The Problem with Preaching– Part Two

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:56 pm by Ben Witherington

The Problem with Preaching– Part Two 2015-03-13T22:56:58-04:00 Ben Witherington

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In my last post, I pointed out that preaching seems to be somewhat missing in action within the context of early church meetings in homes, and elsewhere. Of course there is nothing in these NT texts that says or suggests there is anything wrong with preaching in such worship contexts. Far from it. And in an age of increasing Biblical illiteracy it’s frankly irresponsible to think that we would be fine without good preaching in the church. We wouldn’t, and we aren’t, and I say ‘we aren’t’ because much of what passes for good preaching is not good preaching.

It may be good entertainment, it may be attractively packaged with lots of video clips, powerpoints etc. but the real question is— ‘Is God’s Word being faithfully, accurately, truthfully, powerfully expounded in ways that convict, convince, and even convert persons in the congregation?’ If what you are getting instead is Chicken Soup for the soul, or Stand Up Comedy, or just a good buzz, you have not been well served by your preacher.

Nor is it at all helpful to substitution sacerdotalism for good preaching. I believe Christian worship needs to involve both Word and sacrament, not just one or the other,not least because both Word and sacrament are means of grace.

Unfortunately,the Catholic and Orthodoxy model which offers ‘the sacrifice of the mass’ or the ‘divine liturgy’ (left almost entirely in the hands of a class of priests), is not a NT model of ministry or worship either. Usually, in such services if any exposition of God’s Word shows up at all, it is a homilette, not even a full homily. Bible lite– less filling, tastes great.

The problem is only exacerbated if only a tiny minority of the church is involved in things like :1) in depth Bible study in groups (not just alone); and 2) in Sunday school classes where there are good teachers. Everything can not be front-loaded into worship. There have to be other times and places where the Word of God is opened up and applied to our lives.

It’s no good giving people an exhilarating experience and buzz in worship if there is little or no Biblical substance to chew on thereafter, little or no sound exposition of God’s word. Without Biblical and theological literacy you have no means to properly interpret your worship experiences, say, being able to tell the difference between a heart-warming experience and heart burn!

The NT knows no priesthood except the High Priesthood of Christ, and the priesthood of all believers. It has no time for a class of priests or clergy, not least because we should not be worshipping according to the Gospel of Leviticus.

Ministers are not priests, the Lord’s Supper is not a sacrifice, the church is not a Temple, Sunday is not the sabbath, Christians are called to sacrificial giving not tithing, and I could go on. All of that revisioning of New Testament practices in the light of the OT practices ignores how radical Jesus and the early Christians were when it came to worship, sacraments etc. As Jesus says, ‘the day is coming and now is’ when true worship has to do with worship in Spirit and in truth, not to do with Temple-centered worship, whether on Gerizim or Zion.

It has to do with sacred persons, sacred times, not sacred spaces and zones and clergy. It has to do with all of us being caught up in love and wonder and praise of God, all of us presenting ourselves (not presenting Christ) as living sacrifices. Lest however, you think I have become a Quaker or a radical Pentecostal, let me add that it does also have to do with leaders as well as followers, shepherds as well as sheep, preachers as well as listeners. The church needs, and the NT urges particular models of leadership, including leadership in proclamation, exhortation, evangelization, edification and so on. And this brings us back to preachers. What does good preaching look like? In my next post, I will talk about that. Meantime, you might want to pick up and read my book We Have Seen his Glory about a Kingdom or eschatological perspective on proper worship.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

September 26, 2013

The Lightfoot Bookplate-- Mo Better Now

Next Post

September 28, 2013 The Problem with Preaching-- Part Three

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz