AN ENDANGERED SPECIES

Howdy folks,

Right off the top let me tell you that I’m old-fashioned! I still read and carry my King James Version of the Bible, listen to and sing the old hymns, and enjoy an old-fashioned, no frills gospel sermon. As a preacher, I have long been fascinated with the style and sermons of the preachers of yesterday. Because they used vivid descriptions of judgment and eternal damnation to encourage repentance, they were often called “fire and brimstone preachers.” Perhaps the best known of these preachers was Jonathan Edwards, who preached during the Great Awakening of the 1730’s and 40’s. It is reported that on one occasion after he preached his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” audience members burst out weeping, cried in anguish or even fainted.

Folks, Peter would have been called a fire and brimstone preacher. On the day of Pentecost, He delivered a powerful message to the people who were drawn to the Temple by all the commotion. Cut to the heart by Peter’s message that Jesus whom they crucified was both Lord and Christ, some 3,000 people turned to the Lord (Acts 2:41). Again Peter preached to a crowd who had gathered to witness a healed cripple walking, leaping, and praising God. In response to his message that God had sent Jesus to save them from their sins, about 5,000 who heard his words believed (Acts 4:4).

How different is that from today? For the most part, “fire and brimstone preachers” are an endangered species. After the sermon people politely arise from their padded pews, exchange some pleasantries with their friends and, compliment their preacher for the beautiful uplifting lesson that he has so eloquently delivered. Paul exhorts the young preacher Timothy to preach the Word! “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside by fables (2 Timothy 4:3-4).” An old-fashioned, no-frills Gospel sermon that accurately reflects the Word of God is more powerful by far than any sermon intended to advance our thinking or lead us to new truth. So I’m gonna stay old-fashioned.

Twas an old-fashioned meeting in an old-fashioned place,
Where some old-fashioned people had some old-fashioned grace;
As an old-fashioned sinner I began to pray,
And God heard me and saved me in the old-fashioned way. ---Buffum

On the trail for Him,
Mike and Suzann