Speaking Truth in a Divisive World: How to Preach against Demagoguery
Reactions to the recent sermon by the Bishop of Washington have got me reflecting on the role preaching plays in our age of viral soundbites and divisive rhetoric. From pulpits to podcasts, the words we choose have the potential to build communities or tear them apart. The rise of demagogues—figures who manipulate emotions and distort truths for personal or political gain—poses a profound challenge. However, by uniting wisdom and eloquence, preachers can offer an antidote to destructive rhetoric, guiding their audiences toward understanding, justice, and renewal.
This idea is not new. It has deep roots in the classical tradition of rhetoric, as exemplified by my old friends Cicero and Augustine. By drawing on these timeless principles, preachers can craft their words that not only resonate with their audiences but also open their hearts and minds to the Gospel. Let’s explore how wisdom and eloquence can shape preaching in our time.
Cicero’s Ideal: The Wise and Eloquent Orator
Cicero, the great Roman orator, believed that the most effective speakers combined wisdom (sapientia) with eloquence (eloquentia). In On Invention, he writes of the ideal orator, a figure whose understanding of truth and human nature combined with eloquence guides society toward justice and virtue. “Wisdom without eloquence is of little benefit to society,” he says, “and eloquence without wisdom is often highly disadvantageous to the republic.” A great orator gives voice to otherwise mute wisdom, and through his eloquence draws people away from disorder by teaching them virtue, establishing justice, and forming a cohesive society.
For Cicero, the orator’s primary duty is to speak for the common good, shaping public opinion through an eloquence that’s anchored in truth and ethical principles. He warns of demagogues who, through “some fluency of language, and wickedness… overturn cities and undermine the principles of human life.” Against such forces, the orator becomes a bulwark, using persuasion to guide rather than force to compel. “Babbling stupidity”, as Cicero calls it, can be countered only by speech that is persuasive, thoughtful, and just.
Cicero’s teachings offer preachers a practical roadmap. The effective orator, he says, must present, please, and persuade. Clear arguments, emotional resonance, and a call to action combine to move hearts and minds toward truth. These lessons are as true for the pulpit as they were for the forum. They urge preachers to inspire their congregations by speaking to the fullness of human experience—reason, emotion, and will—in ways that that will help others embrace goodness and virtue.
Augustine’s Transformative Vision
Centuries after Cicero, Augustine of Hippo carried these ideas into the service of the Gospel. A master orator turned preacher, Augustine believed that rhetoric must be rooted in divine wisdom. In his influential work On Christian Teaching, he outlines the preacher’s task: to instruct, delight, and persuade, drawing minds closed by sin toward truth and goodness. “Truth itself, when revealed, produces delight by virtue of being true,” he writes, affirming that the eloquence of preaching is meant to make divine truth accessible and desirable.
Augustine’s rhetoric goes beyond persuasion; it facilitates spiritual transformation. True eloquence, he asserts, flows not solely from human effort but from the work of the Holy Spirit. “The preacher must be a man of prayer (orator) before being a man of words (orator),” he declares. Eloquence becomes a vessel for divine truth, aligning the preacher’s heart and message with God’s will.
Augustine’s psychological insights are equally profound. He believed the human will is shaped by what it loves. As he writes in Confessions, “My weight is my love. Wherever I am carried, my love is carrying me.” Preaching, for Augustine, means redirecting the love of others—their weight—toward God and neighbour. By revealing the beauty of divine truth, preachers can counter society’s sinful and destructive desires and lead others toward redemption and renewal.
Lessons for Preachers Today
In an age of demagogues, preaching that combines wisdom and eloquence offers a counter-narrative to the destructive rhetoric so prevalent in our culture. Here are six key principles for applying these timeless lessons:
Be an Orator, Not Part of the Braying Mob: Not all speech is beneficial. Much of today’s rhetoric merely adds to the noise, stirring up passions that exacerbate division and rancour. Christian preachers must rise above this, ensuring their words are grounded in truth and directed toward love. Speak not to win arguments but to offer salvation. Your task is to heal, not harm.
Anchor Yourself in Truth: Demagogues thrive on distortion and manipulation. Preachers must take the opposite approach, rooting their messages deeply in Christian theology and relying on the Holy Spirit. Divine truth is compelling when unfolded clearly. Cicero’s belief that wisdom must guide eloquence underscores the importance of grounding our words in enduring truths rather than fleeting trends or popular approval. This requires patient diligence in both study and prayer.
Speak with Humility: Eloquence without wisdom is empty. Preaching is never about showcasing talent but serving the listener. Begin with repentance and grace, for your character will speak as loudly as your words. As Cicero argued, an orator’s ethos is among his or her most persuasive tools. To build trust, we must demonstrate ourselves to be trustworthy.
Engage Both Mind and Heart: Cicero and Augustine both emphasized the importance of instructing, delighting, and persuading. A good sermon educates the mind, stirs the heart, and moves the will towards the good. Preachers should avoid flippancy or derogatory language, especially with those with whom you most strongly disagree. Augustine’s advice to model our eloquence on Scripture reminds us that its depth and beauty can reach both intellect and emotion.
Be a Healer of Souls: Au Augustine saw preachers as healers, using eloquence, like “a spoonful of sugar,” to persuade people away from sin and toward God. This vision offers a powerful response to today’s divisive rhetoric. Preach reconciliation, hope, and love, pointing people toward unity in Christ. Even on social media, remember Romans 12:18: “If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Rely on the Holy Spirit: Preaching is ultimately God’s work. Spend time in prayer before speaking or writing, asking the Spirit to guide your words and open the hearts of your listeners. Let your words serve their good, not your glory. Seek to offer wisdom rather than to score points for the team.
The Power of Preaching
Preaching, at its best, can counteract the rhetoric of demagogues by pointing people toward hope, truth, and justice. To do this, we must embrace our calling to be God’s orators, offering both wisdom and eloquence to a weary world. By doing so, we can draw others away from the world’s “babbling stupidity” and toward the promises of God.
By offering God’s wisdom persuasively, Christian orators can become architects of soul, building through words “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable” (Phil. 4.8). A preacher’s words are not his or her own; they are God’s tools for announcing his Kingdom. By following the examples of Cicero and Augustine, preachers can combat the destructive rhetoric of our age, expressing God’s wisdom with eloquence for the betterment of all.
As you prepare your next sermon or write your next social media post, remember the examples of Cicero and Augustine. Root your message in truth, speak with humility, seek to be persuasive to those who disagree with you, and pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. In a noisy world, your voice can be a force for good, leading others toward God’s love and peace. This is the true power of preaching—and it is needed now more than ever.
For a broader discussion of these principles and their application to today’s culture, you can read my book Reading Augustine: On Consumer Culture, Identity, the Church, and Rhetorics of Delight.
