by Fanning Yater Tant<\/p>\n
For several years there has been a discussion within the brotherhood as to the relative merits of “hard” preaching in comparison with “persuasive” preaching. By this latter is meant the type of preaching that never refers to a denominational church by name, uses the Dale Carnegie “method of approach” psychology, seeks never to shock or offend anybody, and in general tries to “love” sectarians into Christ rather than to teach them by a stern contrast of truth and error.<\/p>\n
Lately, there has grown up a rather definite school of thought in certain sections that a “new era” is dawning among the churches of Christ. In this new and enlightened age, the emphasis is to be put on worship, work, love, and fellowship. The old “doctrinal” emphasis, it is felt, was all wrong. We must seek a new way of winning people to the Lord. Men who emphasize the old “doctrinal” teaching must give way to men who preach “love” and “fellowship.”<\/p>\n
Well, we’ve had occasion recently to see some “hard” preaching results close at hand. Down in Lufkin, Texas, the church of Christ has had a daily radio program for many months. The radio stations there (two of them) have put no restrictions on brethren. In the matter of calling names of denominational churches and preachers, Roy Cogdill, William Thompson, Jr., and Luther B Lackmon have not been at all hesitant. They have read from Baptist manuals, Methodist disciplines, and Catholic catechisms over these stations, telling the people exactly who it was in Lufkin that taught such doctrines. They have referred to these denominational churches by name, and have read the Bible in direct contradiction to the teachings of these churches. Now that is about as “hard” preaching as even the “hardest” among us have ever desired or attempted. So we were grateful to have a chance to weigh the results.<\/p>\n
We found the town of Lufkin in a seething ferment because of such preaching. Men on the street corners were discussing the matter; denominational preachers were preaching about it in their pulpits; the Assembly of God pastor, after consultation with other sectarian preachers in town, went on the air over both stations to try to prove that “the so-called church of Christ was started by Alexander Campbell after he had been withdrawn from by the Baptists.” He warned\u00a0all the denominational people to stay away from the services of the church of Christ, and to ask their own pastors rather than those “hard” preachers any questions they might have in mind as a result of the sermons of “these Campbellites.”<\/p>\n
In about one year’s time, something like a hundred people from denominational churches have become obedient to the gospel of Christ. The Lufkin church has held eight gospel meetings within the town and its immediate environs within that year, most of them being conducted by the local preachers. These people who have been baptized into Christ are taught; they have not “cast their lot with the church of Christ” because they were friendly with the local preacher, nor because they enjoyed the “fellowship” of members of the church. They are Christians because of a deep and overwhelming conviction of the truth as it is taught in the New Testament.<\/p>\n
We merely cite this as a case in point. We believe there is ample evidence from all over the world to show that preaching that is truly effective is “doctrinal” always, all ways, and forever!<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Fanning Yater Tant For several years there has been a discussion within the brotherhood as to the relative merits of “hard” preaching in comparison with “persuasive” preaching. By this latter is meant the type of preaching that never refers to a denominational church by name, uses the Dale Carnegie “method of approach” psychology, seeks…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[536],"class_list":["post-55898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-preaching"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20246,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/hard-preaching\/","url_meta":{"origin":55898,"position":0},"title":"Hard Preaching","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 21, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Guy F. Hester Recently someone told me that I am a hard preacher. This could be either good or bad, depending on what is meant by hard preaching. In the context of the conversation, I took it as a compliment to my firm stance for my convictions. Many people\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/hammer-and-rock-300x300.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":48010,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/context-and-exposition\/","url_meta":{"origin":55898,"position":1},"title":"Context and Exposition","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"by Gary P. Eubanks The burden of these remarks consists of three points: The value of (immediate) context for Bible interpretation has been overrated. This exaggerated conception of the importance of context has, in turn, been used to justify an over-emphasis on expository preaching. The over-use of expository preaching holds\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20232,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-can-be-done-about-a-preacher-who-puts-more-effort-into-delivery-than-into-content\/","url_meta":{"origin":55898,"position":2},"title":"What can be done about a preacher who puts more effort into delivery than into content?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 22, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I\u00a0worship at a\u00a0church of Christ\u00a0and have a concern about the preaching there. The sermons are really for show rather than substance. The preacher seems very pleased with his oratory style raising and lowering his voice and parading up and down in front of the congregation. I have mentioned this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":50609,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/painless-pointless-profitless-preaching\/","url_meta":{"origin":55898,"position":3},"title":"Painless, Pointless, Profitless Preaching","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. Guardian of Truth, October 19, 1995 The doctor, looking at the routine test results, announces to the patient, \"Hey, man, give me five. Have I got good news for you? Your blood pleasure is super. Your pulse rate is fantastic. And, man, what a fabulous\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55437,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-we-have-too-much-positive-preaching\/","url_meta":{"origin":55898,"position":4},"title":"Can We Have Too Much “Positive” Preaching?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 4, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"by Greg Gwin We readily acknowledge the importance of positive preaching. Brethren need the \"comfort of the Scriptures\" (Romans 15:4). Paul sent Tychicus to the Ephesians so that he could \"comfort your hearts.\" Timothy was dispatched to Philippi (Philippians 2:9) and Thessalonica (I Thessalonians 3:2) in order to comfort the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54067,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/excellent-job-in-preaching-the-truth-in-love\/","url_meta":{"origin":55898,"position":5},"title":"Excellent job in preaching the truth in love","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Greetings brother in Christ! Just wanted to let you know I stumbled upon your site while doing some Bible research. I appreciate your Q&A section and articles. Excellent job in preaching the truth in love. Answer: Thank you for the encouragement.","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55898","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55898"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55898\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}