In a denomination
like the one the leader in question presides over, where pastors'
sermons are laden with so much expectation, where the 'power' of every
service rises and falls on the ponderous delivery of the sermon as the climaxing element of the liturgy, one cannot be too critical of a leader who
spends hours tuning up his sermon notes and takes time in making the
delivery that justifies his preparation as well as the articulation of
his pastoral calling and office.
The burden becomes heavier where your
sphere of authority surpasses that of a parish pastor. While I would not
want to indulge parishioners who have become impatient with sermon
time having possibly been infected by the pervading virus of today's
hurry-up culture and attitude towards anything 'church' or spiritual; I
would want to jolt our pastors and preachers into some reality. Of
course my opinion is not binding on anyone, but I consider my self a
student of thought whose observation and contribution to the free space
of knowledge and ideas may be worthy of consideration.
As much as I know
that every learned pastor is inclined to prove himself as a diligent
student of scriptures, we must be conscious of the temperament of our
audience, the reality of the time we live in, a broader perspective of
what the purpose of the sermon should be and most significantly the
flexibility of the Holy Spirit that leads and inspires us.
In preparing
his sermon the pastor has some quick questions to ask and answer: 1.
What is a sermon? 2. What is its purpose? 3. Who is it addressed/aimed at? 4. What culture/ people group is the audience?
5.
What does God want to say and to what purpose? The answer to these questions may just be the antidotes to the growing disconnect between the pew and pulpit, especially in more conservative Pentecostal circles.
Our charismatic fellows may have their extremes but they seem to be fairing better. Can we break tradition a little? Can we tone down on the technicalities? Can we be more practical and less contemplative? The message must not lose its orthodoxy no doubt, but the method could be varied, more colorful, and meaningful. The Koine
Greek in which the New Testament was written to its original recipients was the lingua franca of the common people at the time. It was colloquial but the most popular medium of communication at the time. We must attempt to break the mold of our liturgy and become more sensitive to the creativity and dynamism of the Spirit. Who says every service must end with a sermon?
Who says God cannot reach his people through any part of the service, even the 'ceremonious' part? Who says we can't get blessed in a 10
minute homily with far-reaching impact and testimonies following? Why can't we just have an all worship and praise service with the people pouring out their hearts before the throne of grace and God unleashing his graces? Who says we can't have questions and answers time out with the pastor about real issues, on a Sunday morning, and witness the healing of hurts and lifting of burdens? The man of God must be the man of the
Spirit. "The the wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born
of the Spirit." (John 3:8).
The
Holy Spirit is at the center of every interaction God has and will have with his people and not even a denominational leader should hamper the flow, because of his exalted role as the chief custodian of the orthodoxy of pulpit tradition or church liturgy.
