Demeanour in Proclaiming
Marshall McCluhan famously taught that ‘the medium is the message.’ This is so true in any communication of the gospel, whether by a preacher or in private conversation.
Talks
A turgid ill-prepared sermon communicates that the message doesn’t matter that much. If a minister leads a funeral service in comedian style, he is unlikely to have a sympathetic hearing. Conversely to take a wedding with a morbid voice will not send the best message.
Why do many preachers feel that they have to entertain, whatever the subject of their message? We must be interesting and grip our audiences but there are many ways to do this, especially by the use of stories and anecdote. The message God has given us is so important and must be taken seriously by everyone. Consequently the preacher needs to take on a urgent demeanour when he comes to the point of applying what God is saying to his hearers. Conversely, if a preacher delivers God’s message as if he is lecturing, then he is not acting as God’s spokesman - God’s prophets are here to proclaim God’s convicting message to his listeners.
When Peter went up to Caesarea at the invitation of Cornelius, he was told by his non-Christian audience,
“Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” Acts 10:33
Peter’s response outlines the essential message our Lord’s church is here to pass on. It is a serious message,
“He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Acts 10:42-43
The renowned preacher Charles Hadden Spurgeon understood that the preachers’ role is primarily to appeal to peoples’ consciences that are part of our God-given instincts.
“A sermon, moreover, comes with far greater power to the consciences of the hearers when it is plainly the very word of God – not a lecture about the Scripture, but Scripture itself opened up and enforced.”
Paul’s charge to Timothy carries this concern for earnestness,
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. . . . Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4:1-3
How we need preachers of conviction more than entertainers or comedians. Preachers need passion or what C H Spurgeon would call ‘unction’ when delivering God’s message.
Private Conversations
I well remember the times, soon after I had become a Christian, when I would try to argue people into the kingdom of God. I would get intense and excited and would enthusiastically demolish the arguments of my opponents. I used to collect more and more foolproof arguments that would annihilate the enemies’ arguments. However I do not recall any people becoming Christians as a result of my winning such jousts. If only I had known the Bible better. It wasn’t that the arguments were wrong in themselves, it was the means by which they were delivered.
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15-16
Paul did his best to persuade people that Jesus is the Christ who has entered this world so that all men could be forgiven their sins and become members of Christ’s kingdom.
“As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue and on three successive days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ. Some of the Jews were persuaded . . .” Acts 17:2-4
Paul also recognized the importance of our demeanour.
“Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5-6
If people are to understand the good news about God’s grace to all people, they really do need to see that grace personified in the way we talk about our Saviour and how we have come to believe in him. This does not mean we be should be insipid, our conversation must ‘be seasoned with salt’; they must be helped to realize that a decision about Christ is ultimately the most important decision ever made. We won’t impart that message just by being humorous, they must see in the way we talk what Jesus means to us. He is far more than a doctrine to be argued over, he is a person we want to emulate and represent graciously.
BVP
