A friend recently offered this to the public on social media…what say ye?—
If you are a preacher,
do us all a favor
and tell lots of personal stories.
Avoid being a theologian from the pulpit.
Be a human. Be vulnerable. Be real.
— I’m really looking for your input. Yes, yours…and thanks in advance.
Everyone needs an entry point to hear the Gospel. Your entry point may be different from mine. Neither are right or wrong. Both can be helpful and effective. Jesus seems to have used several different methods. Just saying….
Thank you for commenting, Bill
As a lay minister, I felt that all I had to go with chosen scripture were my stories. I went back through some of the “Related” entries tied to this entry and what I found was interesting. I know you and I have discussed brief and lengthy entries before, but the number of 2012-2016 blog entries I went through were filled with your stories on the topic. I like the way Bill put it! I have learned that some of my weak points can later shore up someone else’s breaking points before destruction. Not that I always to to those ends, but which way the spirit leads my story (I only later find out why it went there).
In the statements, “Avoid being a theologian from the pulpit. Be human. Be vulnerable. Be real.” are my own thoughts about those declaring their own superiority through their discourse. I have friends show believe that my Christianity means that I feel superior to them because that is what they are hearing. Those that know me, know me, know that isn’t the case. Once I win others over they realize that it isn’t true of all Christians. That is, to me, why humanity, vulnerablity, and realism are necessary from the pulpit.
Forgive me if I have gone off the reservation.
We have to be real, human, and vulnerable, but we are charged to go make disciples and we do that by being a theologian. We need to do both.
First off, I totally agree. Second, make sure we are not always the “hero” in the story because we aren’t. It’s ok to admit where we have come up short and learned from it.
Amen!
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