Preaching and Preachers

What to AfJoidare such people. There is definitely a place for polemics; all I am sayingis that there must not be too much. There will be a certain numberof people in the congregation who are much too interested in polemics,and it is very bad for them if there is too much in the sermon. Theyare the people who will gladly travel miles in order to hear a slashingattack on a man or on a theory. As you may know, preachers who arealways polemical generally get a good hearing-and generally a goodcollection also. But this is a real snare.I am very concerned about this because I have seen good men andgreat preachers ruined in this way, and I have seen good ministriesruined also. I once had a discussion with one such preacher whosename I am not going to mention. He was one of the very greatest ofthese polemical preachers. I had the privilege of spending a day withhim many years ago; and during our conversation we got on to thistheme. This happened as the result of his asking me the question, 'Doyou read Joseph Parker?' Parker was the famous minister of the CityTemple in London until about 1901. He published great volumes ofsermons called The People's Bible. I was asked, 'Do you read JosephParked' I replied, 'No, I read very little of Joseph Parker.' He wasamazed at this, and went on, 'Oh, I read Joseph Parker every Sundaymorning. I always read Joseph Parker before I go to church onSunday morning; he puts me right, you know. Old Parker,' he said,'was wonderful. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy watching Parkermaking mincemeat of those modernists and liberals of his age.' Thatgave me my opportunity and I said, 'Well I must confess that thatdoes not appeal to me. What exactly did Joseph Parker achieve afterhe had "made mincemeat" of those people?'That set us off, and we had a great discussion which went on for thewhole day. I only remember three points in the discussion, and Ireport them because I trust they will be of some help. I was suggestingto this truly great preacher, who was known throughout the Christianworld, that he was ruining his great ministry with these tiradesevery Sunday night in particular, either against some erroneousliberal Protestant teaching or Roman Catholicism, and even at times259