Pondering Preachers and Pulpits
I thought how different the preaching styles are of those coming out of independent Baptist colleges today. In the past seventy-five years of fundamentalism, preachers adopted the style of the tent revival circus atmosphere of men like Billy Sunday. Many consider him a hero even though much more is thought of his style and his backflips off the platform than the depth of his theology. Thus, fundamental preaching today is often bereft of exposition in favor of shock value. Tying a fundamental preacher to the pulpit so he cannot wander away, would also deflate every point of his sermon.
Several weeks ago, I sat with Clarissa to watch a movie on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I will have something to say about him next time but there is one point I would like to make about the film. Bonhoeffer preached in Europe in World War II. The film shows him entering the pulpit to preach his first sermon. He walked up a flight of stairs to a pulpit platform mounted high above the congregation. There is no mistaking the purpose of these pulpits that were common during the Reformation. One of the serious contentions between the Reformers and the Roman Catholic Church was the supremacy of scripture. The Catholic Church placed the authority of the church and their magisterium above the word of God (and still do). In Reformed churches, the word of God placed high above the people exemplified the rallying cry Sola Scriptura (scripture only). It had nothing to do with exalting the authority or the persons of men. The pastor was managing the word of God and lifting it for the hearing of truth. First, if he did a backflip off the pulpit, he would break his neck. Secondly, he was not there to draw attention to anything he did. I commented to Clarissa that I wish we had these types of pulpits in our churches today. Would not this put the word of God above the music concerts and drama performed in many churches?
I have often expressed that the size of the pulpit matters to me. I had the one in our church constructed to cover me up, to stand behind completely, and to be a substantial piece of furniture that reflects the importance of the Word. You may wonder why you cannot see Jorge. Now you know. I must point out, however, that making the pulpit bigger does not make the sermon better. Fundamentalists can make the pulpit as big as they want but unless they limit their constant topical messages and go back to the solid exposition of the word, they will not support the longevity of the truth and the spiritual growth of the people.
I am thankful for those who preach truth without compromise. I appreciate systematic theological preaching that declares the whole counsel of God’s word. It is the Holy Spirit that moves the heart with the word not the badgering of preachers who demand performance. God help us no matter what size or shape our pulpits to preach Solus Christus and not ourselves or our agendas.
Pastor V. Mark Smith