Preaching – What Kind of Authority Is This?

July 1, 2009 / Peter Mead / 1 Comment

In recent decades many churches have moved from having the Scripture preached with authority to a watered down “talk” so committed to connection and amateurism that it completely lacks authority. While the “watery talk” may have proved ineffective in achieving anything other than a voluntary social club under the name of church, we need to think carefully about the authority that we have as a preacher. Again, reading Al Mohler’s, He Is Not Silent, I see a brief list worth mentioning for your thoughts.

Three forms of false authority of which we should beware:

1. Professional Authority. The task of preaching and teaching the Bible is not a professional task identifiable by degrees and letters after the name. While I would encourage many people to pursue the benefits of formal training, I never suggest that an academic qualification qualifies someone for ministry – the biblical standards are clearly spelled out, for example, in the Pastoral Epistles. Some churches despise formal training (often out of bad past experiences with apparently arrogant graduates, and often because of insecurity among the present leaders). Other churches simply ignore any higher qualification earned (which still seems a bit unfortunate considering what it takes to get through it!) On the other hand, some churches honor the degree as if it confers authority for ministry, which is missing the point of formal training. We don’t need to ignore or despise academic qualifications, but let’s not grant authority based on them either.

2. Positional Authority. Do you lead in the church based on your title? This is also a false authority. Positional titles in church hierarchies are not the source of authority in preaching. This can come from the leader, or from the people in the church overstating the importance of a position. Somehow some people derive security and even identity from revering the pastor, the minister, the vicar, the whatever. But this is not the source of authority in our preaching. Mohler points to Acts 17:11 and the noble Bereans’ response to the Apostle Paul – good example.

3. Personal Authority. This is the “small c” charismatic leader who influences by sheer force of personality. Many churches fall for this, or create it for themselves. Again, beware. This should not be the source of authority in preaching.

We should preach with authority. Not an authority based on professional qualifications, nor positional titles, nor personal charisma. We should preach with the authority of God’s Word well understood, well explained, and well applied. The authority is not in us, but it should shine through in our lives and our words.

Why Preaching is Weaker Now – Cont.

June 12, 2009June 6, 2009 / Peter Mead / Leave a comment

Continuing the list begun yesterday from the preface to Al Mohler’s 2008 book, He Is Not Silent: Preaching in a Postmodern World. Six reasons why preaching has been undermined in the contemporary church and is weakened at this point in time. Here we go:

4. Contemporary preaching suffers from an emptying of biblical content. When preachers do preach a text, they often empty it of its content, choosing not to wrestle with the meaning of the text, but rather to use it as a point of departure for their list of pithy points. Not only does this fail the text itself, but it also fails to present the text in its broader context, thereby not presenting the broader scope of God’s message.

5. Contemporary preaching suffers from a focus on felt needs. Following the course charted by Harry Emerson Fosdick, many contemporary preachers seek to counsel the perceived needs of contemporary patients in the pew, rather than addressing the real needs of sinners. So, consequently, much preaching is concerned more with career advancement or financial security, than it is with the real need of sinners before God.

6. Contemporary preaching suffers from an absence of the gospel. Too much preaching fails to stand up as Christian preaching.

While Mohler does recognize and affirm a contemporary resurgence in expository preaching, both in younger generation preachers, and in some seminary programs, he remains deeply concerned about the general trends in contemporary pulpit ministry. Is his evaluation accurate? Is it complete?

Why Preaching is Weaker Now

June 11, 2009June 6, 2009 / Peter Mead / 2 Comments

In the preface to his 2008 book, He Is Not Silent: Preaching in a Postmodern World, Al Mohler lists six reasons why preaching has been undermined in the contemporary church and is weakened at this point in time. Let me list the reasons with brief explanation:

1. Contemporary preaching suffers from a loss of confidence in the power of the word. People today are bombarded by more words than ever before. Words have become very cheap and are increasingly replaced by the use of images or sound tracks. Generally people have lost confidence in the power of the spoken word, any spoken word.

2. Contemporary preaching suffers from an infatuation with technology. Well intentioned moves to incorporate visual media technology have inadvertently changed the core shape of the message – a message intended to be heard rather than seen.

3. Contemporary preaching suffers from embarrassment before the text. With the ongoing and repeated attacks on the biblical text from all sides, not least the current politically correct climate, many preachers are hesitant to preach the whole Bible since some parts are so offensive to contemporary sensitivities. Consequently many stick to the more comfortable, palatable and non-confrontational passages, while shuffling nervously around the rest.

Tomorrow I will finish the list.