Gospel of Thomas.
My working definition of the Gospel is; God is actively involved in the elevation of the world to a state
beyond original creation.(3) This means that God is not idly standing by while Satan runs rampant. God
is in the world taking on the forces that are in the world. This understanding of the Gospel means that
God and Satan are in a Cosmic Battle and the destiny of the world is at stake. Neither God nor Satan will
give up the world to the other without a struggle. Thus, we can expect that both God and Satan will use
all the resources, consistent with their characters, to win this war. If we preach the Gospel, Satan will do
the best that Satan can do to undermine the Gospel. Thus my understanding of the gospel includes in it
a belief that Satan will use all the "furies of hell"(4) to stop that Gospel and thus the preaching of it.
In his statement, Luther speaks of a difficulty in the preaching of the gospel. Luther seems to mean that
it is difficult because Satan will attack the preacher. While this is true and I have referred to it above,
there is another way that it is difficult. Luther does not explicitly reference this difficulty in the
statement. This difficulty is the problem of even conceiving of the Gospel in the world. Because of the
world's way of doing things, we can lose sight of the Gospel. To understand the Gospel we must appeal
to the importance of the Holy Spirit in all preaching. We cannot know how the Gospel looks today
except the Spirit tells us. Jesus said that the Spirit of truth would be there to reveal the truth to us (John
16:13). If the Sprit is there to help us understand the gospel, Satan will be there to obscure it. If the
Spirit tells us that we should fight for the oppressed, Satan is present telling us that that does not
include the outsider. If the Spirit tells us to speak against domestic violence, Satan is present telling us
that we do not know what the woman did to deserve the beating. Again Luther's statement is
illuminated; preaching is difficult in that it is difficult to conceive of the gospel in this world.
Another important theme to describe the difficulty of preaching is to look at our definition of preaching.
Dr. Brad Braxton states that "Preaching is the faithful, passionate, reporting of God's useful news." (5)
Here preaching includes something that is useful, good news. If it is useful, then it is something practical
that humanity can take with them to live the life that God calls them to live. Satan would attack this kind
of proclamation. Another important component of preaching that supports Luther's statement is that
the preaching event is an encounter between God and humanity. If we are in a war, then Satan must
stop all communication between God and humanity. If the preaching event is a special communication
between God and humanity we can be certain that Satan will do all that Satan can do to stop that

2. communication. Luther is right that Satan is against one who would stand up, tell useful truth, and be a
conduit for a special encounter between God and humanity.(6)
To this point, I have discussed the gospel, the Spirit in our work, and the Spirit in us. Now I wish to
discuss how pictures of the preacher agree with Luther's statement. We will look at some metaphors for
understanding the preaching of the Gospel in the world. One metaphor is the preacher as herald.(7)
Here the preacher is primarily one that publishes the information given to the preacher by God. If we
are to preach the Gospel, we are telling the world that God is involved in the world. Satan will attack
those who say this. Another Biblical metaphor is the Preacher as an ambassador taken from 2
Corinthians 5:20. Paul states that Satan is the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Thus, this world
has many of the characteristics of Satan. The mindset of this world is different from the mindset of God
which is why Paul tells the Roman believers to "not be conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2). We are
ambassadors of another country. Satan hates that country and is at war with us. Often when a country is
at war with another country they expel the ambassadors and close the embassy. However, Christians
remain in war territory. Here we are ambassadors of a minority position in the world. We are standing
up to the powers to let them know that the Gospel is still true. Why do the powers care about those
who preach the Gospel? The powers of this world care about the preacher because the preacher
reminds Satan and all the dominions of evil that, their end will come. In essence, the preacher
personifies the Gospel and thus the hatred of the Gospel becomes a hatred of the preacher.
Luther reminds the preacher that the job is a treacherous one. In addition, it really reminds me one
thing that Dr. Braxton said echoing Jesus, if you are not suffering persecution you are probably not
preaching the gospel (2 Tim 3:12).(8) We will encounter trouble as we preach the gospel. Dr. Braxton
continued this thought by telling me of the need for courage and wisdom in preaching.(9) Dr. Braxton
recognized that I caught a glimpse of what Luther saw. Because of this recognition I was struggling with
the fear that comes from an understanding of the ramifications of preaching the Gospel. This fear
assumes what Luther has already stated; namely, that preaching is a "difficult occupation." There is a
great temptation to stay out of the fray and preach what is acceptable and easy. However, the Gospel
calls for something different. True preaching will cause trouble for the preacher. This trouble comes
because when we preach the Gospel, we are informing those who spread lies that God will uncover the
truth eventually. When we preach the Gospel, we are telling those who cause pain in the world that the
God of all comfort will undo their actions. Finally, when we preach the gospel, we are telling all those
who practice death that there is a resurrection on Sunday morning. Yes, Luther was right when he said
evil would attack the preacher. Preaching the Gospel is definitely a bittersweet job. I did not choose it,
sometimes I do not want it, but I recognize that God gave me this work. As I reflect on it, I wonder what
better job could God give one than to preach "good news of great joy" (Luke 2:10). I thank God for the
opportunity, and I pray for God's protection, leading, courage, and wisdom as I go out to preach the
gospel to the powers and to God's people.