Christian Behaviorism

When I was a minister of youth (something for which I am much too long of tooth today), I was frequently asked questions about certain activities being “sin.” They usually centered on such things as drinking, smoking, dancing and “making out.” The questions would be formulated something like this, “Is dancing a sin?”

Do you realize that the major sins have changed over the years? In the middle 1950s, the major sins touched on by mainline evangelical churches were drinking, smoking and dancing. During the 1960s drugs were added to the list. Today the major sins are abortion and homosexuality.

It was supposed, I suppose, that these major sins would keep you out of heaven more completely that the more benign sins like arrogance, pride, etc.

The truth is, that any speech, thought or action that is not directly in the center of God’s will is sin sufficient to keep you from heaven. It is not the behavior that keeps you out of heaven; it is the sin nature of man. It is the very existence of sin in each person’s life.

One of the saddest characteristics of much of what passes for evangelical preaching today revolves around a neo-psychological concept called “behaviorism.” Behaviorism frequently takes the form of quoting verses of scripture here or there to prove a certain behavior is right or wrong. Often the speaker seems to more intent on manipulating the hearers than on getting to a truth about the gospel.

Behavioristic preaching is very much an attempt to exert some form of power over people through speech. It plays on the insecurities of the listener. It works by focusing the listener’s attention on the speaker instead of on the Biblical message of God. Often the speaker tries to disguise his intent by distraction or displacement, but he is really trying to elicit or prevent some behavior that he likes or dislikes. Sometimes it is an attempt to cover his failings as a leader.

Shakespeare wrote, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” (Hamlet, act III, scene II). Sometimes that applies to the behavioristic preacher. Quite frequently, the thing he preaches most against is one of the very issues he has in his own life. How many “failed” church leaders have you heard of who preached against infidelity and then fell into its ugly clutches? That is an awful thing to happen and even a worse witness for the Lord. It is not, however, the most devastating thing about behaviorism in preaching.

The constant use of scripture verses to reveal and control people’s behavior is the most corrupt characteristic about this kind of preaching. It belies the truth of the gospel. It overshadows the work of Christ at the cross of Calvary. It negates the saving power of the gospel. And it does that dishonestly; by sidestepping the actual message of scripture.

Treating scripture as a set of proof-texts is spiritually dangerous. It leads to false doctrine. It leads to incorrect interpretation and application. It very well could prevent the hearer from understanding the gospel message.

It really is time for preachers to stop this abhorrent practice of behaviorism. They need to get it through their heads that even the very best behavior falls short of the perfection required by God. That perfection is found in, and only in, the shed blood of Christ at the cross of Calvary. He has become our perfection for us. Although that excuses no sin, it does cover it…to perfection.