There is a great new book by Alister Begg called Preaching for God’s glory. It is a great book specifically written to preachers, and Begg accurately identifies some of the popular traps in which preachers can find themselves. He identifies seven caricatures:
The Cheerleader
This is typically a well meaning preacher who enjoys being liked and accepted. Typically, irregardless of the context of the sermon, this preacher will be positive and inspirational, and you will leave affirmed, self-assured, “pumped-up”, and inspired.
The Conjurer
This is the preacher who introduces “new” meanings out of texts rather than doing the hard work of study to discover the actual meaning. You will leave this sermon saying something such as, “Wow… How did he get that from this text?”
The Story Teller
This preacher will focus his efforts on the art of story-telling. He will engage his listeners and will take them on a beautiful journey through his well told story. Often though, this will be at the expense of biblical exposition. You will leave this sermon with great stories, but often you will be unable to explain how these stories relate to the truth about God or His word.
The Entertainer
This preacher creates the environment in which people come to sit, relax, and to assess the performance of the performer communicating the message. You will leave this sermon entertained and able to critique the strengths and weaknesses of the performance.
The Systematizer
This preacher seizes every sermon as an opportunity to communicate his favorite doctrinal position. Whether it be the “end-times,” calvinism, or missiology, this preacher will find a way to work elements of his favorite doctrine into every text that he preaches. You will leave this sermon either strengthened in a particular doctrine to which you hold, to alienated by a particular doctrine to which you do not hold.
The Psychologist
This preacher has become a pseudo-psychologist as he seeks to provide helpful insights for living in each message that he preaches. He will preach tips for dating, principles for parenting, top challenges for working moms, etc. You will leave this sermon with practical tips for your life, but often without an understanding of the text from which those tips were drawn.
The Naked Preacher
This preacher is the “bare it all” preacher. Each week, this preacher will use the pulpit as his opportunity to show his authenticity by bearing his soul and sharing his faults. You will leave this sermon understanding the pastor more, perhaps even trusting the pastor more, but often you will leave with a greater understanding of the pastor’s story than the gospel story.
To find out more information about this book, or to order this book, click here.
There are probably more that could be added to this list, but each of these caricatures share a commonality; each miss the primary calling of the preacher to shepherd God’s people by exposing and proclaiming God’s word.
As I was reading this book, I began to wonder about the implications of these tendencies for the church. In other words, if the pastor falls into any of these traps, what does that make the church?
What is the Pastor Doing to You?
If the Cheerleader, then Shallow.
Hype and excitement will inevitably fade, and when it does, what will be left? For the cheerleader’s congregation, often what is left is shallow and unable to stand through the trials and struggles in life.
If the Conjurer, then Reliant.
The conjure’s congregation will be left relying on the preacher for the next conjured meaning from the Bible. There is a sense in which they feel unable to “get out” of the Scripture what they see the conjurer “getting out” of the Scripture, and can become reliant on him for the next nugget of truth.
If the Story Teller, then Entertained.
A good story is incredible! There is nothing more engaging than a good story. However, when these stories are not connected to the truth about our God and about his gospel, the Story Teller’s congregation will simply be left with entertainment.
If the Entertainer, then Critics.
The performer is always going to face the critics. The entertainer will always face evaluation. For an entertainer’s congregation, this responsibility often falls on the congregation. They will often find themselves observing the show, and detached from the message.
If the Systematizer, then Indoctrinated.
The systematizer’s congregation tends to be homogenous. The systematizer’s doctrinal positions have been so articulated so often, that the congregation is left in complete doctrinal agreement while those who disagree leave. This leaves the systematizer’s congregation indoctrinated to certain doctrinal positions, who will often be more passionate about the certain doctrinal positions than the foundational elements of the gospel.
If the Psychologist, then Malnourished.
Everyone can benefit from practical tips and insights into areas of our lives. However, a steady diet of tips, strategies, and life-insights will often leave a church malnourished of Biblical truth. The word of God is certainly applicable, but the word of God is not primarily for us to live our best lives today. Instead, the word of God is primarily written to tell us about our God, who He is, and what He has done through His Son, Jesus Christ.
If the Naked Pastor, then Voyeurs.
Authenticity is a positive characteristic for a pastor to possess. However, over time, the Naked Pastor’s congregation can begin to feel as though they are voyeurs into the life of their pastor and his family. Authenticity becomes a distraction as it places the pastor as the center of attention.
The preaching and proclaiming of God’s word is critically important. Next week, we will look at some of the effects of another caricature that I will call, “The Shepherd-Expositor.”