Saturday, April 02, 2005
Life Changing Preaching
Adrian Warnock and I have been carrying on a conversation over the last several weeks concerning the power of preaching. To very briefly summarize the discussion so far, Adrain thinks that preaching alone is enough to produce a complete transformation in a person, I argrue that while preaching is a necessary and important component of generating such a life changing experience, it alone is not sufficient. Adrain too the last turn with this post in which he argues that preaching produced faith and faith produces transformation, using Romans 10 as back up.
Two responsive points I would like to make. The first concerns that fact that Romans 10 discusses faith as producing salvation and not transformation. In my opinion salvation happens once and transformation, or santification, is the process of a lifetime. Consider Jame 1:2-4:
Turning to my second point, Romans 10 refers to the "word of faith" producing salvation. Indeed, preaching is the proclaimation of the word that may result in faith. But, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." The Word is more than words -- The Word is flesh. Proclaimation is not enough, dwelling amonst is called for.
I think Adrian makes this very point in a post he did this week as well. The post is a testimony by Charles Spurgeon of a specific instance where he was of aid to a soul, not from the pulpit, but in the one-on-one.
The preached word is an empty thing if it is not seen in the life of he who proclaims it. Scotwise posted this week about transformation.
Again, preaching is an important and vital ministry, but God Himself chose to deal with us through more than words, he chose to create trasnformation in us by taking flesh. We minister on His model. We both proclaim, and we live. Our lives bring truth to our proclaimations.
Two responsive points I would like to make. The first concerns that fact that Romans 10 discusses faith as producing salvation and not transformation. In my opinion salvation happens once and transformation, or santification, is the process of a lifetime. Consider Jame 1:2-4:
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.The "perfect result," transformation, occurs as a result of endurance, whcih can only be accomplished over time.
Turning to my second point, Romans 10 refers to the "word of faith" producing salvation. Indeed, preaching is the proclaimation of the word that may result in faith. But, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." The Word is more than words -- The Word is flesh. Proclaimation is not enough, dwelling amonst is called for.
I think Adrian makes this very point in a post he did this week as well. The post is a testimony by Charles Spurgeon of a specific instance where he was of aid to a soul, not from the pulpit, but in the one-on-one.
The preached word is an empty thing if it is not seen in the life of he who proclaims it. Scotwise posted this week about transformation.
To understand His pleasing and perfect will we have to?The transformation involves more than hearing the word, it involves "service" and "obediance."
- Offer ourselves as living sacrifices = SERVICE
- Be Holy = SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD SYSTEM
- Pleasing = OBEDIENCE
- Worship = ADORATION
When these qualities are transformed in our minds, then the will of God takes priority in our lives, and The Christian's Supreme Assignment turns into reality ? that no one should perish but have eternal life!
Again, preaching is an important and vital ministry, but God Himself chose to deal with us through more than words, he chose to create trasnformation in us by taking flesh. We minister on His model. We both proclaim, and we live. Our lives bring truth to our proclaimations.
