Have we traded eloquence in the pulpit for the power of God?

Let me ask you for a second, what was the central theme to the Gospel that the Apostle Paul preached? Was he focused on the delivery or on the theme? Focused on Christ or being pragmatic? Focused on the cross and power of Christ’s resurrection or speaking with eloquence?

Let’s for a moment consider our present age. Does 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but have itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths,” seem to be playing out before our very eyes? Unfortunately this is all too obvious. Having said this, and in regards to what I asked previously, what was Paul’s focus? Read below and consider your present situation. Not only that, ask yourself, do you even care that millions upon millions are being deceived.

“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

Do we care more about the looks and delivery of a message, the dress of the speaker, and the externals of the environment than the message and power of God in the message? Do we care about the eternal life of souls? Do we care about the glory of God over our own “itching ears?”

“For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20)

I have said many times before, so shall I say it again, if the Holy Spirit is truly evident in the message being delivered, it will always be pragmatic, meaning, it will always be applicable to the individual hearing the word. But if our goal is to be pragmatic and focused on such methodology, then most often the Spirit is no where to be found.

Have we traded eloquence for the true power of God in order to sooth our humanism?

Jeremy Strang

Christian. Husband. Father. Author.