Theatrical Teachers
If there ever was an attribute to sum up sinful, fallen humanity, it would certainly have to be our constant drift toward “extremes.” Turn on the television — whether it’s political analysis, sports, or comedy, our hearts can hardly keep from leaping out of our chests. All too quickly, idols of adoration are raised in the name of economic stewardship, athletic achievement, or artistic expression.
I fear the same idolatrous tendencies can often be found among the Bride of Christ on The Lord’s Day.
As congregants, we expect dynamic, orthodox oratory to emanate from the pulpit while demanding humor and lightheartedness. Our Sunday service rises or falls on the preacher’s sermon delivery. Often, this forces those whom God has placed as shepherds over our souls to choose one of two extremes: teachers of the Word of God feel pressured to conform to the cookie cutter form of stale professor or mere entertainer.
Much like the church of Corinth, the 21st century Church has placed its teachers on a pedestal that was never ordained by God.
Just as Paul knows how healthy the Corinthian church once was, like any good shepherd, he knows the pits of sin his sheep are likely to fall into. In Greece, this was the idolatry of public speakers. Paul rebukes the church for this.
As for many of Paul’s epistles to the early churches, their context can be found in the book of Acts. There we learn Paul “stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among [Corinth]” (Acts 18:11). 1 Corinthians is not a letter to a people that Paul hardly knows. On the contrary, Paul is constantly pointing the Corinthians back to the year and a half that he pastored them.
“For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Cephas,’ or ‘I follow Christ’” — 1 Corinthians 1:11–12.
God’s design for His people’s gathering on The Lord’s Day has never been centered on the personality of the preacher. Instead, Paul gives specific guidance to the Corinthians on how their hearts ought to be positioned.
By examining Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2, we understand that God’s design is for theatrical teachers who stay on script and never steal the spotlight.
How could this possibly be the case? It seems as though every other worldview celebrates its respective apologists. Could it not be that preachers being exalted during church gatherings is just a picture of Christ and His Word? Though this coincides with many of our experiences in church, Paul is clear that the message of the preacher has never been designed to tickle the ears of man.
Paul even describes the Gospel as “folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” — 1 Corinthians 1:18.
The turning point in Paul’s directions to the Corinthians comes after this statement. He knew the inclination of their hearts as well as ours. We think that if the Gospel is foolishness to sinners, our responsibility must be to use our gifts, talents, and abilities to make the message of the cross more palatable. Though, when we look at the Apostle Paul’s example, we see the opposite.
“I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom” — 1 Corinthians 2:1.
Paul came proclaiming the testimony of God that had been given to him. He did not use the Word as a crutch for his agenda. He stayed on script.
If we are all honest, one question is ringing in our minds and souls, “Why?”
“[S]o that no human being might boast in the presence of God” — 1 Corinthians 1:29.
This is the glory of preaching verse by verse. It rightfully places the Word of God in the spotlight.
As our presuppositions of “what preaching is” crumble, we grasp onto God’s will for our churches. We are also able to experience God’s blessing for obeying His Word — greater fellowship with Him. After all, this ought to be the aim of all that we do.
The master, theatrical teacher recognizes his calling. He has no story to write — it has been written. The ultimate battle is not his to fight — it is finished. Rather, he is to place both himself and his sheep at the foot of the cross, proclaiming the truths of God from His Word. In this infinitely deep ocean, Christ will be exalted and dead souls will be awakened. As Charles Spurgeon says,
“[I]f your object as a teacher or preacher is to glorify Christ, and to lead men to love him and trust him, why, that is the very work upon which the heart of God himself is set. The Lord and you are pulling together.”
Rather than thorough lectures or smoke and lights, let us desire Godly men to proclaim the glories of Christ.
Christians, it is far too easy to place this conviction upon the shoulders of our theological institutions and denominations. In fact, one can argue that this is the current state of the church in the West, and it has resulted in us completely missing the heart of the issue. Remember: we caused this dilemma. Our short-sighted demands and expectations of Sunday services have elevated the preacher to an unworthy place.
The solution to our problem must begin in the pews.
As with every other burden in our lives, this change is going to begin with us on our knees, pleading with God, that He, through His Holy Spirit, would reveal the idols of our hearts. Similarly, we cannot view the passages of the New Testament on church structure and pastoral duties as “irrelevant” to the layman. Instead, we must submit to Christ’s sovereign rule over both our personal lives and the lives of our local churches. Lastly, we must call out from among our congregations overseers and teachers that unashamedly teach the Word of God and never seek the spotlight.
Christian, see to it that it is with this expectation and this one alone that you sit in your church pews this coming Sunday.
To God be the glory!
Special thanks to my professor, Dr. Jim Shaddix, for his lectures on this passage of scripture and how the Lord used it to awaken myself and my peers to the need for expositional, Christ-centered preaching.
