A minister retired after spending more than 40 years in one pastorate. A reporter
interviewed him for a feature article and asked the secret of his long tenure.
He answered: “In 40 years, I have never preached on a controversial subject.”
Note: The following article is the sixth in a series on “Characteristics
of Great Preachers.” The ongoing series was commissioned by the Louisiana
Baptist Message from Austin Tucker of Shreveport, a former Louisiana Baptist
pastor who now teaches and writes on religious subjects. He also is a frequent
pulpit guest in churches and serves as a member of the Louisiana Baptist Convention
Executive Board.
Austin B. Tucker, Freelance writer
A minister retired after spending more than 40 years in one pastorate. A reporter
interviewed him for a feature article and asked the secret of his long tenure.
He answered: “In 40 years, I have never preached on a controversial subject.”
Personally, I should not like to be in that brothers sandals at the judgement
seat of Christ! Great preachers speak to the burning issues of their time.
Clyde Fant and Bill Pinson came to one over-arching conclusion at the end of
their monumental study of 90 preachers that issued in the 10-volume set “Twenty
Centuries of Great Preaching.”
They said: “Great Preaching is relevant preaching. … The preachers who
made the greatest impact upon the world were men who spoke to the issues of
their day.” (Volume I, page v.)
Martin Luther was scandalized by the teaching of his church that a sinner might
purchase for himself or for a departed loved one the indulgence
of the almighty with money.
On October 31, 1517, he tacked to the chapel door at Wittenberg Castle his
Ninety-Five Theses Against Indulgences. It was in Latin, of course, as was the
custom of clerics proposing topics for scholarly debate. Someone translated
it, however, and it was soon spread all over Europe. Luther found himself the
center of a reform movement. He did not set out to lead a breakaway party from
Rome. He wanted to correct the abuses he found in it. A preacher who has something
to say about the burning issues of his day likely will find himself leading
the way to change.
One time, the reform movement at Wittenberg was in danger of being taken over
by extremists. They were demanding more radical and rapid change. Against the
advise of his protectors, Luther left the security of Wartburg Castle, where
he was occupied with the vital task of translating the Scriptures into the language
of his people. He returned to Wittenberg, and in a series of eight sermons in
one week, he curbed the influence of the radicals and settled the anxiety of
his friends. The Reformation was back on track.
Reinhold Neibuhr said the function of a sermon is “to comfort the afflicted
and to afflict the comfortable.” Read the New Testament record Stephens
preaching disturbed people. So did Pauls sometimes. So did Johns,
and so did the preaching of Jesus!
They did not come to deliver a few pious platitudes to give people a nice warm
feeling down in their souls. All great preachers come with a “thus saith
the Lord” for the need of the hour.
Some preachers today studiously avoid disturbing the status quo. They never
preach sermons that deal with ethical issues like race relations, gambling,
world hunger and alcohol and tobacco addiction. They justify their silence by
maintaining, “People dont want to come to church and hear about pornography
and promiscuity and every problem of society.”
They may be right, but they risk being irrelevant. Great preachers in the history
of the church from New Testament times to last Sunday are prophets who shirk
not to thunder the Word of the Lord on the issues that matter today.