Right Methods of Preaching by IVAN F. WITTING

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 14, 1910

Right Methods of Preaching

By IVAN F. WITTING

IVAN F. WITTING

The instruction of the intellect is not the only, nor indeed the principal, end of preaching, but its highest aim is to lead souls to God. To co-operate with the Holy Spirit in convincing of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; to teach the love of Jesus; to build up in the Christian graces; to train souls for heaven,—all this is the work of the gospel minister. To this end he must know something of these things by experience. He should not stand as one on a lofty height, and cry: “Look! this is what you must aim at. Come up hither, where all is so bright and pure and happy.” No; let him say, instead: “Brethren and friends, let us try to get up higher together. I, with you, am but a toiler on life’s highway, but it is my duty and exceeding high privilege to stretch a helping hand to my fellow travelers. Shall we try?” For you will never lead souls heavenward unless you are climbing yourself; you need not be very far up, but you must be climbing.

Try always to be genuine in thought. Speak that which you know in spiritual things. Take care not to soar in your words into regions which you have never visited in your heart. Speak from actual experience. A high ideal, an exalted standard, a lofty aim—by all means; but no false sentiment about it, no high-pitched or misty language, which will not bear being placed side by side with the heart’s true experience. It is a good rule, if we speak about things higher than our own hearts have attained, to speak as if to our own hearts,—to tell others what we feel our own hearts desire to be told. Preach to yourself; then you will touch others also.

Be natural in manner. Do not aim much at manner: the best manner is that of entire unconsciousness. Be yourself. If you are naturally quiet, do not try to be fervid. If you are naturally warm and vehement, use the gift. Any manner will do, if all is true, and sincere, and meant,—but no “mannerism.” No manner is good with hollow words and heartless sentiments. Fluency is appalling if earnestness is lacking; and often halting, stammering words go straight home by the very force of the honest conviction of the speaker.

Be simple in style. “What are we better for a golden key, if it can not unlock what we wish to open? What the worse for a wooden key, if it can?” Beware of the abomination of “fine” language and neatly rounded sentences. You can preach almost as you would talk to a poor woman in a cottage, so far as language is concerned, and yet be truly eloquent. Use words that can be understood by all, high or low. One could easily make a long list of words to be avoided; but if you mingle freely with the people, your ear will be trained to detect “hard” words, and your own instinct will tell you what to avoid.

Never assume that your listeners are carrying your reasoning in their heads as you go on. Take nothing for granted. Explain what to you seems simple, and do not be afraid of repetition. Remember that every detail of the glorious truths you are presenting is utterly strange and peculiar in the ears of your audience. They must be builded up from the very foundation. Do not build on old ground; for you will find it treacherous. “No man putteth a piece of undressed cloth upon an old garment.” Bring out your points distinctly and clearly.

Be extremely tender to the ignorance and prejudices of the people. They require gentle leading. Remember how slowly and gradually your own beliefs and opinions were formed. You have before you representatives of the weakest generation of the world. “Lead them softly,” according as they shall be “able to endure.” Take as your motto, “If men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.”

Preach positively, not negatively. Christ always spoke in the most definite way. “For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Present what the Word of God teaches, as boldly as you like; but do not attack others, nor set up false arguments or untrue doctrines for the purpose of knocking them down. Build up; and do not go aside to pull down. Expose error by preaching truth.

Preach encouragingly. Do not be hard on the people. Poor souls! they need all the help you can give them. Their eyes are blind, their ears are dull and deaf. Speak gently; do not drive them, but lift them. Picture to them in compelling colors our Heavenly Father and his love.

Preach Christ and him crucified. No code of laws, however binding; no lines of prophecy, however important; no system of historical evidence, however vital to an understanding of the message; no profound philosophy, however comprehensive and satisfying, will save mankind. No, and again, no. We must preach Jesus, the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever. When you can make the people see Jesus, as he is, everything that is out of harmony with him will drop off, and they will accept the truth as it is in him.

The preacher who realizes that he is himself created for eternity; who is battling with the power of evil in his own heart; who is striving after true faith in the love of the Father, the mercy of the Son, the power of the Holy Spirit; in whom the sense of sin is ever deepening; who is ever working out a completer self-surrender, ever advancing in self-conquest and habits of devotion,—such a one will know how to speak to tempted souls. His manner may not be brilliant, his voice may not be melodious, his flow of words may not be ready, his style may be awkward, his sentences ill-arranged; yet his message will appeal to souls as no clever handling, no trim arrangement, no easy oratory, no display of profound learning, will appeal. Why?—Because he has sympathy.

He feels that he, though a minister and servant of the Master, is a poor, struggling, judgment-bound sinner. He is a living soul speaking to living souls. He remembers that every one in the congregation is the purchase of Christ’s blood; that every upturned face is the face of a judgment-bound soul; and that he must meet that soul again before the judgment-seat of Christ. If preaching is to do any good, it must be based on sympathy. There must be heart first feeling for, and then speaking to, heart. This sympathy, which longs so ardently that the hearer should have the full fruition of the thoughts which are burning in the speaker’s inmost soul, is the secret of true eloquence.

College Place, Wash.