We must be careful that the pulpit is not used for hot-button issues over simple, surrendered exposition. It’s harder to do the latter, though. There is a tendency in younger pastors to assume that Bible exposition doesn’t seem to scratch raging social itches. Perhaps even worse, there is also a tendency in younger pastors to assume that they should be scratching cultural itches.

Pastoring can be tricky. Especially if we are younger. And especially in this world. Things are always happening. Lots of things. If you’ve struggled like I have, sometimes it’s hard to tell which of those things need my attention. On top of that, it can be hard to tell which of those things are things.

Every generation sees hot-button issues. These are issues which often matter; issues that need to be addressed. They are issues which involve people made in God’s image. Pastors have pastoral mandates from God. God cares about real people and real issues, which is why he gives these pastors and their mandates. So, what are ways that pastors can keep caring amidst these throes?

Just a few considerations for some of us younger, under-50ish pastors as hot-button social and cultural issues demand our attention:

1. In the mix of hot-button social issues, we young pastors should avoid thinking that we have mastered these issues.

It takes a long time to skillfully speak about hot-button issues. It takes even longer to speak skillfully about hot-button issues in a godly way.

A feeling of aggression about an issue is not an objective indicator that I am well-schooled in the issue. External pressure from popular peers and internal pressure from misguided angst are not the leading by the Holy Spirit saying, “You’ve mastered this issue. Speak accordingly.”

These things take decades. Young pastors have not lived that long. This means that we are not experts in these things. Once we’ve marinated in the Bible for a few decades—with proper hermeneutic, forced to apply theology and convictions—then our we will be approaching sufficient depth to speak biblically. Until then, we should resist thinking we are social-issue jedis.

2. Amidst hot-button cultural issues, we ought to consider that, as younger pastors, we don’t have many great things to say.

A grey-haired sage once told me something helpful: the thing you should avoid doing during those initial encounters with big issues is talking. He knew me well. I liked talking because I thought that I should talk.

“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Prov. 10:19).

“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (Jas. 1:19-20).

Hot-button social issues demand that we talk. That can be good at times. But not always. The moment that we experience an emotional-gland phenomena in response to a social issue is probably the time to avoid talking. Even if people make us younger pastors think that we should talk; in public or private; at conferences or in corners, declining to talk might be the best way to serve those publicly and privately, and at conferences and in corners.

Wait. Pray. Read the Bible a lot. Wait even more. Let’s ask ourselves, “Have I really gave this issue a good go-around? Do I really understand all of the ways in which God’s word addresses it, and in the way that it is currently manifesting in my midst?”

We ought to avoid the temptation of supposing that we are ministerial Captain James Cooks, who have valiantly sailed into an undiscovered hot-button world; as if we have come upon a new, un-thought-through, un-addressed nuance of the issue. We aren’t and we haven’t. Our new words; new angst; new zeal is already under the sun and needs to get old and tamed and bible’d.

Notwithstanding some of the applause we might solicit from fleshly crowds, unless it’s correct Bible exposition, we younger pastors probably don’t have many valuable things to say.

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