Simply, motivational speaking is an encouraging, uplifting speech; intended to motivate the listeners to do better and be better in specific areas of their lives. In a sense, the motivational speaker is an encourager – i.e. the people’s cheer leader. He or she motivates people into action. Motivational speaking is based primarily on mental or human strength and not God’s strength. It is what a person can do in his or her own strength, rather than what God can do through the person in His strength.
Benefits of Motivational Speaking
Without a doubt, motivational speaking has its place in society. Don’t get me wrong, there are many benefits of motivational speaking. For instance, it uplifts people; makes them feel good about themselves. It motivates them to see that they can do better and don’t have to settle for less or live beneath their means. It makes people strive for excellence, forgetting the past – past hurts, bitterness, anger, malice, etc. It can make people reach or strive for their full potentials. It can even help some unforgiving people to forgive those that have hurt them.
So yes! There are many benefits of motivational speaking. There’s nothing wrong with motivational speaking; IF it’s outside the pulpit. And as long as the people listening to it know for a fact that that’s what they are listening to. It’s only a problem when it’s coming from the pulpit as the gospel, and it’s mistaken for the gospel. We don’t go to church to listen to motivational speaking.
Now, does that mean that you cannot be motivated by the gospel? Absolutely, you can. However, there is a difference in how the gospel inspires you to become the Word, and how motivational speaking motivates. Motivational speaking motivates through feel-good messages; which, like euphoria, are not lasting. But the gospel inspires through doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). Not through goody-goody, self empowerment messages.
Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Well, if the Word of God pierces even to the division of soul and spirit, how can a person listen to a sermon and go away feeling giddy, and not be convicted? After all, a double-edged sword is not a toy. Rather it cuts, and cuts deep. But the Word of God is even sharper!
The Danger of Motivational Speaking Packaged as the Gospel
Perhaps you ask, “If the motivational speaker motivates people into action, and encourages them to be better, what is wrong with that?” Nothing! If it’s done outside the pulpit! However, motivational speaking disguised as the gospel is very dangerous because it’s often mistaken for the true gospel. It’s like a chocolate covered poison – tastes good to you, but not good for you. Motivational speaking packaged as the gospel blurs the line between the gospel and humanism; which really is what motivational speaking is about. It blurs the line between human ability and God’s ability.
What is the Gospel?
Perhaps by now you are thinking, “If motivational speaking is not the gospel, so what is the Gospel?” Simply, the gospel is the “good news” of Jesus Christ. And the good news of Jesus is redemption or salvation from sin.
The major difference between motivational speaking and the gospel is better explained by this analogy…Motivational speaking can be likened to scratching an itch – it relieves the itching but doesn’t cure the cause of the itch. It doesn’t have the power to cure the cause of the itching. It is the truth of God’s Word that cures the cause of the itching. What is Motivational Speaking? It is the truth of God’s Word that makes people free (John 8:32). Not philosophy, psychology or politics. Not sociology, fables or personal opinions.
