Between Two Worlds
Jun 14, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Chill
.:itunes:. Transformer by Gnarls Barkley
So, I have been reading “Between Two Worlds: The Art of Preaching in the Twentieth Century” (John R. W. Stott) this week. I am about a third of the way through it and I must say it is an outstanding book, especially for anyone who “preaches” for a living. This book was written in 1982, which makes it even more fascinating. He makes observations about the state of the church and preaching that are even more pronounced today. There is a lot to quote from this book, but here are a few samples:
“At least in the western world the decline of preaching is a symptom of the decline of the Church. An era of skepticism is not conducive to the recovery of confident proclamation…”, then he quotes Karl Rahner, who says, “Many leave the Church because the language flowing from the pulpit has no meaning for them; it has no connection with their own life and simply bypasses many threatening and unavoidable issues.”
One of the fascinating chapters is on “Contemporary Objections to Preaching,” with one of the chief objections being the “cybernetic” one. He talks about television as the chief culprit and then predicts what will happen in “the future” with computers. Here’s an almost prophetic section:
“It is difficult to imagine the world in the year AD 2000, by which time versatile micro-processors are likely to be as common as simple calculators are today. We should certainly welcome the fact that the silicone chip will transcend human brain-power, as the machine has transcended human muscle-power. Much less welcome will be the probable reduction of human contact as the new electronic network renders personal relationships ever less necessary. In such a dehumanized society the fellowship of the local church will become increasingly important, whose members meet one another, and talk and listen to one another in person rather than on screen. In this human context of mutual love the speaking and hearing of the Word of God is also likely to become more necessary for thew preservation of our humanness, not less.”
June 14th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
I had to read that in college, I forgot what a great read it is.
Do you think preaching is undergoing something of a Renaissance? My own experiences seem to indicate it is, nad I think a large reason for that are church plants that have allowed for innovation, and increased cross pollination between groups of Christians (facilitated by technology) that have allowed for congregations/preachers to see what different styles of preaching look like and have adopted different techniques/styles that they’ve found useful.
Of course, it could be that I just care more now.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Also, I think that in many cases churches with weak preaching have tended to not do well, some to the point of no longer existing, while churches that have encouraged stronger preaching have done well.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Alright now I’m just spamming your comments to see if how many different browsers/OSes I can fool your blog into thinking I’m using.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Wow, he predicted Myspace in 1982, nice.
June 15th, 2007 at 11:02 am
In my limited learning this information boom doesn’t seem more impressive to me than the progress of the Word: of rabbinical lore denouncing idolatry since Abraham, the booming stone codexes in Moses’ time, carrying on through skins and the earnestness of Amos, the papyrus had been around most of this time but lunched in Christ’s time with the Word of the Savior. I see the most evidential movements in cries against the oppressors with hopes for just servitude in a Kingdom of God. Poignantly in Martin Luther and the Gutenberg Printing Press, and meekly in William Tyndale unveils oppression of Love and Humility in Institutionalization. More recently and less known is the subtitle “What Would Jesus Do” from Charles Sheldon’s In His Steps speaking on the melancholy modern suppression in the light of the lithography.
I see the Kingdom of God around the table with Jesus or even in his honest tears. The daughter of Lord Byron, Ada Byron (Countess of Lovelace) was our first computer programmer 1815-1852. Technology is always progressing, never original and ever weighty against Love in Christ. I see him speaking of love in creation more than hell in disconnection and maybe not at all about chariots. My windiness might be because my lack of meeting with the poor of spirit; a few years of fellowshipping for God constantly before a few months ago. I’m not sure if the ancient Sheppard tended to each sheep or if they let them groom themselves, but the Internet hasn’t healed the thorns I’ve been caught up in.
So I need to spend more time offline and be more grateful to my neighbors. I’ve seen the strength in humble fellowship and I miss it. I’m not sure which of you are preaching this next “Influence” sermon and it looks like I won’t make it but I hope I’ll hear it online. That quarter million is awesome! I’m sure you brothers will try to do what Jesus would do. Thanks for all your hard work. You have been an inspiration to many. God bless you.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:59 am
Prozac and pregnancy….
Prozac dangers. Prozac side effect….