Dr W. A. Criswell rightly says, "Preaching
is increasingly looked upon disparagingly; they (i.e., church members) just 'put
up with it.'" What has caused this situation to develop? Criswell thinks that
the preacher himself has caused it. Instead of preaching the Gospel, instead of
expounding the Word, instead of saying, 'Thus says the Lord,' the preacher began
preaching psychology, and sociology, economic and civic amelioration. The time was
when preachers proclaimed the Gospel; but now they preach sociological life situation
sermons that have left the church anaemic. They preach sermons that make their congregations 'feel good' afterwards. The modern Gospel is a watered-down version of the real thing. You would travel far today to hear sermons that grip their hearers and cause them to think very deeply about their spiritual condition. Much preaching is pathetic, woeful, disappointing to some who hear it. But what must it do to God Whose Gospel it is they are supposed to be preaching! They are set apart to be His ambassadors, bringing to the people exactly what He wants them to hear.
Criswell also sees the training of preachers in modern seminaries and theological colleges as being at fault in this very thing. But there is a problem here. Just because a candidate for the post of lecturer or professor of practical theology holds a doctorate does not mean that he is a fit man to hold this position. Is he a preacher? And is he a preacher of the glorious Gospel? What are his gifts in this regard? Does he know how to preach gripping Gospel sermons? Is his own soul on fire for the Gospel?
If not, how can such a man train ministerial candidates to be Gospel preachers? The students have nothing to model themselves on. This man cannot convey to the next generation of preachers what it is to Preach Christ and His crucified if is does not or cannot preach Christ himself!
I fear that within evangelical circles, there has been a serious move away from the systematic exposition of whole chunks of the Bible, and preachers have adopted a method of textual preaching instead. Now I would be the last to deny that such methodology has been greatly used of God in the past. One just has to mention the name of Spurgeon to prove the point. Yet I think that the practice of Spurgeon has had a detrimental effect upon the pulpits of the Church, as men have tried to emulate the Prince of Preachers, and have failed. Textual preaching, coupled with the desire to draw the crowds, has enticed men to reduce to a respectable minimum the biblical and doctrinal content of their sermons, and have compromised their whole ministries thereby.
Thus preaching has been degraded by both the preachers themselves and by those who trained then to be preachers.
Criswell also sees the training of preachers in modern seminaries and theological colleges as being at fault in this very thing. But there is a problem here. Just because a candidate for the post of lecturer or professor of practical theology holds a doctorate does not mean that he is a fit man to hold this position. Is he a preacher? And is he a preacher of the glorious Gospel? What are his gifts in this regard? Does he know how to preach gripping Gospel sermons? Is his own soul on fire for the Gospel?
If not, how can such a man train ministerial candidates to be Gospel preachers? The students have nothing to model themselves on. This man cannot convey to the next generation of preachers what it is to Preach Christ and His crucified if is does not or cannot preach Christ himself!
I fear that within evangelical circles, there has been a serious move away from the systematic exposition of whole chunks of the Bible, and preachers have adopted a method of textual preaching instead. Now I would be the last to deny that such methodology has been greatly used of God in the past. One just has to mention the name of Spurgeon to prove the point. Yet I think that the practice of Spurgeon has had a detrimental effect upon the pulpits of the Church, as men have tried to emulate the Prince of Preachers, and have failed. Textual preaching, coupled with the desire to draw the crowds, has enticed men to reduce to a respectable minimum the biblical and doctrinal content of their sermons, and have compromised their whole ministries thereby.
Thus preaching has been degraded by both the preachers themselves and by those who trained then to be preachers.
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