A PHILOSOPHY OF PREACHING
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. The time has come, he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.” (Mark 1:14-15) There are two ideas embodied in these passages that set the tone and tenor for what will follow. The first is found in the phrase “correctly handles the word of truth.” The second is “Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming (preaching) the good news of God.”
While watching an educational program on the ancient art of Japanese sword making, my thinking began to coalesce around a philosophy of preaching. Admittedly, I stumbled over this idea and over a period of several years. However, I must admit that I do not have a deep or abiding believe in coincidence, so I feel compelled to attempt to glean from this story a spiritual application. I have over the years frequently ruminated on, reflected upon and considered the implications of this story. In so doing, I have been able to formalize and synthesize my thinking in regards to the art of preaching. I have devoted considerable intellectual energy and exerted tremendous effort in the process to develop this philosophy yet it occurs to me that it continues to be a work in progress. In the final analysis preaching, I am firmly convinced, is truly an art form.
Consider then, the following propositions, first, that the art of preaching has become a poorly practiced and second, often-neglected discipline in our post-modern age. Aristotle (the father of Western Philosophy and Rhetoric) proposed that oral address and persuasive writing contained three elements. From this evolved the erroneous or distorted application of a concept called the three-point sermon. I would assert that it is erroneous or distorted because, the three-point sermon of today shows very little resemblance to Aristotle’s concept of three points. His three points were not an outline with one, two and three or A, B, and C nor was it about three blank spaces on a power point presentation.
Aristotle proposed that every writing and oral discourse or in our case, sermon consisted of three points or elements that have remained a constant for almost 2500 years. These he postulated or proposed were the ethos (ethical or moral appeal, for him this included the credibility of the speaker or writer), logos (logical or rational appeal for him this was the most important) and pathos (an emotional appeal). In our post-modern culture, logic and reason are rejected and ethics and morals have become subjective. The emotional appeal has become dominate in this culture to the exclusion of the reasonableness of the argument or the credibility of the speaker. What is left with then, is an over emphasis on emotion. Frequently this results in an unbalanced incorrect handling of the word of God. This lack of balance is I believe detrimental to the art of preaching.
In the story of Japanese blacksmith (sword maker), an aged sword master spoke humbly and with great reverence and respect for his art. He said, that he viewed it as a spiritual endeavor from beginning (selecting the right piece of ore) to end (a razor sharp, ornate, beautifully crafted blade). In his view, it was much more than a job. It was both a spiritual calling and a labor of love. The master blacksmith prayed as he selected just the right piece of raw ore. He prayed as he smelted the ore in a hand made furnace, a process that takes days. He prays as he forges the metal. As he hammers it out on the anvil and continuously folds the hot steel into the shape and strength desired, he prays. At the end of this spiritual process, we are left with a beautiful razor sharp, perfectly balanced sword that glistens in and reflects the sun light. We posses a blade that is useful and powerful in finding off and destroying the forces of darkness and spiritual evil, wherever they may rear their ugly heads. There are two passages of scripture, I suggest, that are applicable to the story.
Ephesians 6:17b “…the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.” Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
To be continued....
Bob Phillips
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