Sermons? (Updated from 7/27/2014)

 

"I believe that God knows what each of us wants and needs. It's not necessary for us to make it to church on Sunday to reach Him. You can find Him anyplace. And if that sounds heretical, my source is pretty good: Matthew, Five to Seven, The Sermon on the Mount."

-- Frank Sinatra

The dictionary definition of  "sermon" just doesn't give you enough flavor.  As usual, I went to Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, and, as usual, came up with better stuff.  I have printed some excerpts:

A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. 

Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law, or behavior within both past and present contexts. 

Elements of preaching include exposition, exhortation, and practical application.

The word can mean "conversation", which could mean that early sermons were delivered in the form of question and answer, and that only later did it come to mean a monologue. However, this is contradicted by all the examples from the Bible...

In modern language, the word "sermon" can also be used pejoratively in secular terms to describe a lengthy or tedious speech delivered with great passion, by any person, to an uninterested audience.

The first line I think we can all pretty much agree upon, as I also think we can agree sermons address the listed topics in both contexts.  However, I separated out the line concerning "preaching" because I want to address it momentarily.

"The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending, then have the two as close together as possible."

-- George Burns

A sermon can mean "conversation," but this is contradicted by all of the examples in the Bible.  Really.  Let's think about this from a writer's point of view.  I can write the entire sermon for you, complete with questions and answers, or, knowing that I have limited parchment or papyrus to write this down upon, at night by a flickering lamp; maybe I'll just give you the meat of the speech.  Who is to say that the oration wasn't including answers to questions not put down by the scribe?  Also, the Bible doesn't list every little sermon given during the time period.  I think we need to be realistic and conclude that only the important sermons were included by the Councils of Nicaea.  It is already a fact that they left out much that was, and is, of interest, because it did not serve their agenda.  So, I put forth that we should reexamine, the very likely possibility that, Billy Graham's orations in front of hundreds of people, notwithstanding, sermons may have been conversations where questions and answers were the impetus driving the much of the sermon.

Now, back to "preaching," which is of particular pain to most of us, and I wanted to include it for that reason in my discussion of the final excerpt, above.  For those that don't want to look it up, "pejoratively" means to use in a derogative, contemptuous, or disapproving manner, in secular, non-religious, or spiritual, terms.  In non-religious terms?  Oh,  hell no!  I sat through all those sermons in church.  They were just as lengthy and tedious, and delivered with the same great passion, by the Catholic priest, to an equally passionately disinterested audience that was more interested in stopping by the supermarket on their way home for beer and dogs to watch the Sunday football game with.  I think we can all about our dislike of being preached to.

"The best sermon is preached by the minister who has a sermon to preach and not by the man who has to preach a sermon."

-- William Feather

When I started my blog, The Path, I made it a personal goal that I would never preach.  I would say what is on my mind, my thoughts, as a way of stirring the emotions of others so they might make their own opinion and say what was on their mind and pass on their thoughts, and so on.  To me, preaching is a way of trying to convince; you are wrong and I am right; you are sinning and I am not; this is the path of Jesus and yours is, well... so very not.  

If you feel this way, I am "preaching" to the choir.

"It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher."

-- George Whitefield

A sermon is an oration delivered by a member of the clergy.  It is also meant to be a conversation, to be agreed upon or disagreed with, as you see fit.  The fact that you agree or disagree is evidence that you have thought, for yourself, about how you feel and, in doing so, formed your own opinion.  It may or may not be in concert with mine, and this is a good thing.  A conversation means that we have agreed to disagree; an exchange of creative thought, hopefully with peaceful intent, striving to reach similar goals while traveling our separate paths.

One man's opinion:

"A person's faith goes at its own pace," Owen Meany said, "the trouble with church is the service.  A service is conducted for a mass audience.  Just when I start to like the hymn, everyone plops down to pray.  Just when I start to hear the prayer, everyone pops up to sing.  And what does the stupid sermon have to do with God?  Who knows what God thinks of current events?  Who cares?"

-- John Irving

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions, and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance... he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

 Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com