Territorial Bloggings

Once again, Dr. Al Mohler has put out a very insightful blog posting today, this time on the subject of preaching’s precipitous decline in both form and function. Here’s a great snippet:

The current debate over preaching is most commonly explained as an argument about the focus and shape of the sermon. Should the preacher seek to preach a biblical text through an expository sermon? Or, should the preacher direct the sermon to the “felt needs” and perceived concerns of the hearers?

Clearly, many evangelicals now favor the second approach. Urged on by devotees of “needs-based preaching,” many evangelicals have abandoned the text without recognizing that they have done so. These preachers may eventually get to the text in the course of the sermon, but the text does not set the agenda or establish the shape of the message.

…

Shockingly, this is now the approach evident in many evangelical pulpits. The sacred desk has become an advice center and the pew has become the therapist’s couch. Psychological and practical concerns have displaced theological exegesis and the preacher directs his sermon to the congregation’s perceived needs.

The problem is, of course, that the sinner does not know what his most urgent need is. She is blind to her need for redemption and reconciliation with God, and focuses on potentially real but temporal needs such as personal fulfillment, financial security, family peace, and career advancement. Too many sermons settle for answering these expressed needs and concerns, and fail to proclaim the Word of Truth.

Now, I’ve quoted these paragraphs not to obviate the need for you to read Dr. Mohler’s posting in toto. No, I’ve done it because it’s something with which I strongly agree, and which I have (sadly) observed happening in far too many Lutheran pulpits. It is for this pottage of pop-culture feel-goodism that so many in the LCMS have traded their/our birthright of substantial orthodox & confessional Lutheranism. The path of least resistance has been chosen, in the name of a flaccid, wimpy, so-called “love,” that will only result in folks getting “loved” straight to Hell. And that makes me angry. Thus, I can/must/will speak out against it whenever I can!

-ghp