The Characteristics of the Modern Christian Pulpit

The Characteristics of the Modern Christian Pulpit

"John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath! Produce fruit in keeping with repentance!" (Luke 3:7-8).

Well would it be for the Church of Christ, if it possessed more plain-speaking ministers like John the Baptist. 

A morbid dislike to strong language; an excessive fear of giving offence; a constant flinching from directness and plain speaking - are unhappily, too much the characteristics of the modern Christian pulpit!

Uncharitable language is no doubt always to be deprecated. But there is no "charity" in flattering unconverted people - by abstaining from any mention of their vices, or in applying smooth names to their damnable sins!

There are two texts which are too much forgotten by Christian preachers. In  one it is written, "Woe unto you - when all men shall speak well of you!" (Luke 6:26).

In the other it is written, "Obviously, I'm not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God! If I were still trying to please people - I would not be Christ's servant" (Galatians 1:10).

~Richard Baxter~
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Flesh-pleasing Pulpit Opiates!

They are a rebellious people, deceptive children, children who do not obey the Lord's instruction. They say to the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy the truth to us. Tell us flattering things! Prophesy illusions! Get out of the way! Leave the pathway. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!" (Is. 30:9-11).

It is a striking fact, that He who was love incarnate; who was mercy's messenger to our lost world; who was named Jesus, because He was to be the Saviour of His people; who was the manifestation of God's love to man - delivered, during the course of His personal ministry, more fearful descriptions of Divine justice and the punishment of the wicked, than are to be found in any other part of the Word of God! What can exceed the solemn scene of the parable of the rich man in torments?  the bottomless pit and destruction are there set openly before us.l

No man can fulfill his ministry, therefore, without frequently alluding to the justice of God in the punishment of sin. He must seek to alarm the fears of the unconverted by a representation of the consequences that will follow a state of final repentance.

Such a subject frequently calls up all the enmity of the carnal mind. To be told, not only that they are sinners - which all will admit in general terms - but that their sins are such a to deserve the wrath of God, such as to expose them to the torments of perdition, and such as will infallibly bring them to the bottomless pit - unless they truly repent; to be told again and again that they are hastening to perdition; to have the rod of Divine vengeance shaken over their heads; to have all the dreadful curses of the violated law analyzed, ascertained and announced; to have this done in their hearing, and done frequently; to be made to sit and hear their future eternal doom, and thus to be tormented before their time - is what they cannot, and will not endure! Unable to bear any longer his pointed addresses to the conscience, they will leave his ministry - for the flesh-pleasing pulpit opiates of some flatter of men's souls,who is too cowardly to trouble the minds, or alarm the conscience of those who love smooth, flattering and delusive preaching.

To be publicly denounced as deserving Divine wrath; to be told that they are sinners to such a degree as to merit the eternal punishment of a holy God; to be reminded that, instead of their fancied good heart, depraved in every faculty and polluted in every part; to be represented as unfit for communion with God here, and for His presence hereafter - all this is so opposed to all their notions, so mortifying to their vain pride, so degrading to their dignity, that they cannot but dislike it. To such a debasement they would not willingly descend; and hence their demand for the teaching of deceit, and the smooth speech of falsehood. What they want is to be flattered into a good opinion of themselves. They hate the doctrine which disturbs their self-delight, and revile the man who attempts to tell them the solemn reality of how vile they are!

~J. A. James~
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Christ, the Example of Ministers

It is not only our great duty, but will be our greatest honor, to imitate Christ, and do the work that He has done - and so act as co-workers with Him.

The ministers of Christ should be persons of the same spirit that their Lord was of - the same spirit of humility and lowliness of heart; for the servant is not greater than his Lord.

They should be of the same spirit of heavenly-mindedness, and contempt of the glory, wealth, and pleasures of this world.

They should be of the same spirit of devotion and fervent love to God.

They should follow the example of His prayerfulness; of whom we read from time to time of His retiring from the world, away from the noise and applause of the multitudes, into mountains and solitary places, for secret prayer, and holy converse with His Father.

Ministers should be persons:
of the same quiet, lamb-like spirit that Christ was of;
of the same spirit of submission to God's will;
of the same patience under afflictions, and meekness towards men;
of the same calmness and composure of spirit under sufferings from the malignity of evil men;
of the same spirit of forgiveness of injuries;
of the same spirit of charity, of fervent love and extensive benevolence;
of the same disposition to pity the miserable, and to weep with those who weep;
of the same spirit of condescension to the poor and lowly, tenderness and gentleness toward the weak, and great and sincere love to enemies.

They should also be of the same spirit of zeal, diligence, and self-denial for the glory of God, and advancement for His kingdom, and for the good of mankind; for which things sake Christ went through the greatest labors, and endured the most extreme sufferings.

And in order to our imitating Christ in the work of the ministry, in any tolerable degree - we should not have our hearts weighted down, and time filled up with worldly affections, cares, and pursuits. 

The duties of a minister that have been recommended, are absolutely inconsistent with a mind much taken up with worldly profit, glory, amusements and entertainments.

~Jonathan Edwards~