p. 11 | The Kind of Preaching Desired

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 25, 1914

The Kind of Preaching Desired

WHAT kind of preaching do the men and the women of the world generally desire? Do they prefer to hear from the pulpit a discussion of current events, or are they anxious to hear the simple story of the cross? With the trend of religious thought at the present time, and with the education which many have received for several decades, it would be hard to convince us but that a great multitude would much prefer to hear a discussion of current events and popular subjects from the Christian pulpit. There are, however, still a great number whose hearts cry out for the bread of life, and who desire to hear an exposition of the message of salvation to lost men.

The Lutheran Church Work feels that there are many of this latter class. It gives the experience of a preacher who was invited to speak to the students of an Eastern university. Before the service he met a company of the students and asked their counsel as to the kind of preaching needed in the university. Says the Church Work:—

With promptness and frankness they expressed themselves. “Cut out all slang,” said one. “Make no allusion to baseball or football,” said another. “Give us no illustrations from recent science,” said another. A fourth said, “Stick to you job and preach the gospel, and that will suit the boys.” These bits of advice are highly suggestive. They are expressed in the vernacular of youth, but they have the right ring. They show that the things men, even young men in college, are thinking about during the week are not the things they want to hear about when they go to church. These are the very things they do not want to hear about on Sunday from the preacher. People are tired of such things as concern them during the week, the things that fill the newspapers. They come to church for relief, and to have mind and heart directed to higher considerations. That college boy who said, “Stick to your job,” was giving good advice to all men who are set apart to preach!