THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
FIFTSEN DAYS AGO 1 WAS A COMPLETE STRANGER TO SvuRYONE OF YOU. I HADN'T THE

VAGUEST NOTION OF THE TYPE OF PEOPLE IN THE DYiR UNION cH CH, OF THE TYPE GF COMMUNTTY
DYER ITSELF IS-~-AND LIKEWISE YOU HADN'T THE VAGUEST NOTION oF THE TYPE OF PERSON IT
MIGHT BE. TWO SHORT WEEKS AGO YOU MET, AS A CONGREGATION, DECTDED TO ISSUE A CALL
TO ME TO FILL YOUR PULPIT-~-AND I ACCEPTED. IN THOSE BRIEF 10 WHEKS OUR RELATIONSHIP
HAS CHANGED—TO SAY THE LEAST, AND MY WHOLE LIFE HAS inp ERCONE DRASTIC RECHANNELING
AND TAKEN ON QUITE NEW PERSPECTIVE. I THINK IT APPROPRT An THERE FORE-—-AT THE BEGINNING
OF MY MINISTRY IK YOUR CHURCH AND COMMU:ITY (OR RATHER oun) TO DEFINE THIS RELATIONSHEP
ALONG WITH EY IDEAS CONCERNING THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY~-NOT ox LOCALLY BUT IN LIGHT
OF THE VAST NSTWORK WE CALL TH HOLY CIRISTIAN CHURCH,

A CHRIS? TAN MINIS TER'S PRIMARY CONCERN IS To FRBACH THe GOSPEL. TO ANNOUNCH
THE GOOD MBWS THAT GOD HAS DEMONSTRATcH HIS LOVE AND font vavEss AND INDEED REVEAL)
HIMSELF IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIS fT; AND THAT THES ACT was MADE SALVATION A POSSIBILITY,
FORGIVENESS AND FREEDOM FROM GUILT AN ALTERNATIVE FOR eventos .

VERBALLY PROGLATMING AND CONVEYING THIS WONDROUS NaKs HAS BaEN AT THE VERY
CORE OF CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE EVER SINCE OUR LORD HIMSELF PREACHED ALONG THE SHORES OF
THE SHA OF GALLILEA AND AMONG THE HILLS OF JUDEA. PAUL SERVED HIS LORD, NOT BY

COUNCILING NEUROTICS IN HLS OFFICE, BUT BY SEARCHING OUT KXRIMRRAX LISTENERS, LADOURERS,

2.

MERCHANTS, PBOR AND RICH, IO TELL THWM THE GOOD NEws. cura TZAN SAINTS THROUGHOUT
Tik CENTURIES HAVE FOUND VOCAL COMMUNICATION TO BE THE bast WAY TO DESCRIBE THE
WONDROUS EVENT. WITHOUT FALL TODAY'S LEAVING THIDLOGIANS, sane AND SCHOLORLY Man,
REVEAL A UNANIMOUS DESIRE TO SALVE THELR LORD BY PREAGHINC, BY CASTING THE FIGURE OF
JESUS CHRIST BEFORE MAN+-NOT IN A STUDY OF HISTORICAL Doak, OR CHURCH HISTORY, BUT
FROM A PULPIT. |

PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IS AT TH VERY ROOTS OF CHRISTIANITY
AND WHEN CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION CREASES SO WILL CHRL STEANETY.

THE MINISTER 'S VERY R“ASON FOR ASSUMING A PULPIT Is TO COMMUNICATE THIS

COSPEL AND WHEN HIS THINKING AND HIS SERONS FALL TO WO TALS, HLS MINISTRY LOSES

ALL MEANING WHATSOBVER .

There ARE MANY PROBLEMS CONFRONTING A CHRISTIAN yawtseEn TH THE WORLD OF
TODAY--SOME VERY SMALL PITFALLS THAT EXISTED 2,000 YRARS 160 AND SOME OTHERS THAT ARE
SO LARGE WE ARE QUITE UNCONCLOUS OF THEIR EXISTENCE, AT te SAME THE THE TWENTIETH
GENTURY OFFERS NEW CHALLENGES TO CHRISTLANETY AND TO THE MINISTER, WITH EVERY NEW
ADVANCE Ik THE PROBING OF OUTER SPACE, WITH SVERY NEW quRY IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS THE

MINISTER MUST MAKE ETERNAL TRUTH MAKE SENSE,

3.

THE LAST DECADE HAS CF FERED A CHALLENGE OR pan HAPS A WARNING TO CHRISTIANITY
THAT HAS NOT DEEN FELT FOR 1,500 YEARS. CHRISTIANS OF THE vinst FEW CENTURIES
LIVED UNDER THE CONSTANT RELIEF THAT THE END OF TH WORLD was ON THE VaRGE OF
OCCURING. THIS = ELIEF WH CALL IT APOCALYPTICISH, COLORED rag THACHINGS OF THE
SPOSTALES , THE AUTHORS OF ALL THE NEW TESTAMENT~-AND BVEN ni TEACH INGSOF JESUS ATMSaLF,
UNDERLYING ALL THAT THEY SAID AND WRUTE WAS THIS SOvBINATTON OF HOPE AND PEAR
REGARDING IMMEDIATE END OF Tit AGE. WHAT THEY HAD TO Sar EAS URGENT-—-THEY WERE
WORKING AGAINST A DEADLINE,

NOW I TAKE NO STOCK IM STATEMENTS THAT AT SUCH i SUCH AN HOUR ON SUCH
AND SUCH A DAY THE WORLD WiL EXD AND JESUS WILL HETURY IN st HLS GLORY--28UT I DO THINK
WH GAN TAKE SSRIOUSLY THE NEW TRSTANENT axvORDATION-—"BRETHRN , THE TINH IS SHORT."
THE DEVELOPMENTS OF THS LAST TEN YaRS,-~EVEN THE RECENT pari CHANGES WE OBSERVE
IN THE UNITED NATLONS ALL MAKE FEAST CENTURY azocarxprrerat, AGATN HAVE MEENING.,
COMPLETE ANNHTLAT.ON IS A NASTY SUBJECT, ONE WE DON'T rOUOK OVER A FASHIONABLE
TABLE, OR ON A PLEASANT SABBATH MORNING, BUT NiVERTHEL ESS ne TROMY IS STILL THE RE--
AFTER TWENTY CENTURIES CHRISTIAN PREACHERS ARH FACED WITH OH SAME URGENCY, --w1ITH

THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMEWHAT THE SAME DEADLINE.

he

PERHAPS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE FACING THE 20th cuarruRY CHRISTIAN MINISTR
IS THAT CREATED BY MASS COMMUNICATION. SOCIOLOGISTS maven BEGUN TO TRY TO
MEASURE THE PRESENT AND FUTURE EFFECTS OF THE CONSTANT powsaRnb” Trig HUMAN MIND
ENCOUNTERS THROUGH RADIO, TELEVISION, NEWSPAPERS, HACAZINES, MOVIES AND PAPBRBACKS—~
FROM ARISTOTLE TO MICKEY SPILLANE. IT IS READLLY SESN nit ALL THESE AGENCIES OF
COMMUNICATION ARE RELATIVELY NEW, AND THERE CAN BE NO oun THAT If WILL AND IS
GREATLY AFFECTING THE PUBLIC MIND,—-AND PUBLIC PATNICTNG—FOR GOOD OR FOR BAD IS
NOT FOR Mz TO BAY. ONLY IGNORANCE CLAIMS THAT EVERY NOTION PICTURE 1S ROTTEN, THAT
ANY PUBLICATLON WITH A PAPER INSTEAD OF CLOTH BAGK CAW BE cast AWAY AS FILTH. THE
BLOW OF NEWS WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE CONTRIBUTES TO THE FONOTTONING OF OUR PARTICULAR
SOCL ETY: THE OPPORTUNITY FOR RECREATION, ENTERTAINMENT AND cwraLLeCTUAL TMP ROVEM IN T
ARE INDEED COMMINDABLE.

YET WE WOULD BE EQUALLY IGNORANT IF WE DID NOT ree GNIZE THE OSSTACLES

FOR CONVEYING CHRISTIANITY WHICH THE PREVELANGE OF MASS CoHUNICATION RAISES. IN ALL
AGENCLES OF MASS COMMUNICATLON THERS IS A TENDENCY TOWARD UNTFORIaY “TOWARDS A
STEREOTYPE PUSLIC MIND. BOOKS ARE PUBLISHED THAT WILL saul TO ALL THE PUBLIC,
INDIVIDUALY MINDS ARB LUMPED TOGETHER IN ONE PILE OF PORSNETAL CASH.

THE GREAT!ST DRAWEACK TO MASS COMMUNIC. THON~-AND IN THE LONG RUN ITS MOST

&.

DETERRENT CHARACTEALSTIC,AS IT 1S ENCOUNTERED bY cut att, 1 THE VERY
OBVIOUS INFERIOR QUALITY OF MUCH THAT I5 SEEN AND READ BY vi GREATEST NUMBERS.
IF A BOOK LIKE PEYTON PLACE SELLS MILLIONS OF OOPIES, IF A HOLLYwooo PRODUCES AND
PROCLAIM AS GREAT A MOVIE LIK# PSYCHO--A FREUDIAN HODGE Ponce THAT ERASES TH LINE
BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE, LUST AND DES -RUCTION-~WE MUST STEP BACK A MINUTE AND QUESTION
THE ENTL RE SYSTEM. WE CANJOT DENY THAT A SHAPING THALUENGE ON MILLIONS IS THAT OF MOVE
AND TELEVISION PRODUCERS ATKING AT THE cLOCD PRESSURE OF A aL YEAR OLD. WHO
KNOWS THE RSULTS OF THIS PHENOMENON-~FRED ALLEN HAS PROPHESLaD THAT THE Nast Gil RRA*
TION WILL HAVE AYES AS EEG AS CANTALOUPES AND DRAINS THE SsIZB OF A SPLIT PHA. ONE
THING IS CERTAIN—~REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME OF THIS oreaiertc FORCE CHRISTIAN
MINISTERS MUST SPEAK IN CLEAR, CONCIS# TERMS, MUST EXPLAIN sa PROBLAIM THE GOSPEL,
CONSTANTLY PROMPTING AND PARSUADING THE HUMAN MIND TO KikP FUNCTIONING, TO KEEP See ING
FOR MEANING--TO NEVER RETRBAT PROM MENTALLY WRESTLING WiTH a IsSuUE3S OUR ReLIGION
RAISES To TH: COMFORT AND SHCUME TY OF THE T.V. SCREEN,

THE PITFALLS THAT LIE IN THE PATH OF THE CON TSAPORARY MINISTER ARE MANY

AND VARIED——I HAVE TRIED TO NARROW DOWN THE FIELD TO TWO, HOPING THEY wILL INCLUDE ENOUGH

TERRITORY TO JENONSTRATE MY POINT. THEY ARE THE EVER PRESENT AND OPPOSITE

TENDENCIES TO OWERSIMPLIFY THE GOSPEL AKD OVER COMPLICTE iT BY DISGUISING IDEAS

IN AN INCOMPREHENDABLI: VOCABULARY,

THOMAS JEFFERSON FOUND CHRISTIANITY A BIT EASIER © SWALLOW AFTER Hii REWORTE
THE NEW TESTAMENT, LEAVING OUT ALL THE MIRACLES, H&ALINGs, Pie BIRTH AND RuSURRACTION
MARRATIVES-—-OM-ITTING ANY MENTION OF THE MYSTARIOUS—THE SPER NATURAL. RECENTLY
SOME DISILLUSIONED SOUL COLNED THE PHRASE "THE SIMPLE gosPte AND SINCH THAT TIME
CERTAIN MINISTERS AND THEIR CONGREGATIONS FIND GREAT comroRe IN RELYING ON A FEW SIMPLE
FORMULAS FOR ANSWERS TO EVERY SITIATION. "JESUS SAVES" DOSNT QUITE ANSWAh A GUILT
RIDDEN HUMANTTY OR A HEMEER OF A TEENAGE GANG DESPERATELY ipoxtg FOR MEANING IN HIS
DISHAL LIFE. "TAKE IT TOTHE LORD IN ALAYER" DOESN'T satisie A CHRISTA NEGRO WHO
HAS BEEN THE VICTIM OF LIFE, LICANTY AKO THE PURSUIT OF far er869—LoMESANA STYLa.
THE NEWS WE HAVE TO PROGLATE IS JUST NOT THAT SIMPLE, PEOPLE WHO WOULD DO AWAY WITH
ALL THEOLOG., WHO WOULD BURN ALL UNIVERSITI“S WITH A 2 ESPRORAPLE BIOLOGY UD EPARTHENT,

WHO WOULD RED CHRISTIANITY OF SHTWNARY FACULTI&S THAT BELLEVE A WINISTEin MUST BE AN E

EDUCATED HAN--WOULD STRIP CHRISTIANITY OF ALL ITS MYSTERY, ST. PAUL DID NOT SAY
SORA CC XC SR MREHOLD AS IT EAPLAIN A MYSTERY IN WORDS OF ONE
SYLLASLEM-HE SAID § BEHOLD I SiOW YOU A HYSTERY." A SIMPLIFIED GOSPEL HAS NO ROOM

FOR THE BEAUTIFULLY DEEP CONCEPT OF REDEMPTION, JUST. FICATION BY FAITH, OR THE

INCARNATION. THERE IS NO GOMMON DENOMINATOR WITH WHICH Ww cali FReDUCE CHRISTIANITY,
LT MUST BE OSSIRVED AS A SET OF IDEAS, HUMAN IDEAS, THAT pont TO THAT OF WHICH wt
CAN NEVER cOPE TO KNOW AND FULLY UNDERSTAND. GOD IS GOD ax MAN IS MAN--AND THERE I3
NO SIuPLE GOSPEL.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE NENISTER END MSPECTALLY T RISE FRESH ROM SE INARY ARB
OR STILL ATTENDING, LIKE MYSELF, SOMETIMES TEND TO USz rast PROFESSIONAL JARGON, THE
TALK OF THEIR TRADE, YOU ALL HAVE HAD THE HAPERTENCE OF cALTAG WITH A DOGTOR OB
NURSE, AND AFTER HEAHDNG THELR DIAGNOSIS OF YOUR SYMPTOMS ea NG YOURSELF COMPLETELY
OBLIVIOUS AS TO THE NATUFE OF YOU. ATLMENT. THe ANALOGY 13 POOR--BUT THE SAKE THINGS
SO EASILY OCCURS IN THE PULPIT. A SERMON WHICH BRCQHsS SO EvoLMD ZN TEFHTNOLOGY
AND DEFINITION IS NOT ONLY USELESS LUT AN GUTRIGHT BORE. z FOUND A PASSAGE FROM A
SERMON OF A FAMOUS THEOLOGIAN--IT RGADS AS FOLLOWS: nSPERTE IS THE UNION OF RYIN iG
AND KONBEING. THOUGH RHALITY IS BASICALLY BEING, WHILE THRE iS NEVIRTHELESS PASSaGi
BACK AND FORTH FROM ERED RG INTO NONBETIG, AS THs FsrISHING oF CANCELLED TINE (FRUH BEING
TO NONBRING) AND THE RHAL CREATLON OUT OF NOTHIKG BY THE ZONING OF THe GENUINELY Naw
(FR.M NONBELNG TO BELNG) THERE MUST BE A RELATION BETWEEN vi TWO REALMS OF BELG
AND WONDEING wHICH CANNOT EE DEFINED IN TERHS Of ELTHER nA WITHOUT DOING VIOLENCE

TO ITS OWN KIND OF INFINITY. THAT RELATION, UNETENG wl WIN ITSELF THE TWO INCOMMENSURATE

AND NONCONTRADICIORY, INFINITIES--IS SPIRIT."

I? IS OUT OF ITS CONTEXT AND THUSLY SOUNDS WORSE can I? Is--puT 1s”
0

DEMONSTRATES Mx YINT, THE GHRISYIAN GOSPEL CAN BROOME LOST IN THE FOREST OF
PHILOSOPHICAL TERAINOLOGY.

THE CHRISTIAN MINISTER IS FACED WIT THE Gi LANG 0 STRIKE A VERY
DLFPIOULT MEDIUM, HE MUST RATSE #15 CONGREGATIONS THINKING FIOM THE "SIMPLE GOSPEL" STAGE
RUT AT THE SAME TIME REFRALN FROM GOING 100 FAR AND con sUSING INSTEAD OF GUIDING.

VERY QUICKLY I WANT TO ERLNG THIS DISCUSSION Dova 10 THE LOCAL SCALE AND TALK
ATOUT A CONCRETE SITUATION~-HY ROLE AS PASTOR OF THIS cute OR.

I HAVE THE HISFORTUNE OF FOLLQVINS IN YOUR PunETD, A VERY OUUSTANDING
MAN. IN XO CONGELVANLE WAY CAN I HOP@ TO COMPARS WITH HIS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, STUDY
AND PRRACIING. ‘TRULY A FINE LEADER, ANY GHURCH WOULD BE FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIM IN ITS
PULPIT. I CAN HOWEVER OFFER ALL THAT I HAVE, IN HOPES THAT AS I LEARN WE WILL
MUTUALLY BENEFIT AND BECOME BETTER SERVANTS OF CUR LORD.

I HAVE THE Svf0NG CONVICTION THAT ANY MAN WHO sxmors TO PREACH THE WORD OF
GOD" 52 SUNDAYS A YEAR IS A BIT NAIVE, IN ATPEMPPING ] bo SUCH WE MUST CONTEND
WITH SUGH DETERRING FACIORS AS HUMAN SCCENTIRELTIES, SHLP-O5N TERDUBSS, PRIDE, Ps SuNAL

EAKWETS FAULTS AND FAILINGS, PRRSONAL PREFERENCES AND BELIEFS. A MENISTRR CAN HOPE

10.

AND PRAY THAT HE WILL PS THE TOOL OF THS HOLY SPIRIT BUT IT IS DOUBTFUL WHETHR

THIS IS THE CASE IN EVERY SENTENCE OF EVERY SHRMON. WITH THIS IN MIND THE MINISTER
MUST ALSO BE A TEACHER. THIS ME CAN DO EVERY SUNDAY AND AS YOU CAN TELL THIS I WILL
TRY TO DO.

IN ACCEPTING YOUR CALL I DON'T MEAN TO EE YOUR PASTOR FROM 9:30 to 12:00
ON SUNUAYS. THIS I COULD DO AND LIVE IN GHICA®. LIVING AMONG YOU AND TAKING MY
PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY I HAVE AUTOMATICALLY BECOME YOUR SPIRITUAL REPRESENTATIVE AND THIS
ROLE WILL GEAR ALL THAT ID DO AND SAY. I TRULY HOPE THAT YOU WILL NOT ALLOW Mz TO
BECOME A SUNDAY MORNING MINISTER ONLY BUT WILL CALL ON ME AT ANYTIME, FOR ANY PURPOSE
AND I WILL DO ALL THAT I CAN TO HELP.

HAVING BRIEFLY DESCRIBED MY THOUGHTS ON THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY AND
SPECIFICALLY OUR LOCAL SITUATION IW WOULD LIKE TO CLOSH BY DELVING INTO MY DiKPEST
THOUGHTS ABOUT THE MINISTRY, ONES THAT CONCERN THE VERY REASON FOR CHRISTIANITY, THE
CHURCH AND ITS MINISTERS, nee

AS I STATE) IN MY FIRST SERMON 10 YOU OUR PRIMARY CONCERN, THE ONE THAT
LIES 2
ES ABOVE AND BELOW ALL OTHERS, ‘10 WORSHIP AND PRAISE THE ONE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. Jzsus'
LIFE AND TEACHINGS MAKE SENSE ONLY BECAUSE HE WAS THE INCARNATION OF GOD, HIS REVELATION

IN HUMAN FELSH. FOLLOWING IN THE SAME LINE OF THOUGHT TH VERY RSASON FOR JESUS!

il.

EXISTENCE, AND OF THE RESULTANT GOSPEL 15 THAT WE MAY Berta KNOW AND LOVE OUR
CREATOR, AGAIN SUDDENLY RETURNING TO THE LOCAL LEVEL---OUR pani GONCERN IN GATHERING
HERE ON SUNDAY MGR WINGS IS TO WORSHIP AND TO WEEKLY psotcans OUR LIVES TO THE LORD,
THIS MAY SOUND LIKE A ROUTINE MATTER BUT IF YOU THINE A seen TE IT BECOMES CLEAR

THAT THIS IS SELDOM THE CASH, THR POPULAR CONCEPTION OF A sunoar MORNING SERVICE

IS VERY NUCH LIKE A TRIP TO TH! THREX THEATR:. THE cone ON IS THHEG—TO BE
ENTERTAINED, THE MINISTER WITH FLOWING PHRASES AND CATCHY DCTS iS TH@ ACTOR, AND
GOD IS THE PROEPTER, PERIODICALLY GIVING A FeW CLUBS D ras PREACHER SO HAT HE

MAY BETTER INSPIRE OR ENTERTAIN HES LISTENERS WHATEVER THE cass HAY BE. YOU WILL
REALIZE HOW TRUE THIS ANALOGY IS IF YOU WILL CONSIDER How ANY TIFES YOU HAVE HiaRD A
MINISTIR CRITICISED FOR HIS SMiMON--VHE WAS PUOR THIS Hora NG"—on" ZY, DID HE PUT ME
TO SLZEP." I DON'T THENK I'M EXAGGERATING ONS TOTA WHEN I baY THAT THE MAJORITY OF

CHURCH GOERS ARE THER: TO 2E ENTERTAINGD IN ONE WAY OR A ROTHER-~AND WITH THLS

ATTITUDE OR CONDI MON MY BSLLEFS AND SERMONS WILL CLASH HEAD ON. USING THE SANE

ANALOGY OF THE THEATRE WE MUST Sh@ THe MINISTER ONLY AS A PROMPTER, PROLIP TING

THE CONGREGATION, WHO ARE THE ACTORS,IN HELR ROLE AS WORSHEPPRS, GOD OF CcuRs# Is
a

THE AUDIENCE WH) IF YOU WILL EXCUSE A LITTLE EARTHINESS, Is THe ONLY PanTY INVOLVED/

ENTITLED TO AN UPINION CONCERNING THE WHOL DRAMA. IN THIS PICTURE THE MINISTER AND

12.

aD THE SSRMON ARE IMPORTA NT—BIT OF GREATHST IMPORTANCE 1s THE ROLE OF THE ACTORS —~
YOU "AS YOU WORSHIP YOUR GOD. WITH THIS CONSTANTLY IN MIND 1 WEREAREK ASSUME YOUR
PULPIT,.I WILL NOT TRY TO BE @NTERTALNING OR AMUSING BUT Wut TRY TO PROMPT YOU
TOWARDS A BETTER PERFORMANCE, A FULLER, RICHAR EXPERIENCE oF WORSHIP,

WE GATHER AS A GROUP, A CONGREGATION AND wi soRsEI, Pral Sh AND CONFESS
TOGSTIHER--BUT IN THE LAST ANALYSIS WHEN Wit ENGAGE IN VORSULP OUR LORD SNOOUNTERS
US FACE TQ FACE--INDIVIDUALLY-AND 1 THIS END I WILL AIM a EY ACTIVITIES AS YOUR
MINISTER? STHL VIIG TO HAKE YOUR RELATONGAIIP WITH YOUR LORD ia NORUL AND REAL, HOPING YOU
WILL LEAVE HcRE SUM AY HURNINGS, NOT WITH THE PLEASANT SHNSATEON OF BEING Hi TERTAINED
OR THE SECURE PEELING OF BEING LULLED TO SL#EP BY SWEET So UMDING PHRASES BUT wETH YOUR
HEARTS AND MINDS OVERFLOWING FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF aNCOUNTERING, IN AN ACT OF WORSHIP,

OUR LORD AND CREATOR-THROUGH JESUS CHAREST. AMEV.