Preaching of the Present Day
By G. Hutchinson Smyth
Much of the preaching of the day would have suited Israel in the days of Isaiah when he wrote, “This is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.” There is a great cry against preaching the terrors of the law, as they are called. “Smooth things” are much more acceptable, and characterize much of the preaching of the present time. “Preach Christ to us, tell us of his love and sympathy, of the joy of salvation and the glories of heaven; but say nothing about sin and the certainty of its punishment.” “That is to appeal to our fears, and we do not want to be scared into heaven.” Appeals to fear are very common in the present life. Fire and life insurance are appeals to fear. On board an Atlantic steamer are found life preservers, life boats, and appliances for putting out a fire, and no one thinks them out of place; indeed were they not there, few persons would take passage on a steamer so badly prepared against danger. These appeals to fear to save from death are all right. No objection is ever made to them. Why not appeal to fear to save from eternal death? “O, but we want you to preach Christ to us!” Well, surely the apostle Paul would be a good example to follow. He writes to the Colossians, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ.” Surely, there is still need for warning the people against the insidious snares of sin. Corruption in politics, the demoralization of the home as it is witnessed in the family and the divorce courts, and organized robbery of the nation in high places, would seem to call for more of this apostolic “warning” of every man as the best way of presenting him perfect in Christ, and as the great need of this nation to-day. I believe the next decade will be the most important in the nation’s history. With America’s great increase in territory, population, and wealth, it is to be a mighty power in the world for the good of all nations, or it is to repeat the history of the Roman empire.—Rev. G. Hutchinson Smyth, D. D., in N. Y. Observer.