IS I T A S I N T O Bl
O n e S u n d a y morning, a minister had occasion to visit in a strange neighborhood and there he attended a certain fundamental church. When he returned home, his wife catechized him: “Was there a good crowd?” “ Fair.” “Was the preacher sound?” “ Oh, yes! Unques tionably!” “Was he interesting?” “ No, he was not; decidedly not.” Now there is something wrong with this story. The minister was sound, but he was not interesting. It was a serious accusation the preacher made against his minister brother, but it is a charge frequently brought against orthodox preachers, evangelists, Bible teachers, Sunday School workers, young people’s leaders, and even mission aries. It is claimed that to a large extent their messages are uninspired and their delivery apathetic. It is alleged that those to whom the holy and priceless treasure of the Gospel has been committed tire dull and unarresting in its proclamation. Is this true? What brings about such a condition? What is its cure? It may be well first to examine the usual explanations for a tiresome discourse on the part of Christian workers. A common criticism is that religious speakers possess poor terminal facilities. It is suggested by some critics that sermons be reduced to twenty-minute talks, and they should never exceed half an hour. Certainly if a speaker is boring to begin with, his prolixity will only prolong the suffering of his listeners. One is reminded of the old story of the minister who complained: “ I don’t mind it so much when members of the congregation take out their watches and look at them, but when someone looks at his timepiece, puts it to his ear, shakes it and looks at it again unbelievingly — I begin to wonder if I have his complete attention!” However, it has been the happy experience of many to listen spellbound to a preacher for an hour and a half and to be surprised and disappointed when he finished. On the other hand, it has required all of one’s powers of concentration to endure another’s far shorter discourse. One message was as true to the Word of God as the other; the men were equally sincere. What then was the differ ence? It was simply that one was challenging and inter esting and the other was not! Lengthiness in itself is not the cause of failure to arouse audience interest. Another excuse frequently offered for tedious teaching and preaching is that one’s message cannot please all classes. Some will be interested in what one person has to say, others in the message of another. I have investi gated this quite thoroughly and it is my conviction from this research that this theory is false. Although there are specialists who can be expected to interest certain age groups, a good speaker invariably secures a hearing from everyone, while the dull speaker cannot engage the attention of anyone — young or old, educated or illiterate. That brings us to the oft-repeated claim: “ Being an interesting speaker is wholly a matter of education. One who has not had college or seminary training, or who has not travelled, cannot be expected to be as colorful as one
who has had these advantages.” Of all the purported reasons for dullness, this seems to me the easiest to refute! One has only to call to mind the Bible teachers, preachers, lecturers by whom he has been bored, some of whom had many degrees and had been around the world many times, to realize that this is not so. True, messages from those with all this learning and travel should be vibrant, but frequently they were not. On the contrary, I recall a humble minister with a thrilling, never-to-be-forgotten message. He has never spent a day in high school; he has only the commonest of common school education. Everywhere he is in demand as a speaker, not only because he is spiritual, but also because he is interesting! He may be exceptional, but there are so many effective preachers with meager school ing that it is evident that lack of formal education alone does not account for dull discourse. Incidentally, this man’s library contains more than six thousand choice books! Almost invariably, interesting speakers talk rapidly. If one dallies along in his message, the minds of the lis teners race ahead of him. While “ranters” are not ap preciated, one must also speak loudly and clearly enough to disengage the listener from his private thoughts. While histrionics are to be avoided, one must exhibit some feel ing if he is to move others. Listeners will respond only to a message about which the speaker himself gets excited. This fervency cannot be “worked up.” The false note will be detected at once. The emotional content of the message must spring from the innermost heart. A speaker must break himself of the teaching habit. Like the old-fashioned country doctor who coated with sugar the effective (but otherwise bitter) pill, the servant of the Lord must disguise the fact that he is imparting knowledge. The Gospel must never be dispensed as dry religious data, but rather as a refreshing narrative, “ cold waters to a thirsty soul.” I wonder too if the best use of the natural medium of communication, which in this land is our technicolor English language, is being made. While one is enriched by a knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and other lan guages, to master one’s mother tongue is absolutely essen tial. Fortunately, this is within the reach of all. Even if one cannot attend institutions of higher learning, he can secure a good grammar and an up-to-date dictionary. Classic literature can be borrowed at public libraries, or a personal library built inexpensively from second-hand books. Anyone who cares sufficiently to give the time may become well acquainted with the best thoughts of the best minds expressed in the best language of the cen turies. One’s vocabulary need not be limited; his messages may be embellished with colorful adjectives; adorned with graphic metaphors; bedecked with sparkling similes; made vivid with lively verbs. Interest-killing, hackneyed phrases, antiquated anecdotes, trite theological phrases, and repetitious clauses may be eliminated from anyone’s speech.
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THE KING 'S BUSINESS
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