Preaching and Preachers

CHAPTER EIGHTThe Character of theMessageTHIS MATTER OF the relationship of the pew to the pulpit, or thelistenerto the preacher,is of the greatestpossible importance. Havinglookedat the teachingof the Apostle in 1 Corinthians9 in its bearingon this, let me draw certain conclusions.I wouldlayit downas beingaxiomatic that the pewis never to dictateto, or control, the pulpit. This needs to be emphasised at thepresent time.But having said that I would emphasise equally that the preachernevertheless has to assess the condition of those in the pew and tobear that in mind in the preparation and delivery of his message.NoticehowI put it. Itis not that the listeneris to control,but that thepreacheris to assess the conditionand the positionof the listener.Letme give my scriptural warrant for making this assertion. There areseveral, so I pickout someofthe moreobvious ones.Take for instancewhat the ApostlePaul saysin 1 Corinthians3 at the beginning: 'AndI, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as untocarnal,evenasunto babesin Christ. I havefed youwithmilk, and notwith meat: for hitherto yewerenot ableto bear it, neither yet nowareye able. For ye are yet carnal •• .' Obviously he is sayingthere thatwhat he did wasinfluenced by the conditionof the peoplein Corinth.It wasnot that they weredictatingto him; it wasthat he wasmaking143