2Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
What if, (I normally do not like what if's, but anyway) your pastor when he got up to preach, could only preach word for word from a past sermon. Not only could he not put together his own sermon, but he had to read it out loud word for word. He would have to read it as near to the original as possible. To add to that he can not preach anything that was created in past 20 or more years. As a matter of fact the only sermons to preach must come from the 17th to the 19th centuries. And he must remember that there just are not any good sermons being made anymore.
I hope as you read the above paragraph you are thinking: "God forbid"; that's crazy; or at least "no way baby! To handcuff a pastor in this manner is not only harmful to him, but also to his congregation. Sure there are some great sermons of the past that are still valuable today and should always be remembered, quoted often; "Sinners in the hands of an angry God"; "Payday someday"; and others. But, there are some good reasons for fresh, new, and "contemporary" sermons by a diligent studying pastor. Needs change. Because of the prosperity of today, most people do not need to be comforted from poverty. There would not be any warnings and teaching on how to handle the pornography of the internet. The words used in past have changed meaning. A pastor must be in tune with needs and culture of his congregation. Sermons of the past would be helpful, but will not meet the needs of today.
So then it can be agreed the pastors need the freedom to use the gifts and talents God has given him to be able to fulfill his calling. Then why do we handcuff the writers, composer, and performers of today by saying that only songs of the past may be used to worship God. God has equipped His people to reach a generation not only for salvation, but for the sanctification of His people. Traditional songs are great, (and should never go away)but were better understood in their generation. Let's unhand cuff todays writers so they can serve just like the contemporary pastor, teaching and admonition one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual song...
1 comment:
You say that a paster must be in tune with the needs of his congregation today. Is the pastor of your church in tune with the needs of his congregation? And you mentioned that people do not need to be comforted from poverty? Are you saying that there are not impoverished pople in Northwest Indiana? Maybe you should look outside your community to realize that there are many impoversihed indidvuals. especially with the increase in gas prices, food, energy costs and so on.
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