In the book Sacred Art: Preaching and Theology in the African-American Tradition, Olin Moyd quotes Peter T. Forsyth, who said, “The Christian preacher is not the successor of the Greek orator, but of the Hebrew prophet. The orator comes with inspiration; the prophet comes with a revelation.”
Oratorical Talent Is Not Preaching
Forsyth is reminding us of some preachers who think that they can get away with oratorical talent rather than Spirit-led inspiration. We all have seen some great orator-preachers.
They can elicit a smile, laugh or cry at exactly the right time. Every word is exactly perfect. The voice is a booming baritone that reminds one of James Earl Jones. The “Hallelujah” or the “Praise God” is always in exactly the right place. The messages may inspire, but they don’t push us to change.
They don’t even ask us to change; they are too busy patronizing us in our sin. They may make us feel good for a little while, but they don’t confront our society or us individually with the inbreaking of the kingdom of God.
Often these preachers will prostitute the African-American tradition. They may whoop without integrity. In any case, they use the trappings of the tradition without being true to the full tradition that includes societal and individual transformation. Where are Nathan and John the Baptist?
The orator doesn’t provide any real change. It is Nathan who is the catalyst for a change in the wayward David. It is John the Baptist whose voice causes such fear that his head had to be chopped off. It is not the purveyors of the status quo that deserve the title “preacher.”
No! We do not aspire to have the people say, “Man, that is a preacher!” No, we aspire to have the people say, “Did not our heart burn within us as He opened the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32).
As you get ready to preach the Word this week, be inspiring, but don’t be only that. Have something for the people to shout about, but don’t do only that. Plan the message so that it is in order, but always leave room for the Spirit, who will show up if we only allow it.
If the Spirit truly comes, then our messages will not merely tickle the ears of those who want to consume religious entertainment, but they will be the first step to changed lives and societies and worlds.
Sherman Haywood Cox II is the director of Soul Preaching. He holds an M.Div with an emphasis in homiletics and an M.S. in computer science. Visit Sherman at SoulPreaching.com.
For the original article, visit soulpreaching.com.
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.
Dr. Mark Rutland's
National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)
The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!
FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.
Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.
