"Why'd I even get up?".... If you're at all like me, you've said those words on a Sunday morning after a church service which you didn't particularly get much out of. Maybe it came at the tail end of week(end) where you felt you really needed a strong message or a deep call to confession; but alas it never came (or if it did, the pastor is to blame for having made you doze off during it). Call it "Confessions of a Young Pastor", but that's how I feel too sometimes. I know I'm supposed to stand behind my fellow preachers who get behind the pulpit, I know that it's at a busy and tough job, I know the discouragement and adversity one can face, I know that people say the same thing about me sometimes, but I have to wonder on occasion, "Really Pastor (insert name here)? That's all you got?"
When it comes to preaching or presenting the gospel, Ecclesiastes has some advice for pastors. "Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips. At the beginning his words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness-- and the fool multiplies words." (Eccl. 10:12-14a). I hope the words I'm writing are not being written with malicious intent or because I think I'm the best or because I want to bask in the consumption of my thoughts; I don't want to be the fool that Ecclesiastes is talking about. I am however afraid that the training of many pastors concerning the usefulness of stories, narratives, and metaphors leads down a road where there's too many words! Preachers attempt to create vivid metaphors, wrapping every idea like it's a million-dollar gift, but by the time they unwrap the simple doctrine, they have lost the majority of the gift's recipients. The Bible includes many short stories, parables, and teachings because brevity makes sense! Keep things simple, and be gracious by not thinking congregations are dumb (they understood your point 8 minutes ago).
I won't let congregations or myself off the hook either though. While it is important for ministers to be faithful to their calling, to the text, and to their presentation, ultimately, what is presented in Sunday services is the gospel story originating from Scripture. The book which we hold bound in leather or cardboard or see on a fabric or tablet screen has been translated and published but still holds the quality of inspired by God. Whatever Pastor "So and So" says is not originating in their minds, it's not like a storyboard artist creating a new character, it's a joyful delivery of the Word of God which they have hopefully been immersing themselves in for the better part of the week. The other thing that must be remembered is that we all have individual personalities as well as different vocal and thought patterns. While pastors and worship leaders need to be gracious to us, we also must be gracious to them because they are who God has created them to be.
The original question cannot be "Why'd I even get up?" When we open our eyes Monday morning, feeling uneasy or restless, we shouldn't always be blaming the pastor. If we aren't "getting much out of the message", then maybe it's time that we humbled ourselves, spent more time in prayer, and disciplined ourselves in the study of the Word so we can engage the pastor 1-on-1, giving them encouragement. Instead of asking "Is that all you got?" maybe it's time to ask, "What more can we learn?"
Have you been in a church where you regularly walked away wondering what the pastor was doing? I invite you to share your experience and how you wrestled through some of these things? Maybe you think I'm completely off-based and talk like a fool, let me know.
When it comes to preaching or presenting the gospel, Ecclesiastes has some advice for pastors. "Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips. At the beginning his words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness-- and the fool multiplies words." (Eccl. 10:12-14a). I hope the words I'm writing are not being written with malicious intent or because I think I'm the best or because I want to bask in the consumption of my thoughts; I don't want to be the fool that Ecclesiastes is talking about. I am however afraid that the training of many pastors concerning the usefulness of stories, narratives, and metaphors leads down a road where there's too many words! Preachers attempt to create vivid metaphors, wrapping every idea like it's a million-dollar gift, but by the time they unwrap the simple doctrine, they have lost the majority of the gift's recipients. The Bible includes many short stories, parables, and teachings because brevity makes sense! Keep things simple, and be gracious by not thinking congregations are dumb (they understood your point 8 minutes ago).
I won't let congregations or myself off the hook either though. While it is important for ministers to be faithful to their calling, to the text, and to their presentation, ultimately, what is presented in Sunday services is the gospel story originating from Scripture. The book which we hold bound in leather or cardboard or see on a fabric or tablet screen has been translated and published but still holds the quality of inspired by God. Whatever Pastor "So and So" says is not originating in their minds, it's not like a storyboard artist creating a new character, it's a joyful delivery of the Word of God which they have hopefully been immersing themselves in for the better part of the week. The other thing that must be remembered is that we all have individual personalities as well as different vocal and thought patterns. While pastors and worship leaders need to be gracious to us, we also must be gracious to them because they are who God has created them to be.
The original question cannot be "Why'd I even get up?" When we open our eyes Monday morning, feeling uneasy or restless, we shouldn't always be blaming the pastor. If we aren't "getting much out of the message", then maybe it's time that we humbled ourselves, spent more time in prayer, and disciplined ourselves in the study of the Word so we can engage the pastor 1-on-1, giving them encouragement. Instead of asking "Is that all you got?" maybe it's time to ask, "What more can we learn?"
Have you been in a church where you regularly walked away wondering what the pastor was doing? I invite you to share your experience and how you wrestled through some of these things? Maybe you think I'm completely off-based and talk like a fool, let me know.
I think you are right that there is a lot of preaching that attempts to wrap a lack of content into pretty packages. We need to make sure that we have something to say and say it plainly. There is a place for good rhetoric (which should be employed), but good rhetoric cannot make up for having nothing to say. Having professional debaters and politicians who make a living saying nothing in entertaining and pretty words can make some pastors feel pressure to conform to that style (and soon to that lack of content). Thanks for the call to resist empty, flowery sermons for solid biblical preaching.
ReplyDeleteOn the flip side, I think you are right that 'what did I get out of it' is the wrong question. I really liked your call to respond to lack-luster preaching by diving deeper into God's Word.
Keep 'em coming.