I don’t preach often these days--at least, not from a
pulpit! When I was younger, I found
myself on the circuit practically every weekend, often in smaller churches in
the Baptist associations where I did collegiate ministry. This was a good way to get to know people and
for them to get to know me.
From time to time, I would hear myself preaching and suddenly
realize that I was trying to sound like Billy Graham or, later on, John
Claypool. Imagine how surprised I was
one morning when I found myself channeling Bill Clinton!
As ministers study and practice preaching, they often pick
up not only the theology but the style of a homiletic hero. Perhaps we think this provides a sense of
authority that we don’t personally feel or we are “giving the people what they
want.” As you will agree, there is some danger
in either of these approaches.
Talking with a preacher friend recently, we began discussing
what keeps us from using our authentic voices.
What are the reasons that keep us from being ourselves as
preachers?
First, perhaps we are afraid that we will not be seen as relevant.
After all, we are creatures of a certain era and we adopt the communication
style of the culture in which we live.
Most of our people will not sit still for two or three hour sermons like
those preached by Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Charles Spurgeon, D. L.
Moody, or Billy Sunday. We try to be
culturally sensitive and attempt to mimic those who seem to be in touch with contemporary
audiences.
Second, it may be that we don’t have a lot of confidence in
what we are presenting. We may immerse
ourselves so much in commentary studies of others that we neglect to understand
what the text is saying to us.
Third, adopting another person’s style may mask our own
insecurity not only in the pulpit but in our place of ministry. If we can preach like Bill Hybels, perhaps we
can reproduce his leadership in our own church.
Many things mitigate against our listening to the Spirit of
God and allowing our own experience, personality, and love to break through. Giving ourselves the freedom to do this takes
commitment.
I should add that this imitation of another is not confined
to preachers. When lay persons in the church fail to recognize and embrace
their own authentic voices and let the minister become their only interpreter
of the Christian faith, they fail to accept the calling that God has given to
them.
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