We need the divine influence to keep us back from saying many things which, if they actually left our tongue, would mar our message. Those of us who are endowed with the dangerous gift of humor have need, sometimes, to stop and take the word out of our mouth and look at it, and see whether it is quite to edification; and those whose previous lives have borne them amoung the coarse and the rough had need watch with lynx eyes against indelicacy. Brethren, far be it from us to utter a syllable which would suggest an impure thought, or raise a questionable memory. We need the Spirit of God to put bit and bridle upon us to keep us from saying that which would take the minds of our hearers away from Christ and eternal realities, and set them thinking upon the groveling things of earth. - Taken from Lectures to my Students: Chapter 14 -The Holy Spirit in Connection with our Ministry.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Disdaining Shock and Awe from the Pulpit
American Christendom has birthed a disturbing new trend with today's wave of ultra-hip pastors who unabashedly spew foul language from the pulpit and openly discuss various sexual acts in lurid detail with their congregations. Allow me to share a nugget of wisdom from Charles Spurgeon that all these shepherds of God's sheep should heed.
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This is precisely what Noah Webster had in mind when he was working on his revision of the King James. This is a quote from his preface:
ReplyDelete"Language which cannot be uttered in company without a violation of decorum, or the rules of good breeding, exposes the scriptures to the scoffs of unbelievers, impairs their authority, and multiplies or confirms the enemies of our holy religion."
It's good to see that some of us still agree. Great post!
It breaks my heart, to be honest, when I hear language and topics leaving the mouths of those at the pulpit that should never pass through their lips....it does so much damage, even if the congregation chuckles along.
ReplyDeleteAnd about the quote, I've read that somewhere...can't recall where but I've read it and I remember thinking how I needed to be much more cautious, even just as a teacher, with what I share with my students.
Thanks for the post!