The commission to the apostles was to "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Following the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ this commission began to be put into action. The preaching of the gospel required courage, stamina, and an intense love for God and man. Those of the first century who were privileged to preach the gospel did it with great seriousness and dignity. The gospel is worthy of such solemnity. Those who treat the preaching of the gospel lightly or flippantly, and those who, being ashamed of the gospel, resort to stratagems, entertainment, and any other such drivel are not worthy of the privilege afforded them of proclaiming the precious gospel.
God's preachers have always treated the word entrusted to them with dignity and reverence. As one reads the book of Deuteronomy he is impressed with the solemnity with which Moses spoke again the Law that had been delivered to him. He did not need to use some sensational method to gain or hold the attention of those to whom he spoke. The words of Elijah, Elisha, Micaiah, and other of the oral prophets portray the respect and honor in which they held both their message and their mission. One cannot read the prophetical books of the Old Testament without the imprint being made upon his mind that these men of God held the word which they spoke and wrote, and the manner in which they spoke and wrote it, in great respect and dignity.
Is it not time in this century to return the dignity to the pulpits of the Lord's church? We cannot expect such respect and dignity from the denominational groups. By the very nature of the disrespect of such groups for the authority of God's word, we expect the "spectacular" and the Hollywood-type productions from them. Having abandoned the sacred truth, the sensational and dramatic is all they have with which to draw men to themselves. Dare we have so little respect for the sacredness of preaching that we would now follow them in desecrating our service to God?
The use by many congregations of the "high-powered" youth speakers who apparently know little of the word of God, and who resort to emotionalism and theatrics, speaks all too loudly of that congregation's lack of respect for the dignity of preaching. It shows that such congregations have no confidence in the power of the gospel to help their young people, thus they feel that they must secure the services of these speakers to "put a charge" in their young people. Preachers, if such can be called preachers, who allow themselves to be so used show themselves to be no more than hirelings. They show that the paycheck and the applause of men are their goals and gods.
May those of us who have the privilege of preaching discharge our responsibilities in a dignified manner worthy of the word of God. May those who sit in the pew demand such dignity from those who stand before them to preach and teach.-337 College Avenue, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435