Topic: The "Call" to preach? (Read 1421 times)

blyempowered · « **on:** June 10, 2011, 08:37:25 PM »

As everyone knows, in the book club we're reading "Pagan Christianity" that is basically questioning about 90% of what many of us were raised in church doing. One particular chapter was on the sermon. One of the basic arguments they make is that the contemporary sermon (basically one person speaking/monologuing) is not the scriptural way of preaching/teaching. The argument (and they make a very good one in my opinion) they make is that it was never intended to be "certain" people being able to preach/teach. It was intended for everyone to participate, bring a teaching, something from the Word, etc.

So here's my thing: As of now I still believe in preaching, or to a certain extent the way we share the Word via the sermon, yet, to a small extent (I keep adding this fillers because I'm torn on a lot of these things) I'm beginning to question the idea of people being "called" to preach. Here's my case:

It seems to me (especially in the black tradition) like there's nothing "special" that distinguishes one who is called to preach and one who is not. Well, let me take that back: in the black tradition it seems like people measure someone's "calling" by how well they sound (style) vs what they are saying (substance). I guarantee you that if I put up 15 sermons from our tradition about 14 of them would basically be the same, having the same beginning, maybe a diverse middle, and an end with whooping, cliche's, etc. I'm not saying that is wrong, but just saying for the sake of my argument.

So here are my questions:

1. Do you believe that "everyone" should be able to bring something from the Word for a church service or even a bible study, etc? Would you support your pastor having a Sunday or two where everyone is able to talk about something from the Bible to share with everyone?

2. Do you believe the New Testament supports the idea of how we do the sermon? Do you believe the New Testament supports the idea of everyone participating in bringing the Word?

3. Do you believe that "certain" ones are "called" to preach the Word? What does it mean to be "called" to preach?

blyempowered · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2011, 08:39:36 PM »

4. Do you believe the "call" to preach is more about a passion or desire to preach than God basically saying "I want you to preach?"

LaylaMonroe · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2011, 08:56:13 PM »

1. Sermons - the sermons we hear today don't even closely resemble the ones Jesus and the apostles gave in the gospels and the book of Acts.

- I think that knowing the origin of sermons as we know them today, learning about how they were introduced into Christianity and finding out that the "art" of preaching has pagan roots would change just about anybody's opinion.

2. The "call" to preach. I'm still trying to figure out why I've (we've) been considering it such. I think before you even answer that question, you have to first determin what preaching is, what it means to be called, and how one who is called is distinguished from one who is not.

Lastly, I think a lot of this "call to preach" business arose from the introduction of classism to Christianity. I'd be willing to bet that half or more of the people who say they are "called" just want the benefits, attention, status, etc. that they assume comes with a status.

LaylaMonroe · « **Reply #3 on:** June 10, 2011, 09:00:12 PM »

I just realized I numbered my answer but they don't correspond with yours. I'll go back and add on...

#1. I believe worship gatherings should be done exactly as they were in the first church, which is the only blueprint we have with Jesus' signature on it. Any other type of service should be extra.

2. No

3. See my previous answer

4. Pretty much yes.

blyempowered · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2011, 09:09:23 PM »

The closest thing I've seen on Sunday morning to everyone participating was at this church that I use to visit on 5th Sundays before getting committed to my home church full time. On 5th Sundays, the pastor would allow anyone to bring a Word. One particular one (who is the son of the pastor and the pastor is in his 70s) is a "Minister" now. I loved that and me and dad participated as well. When that first happened I was like "whoa"....LOL! Why? Because I'm not used to that but it was good and it would be nice to see more churches do this, but I guess for some testimony service is enough because some folk be preaching in testimony service....haha!

Btw we would get out of church late but it was good just hearing the Word from people who usually may not speak.

blyempowered · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:39:34 PM »

Bump

I know LL and Jonathan have gave their opinion in the book club thread, but I'd like to hear their responses to the questions in this thread and I also want to hear from U13!

And any one else, but those are the ones I was thinking about as I originally created this thread.

chevonee · « **Reply #6 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:44:53 PM »

I've been reading that thread in the Book Club thread A LOT and I'm confused about everything that I've grown up on right now. $:-\$ Things are so confusing to me right now that I don't know what in the world to think as far as the church and its practices. All I know fuh sho iz, I'm saved.

I've been doing quite a bit of soul searching because of the situation I'm in with my church.....because being "called to preach" at my church means you have to pay for your licence every year...forget about whether that person is living right or not......that's all I can say for now.

blyempowered · « **Reply #7 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:56:10 PM »

Quote from: chevonee on June 12, 2011, 05:44:53 PM

I've been reading that thread in the Book Club thread A LOT and I'm confused about everything that I've grown up on right now. $:-\$ Things are so confusing to me right now that I don't know what in the world to think as far as the church and its practices. All I know fuh sho iz, I'm saved.

I've been doing quite a bit of soul searching because of the situation I'm in with my church.....because being "called to preach" at my church means you have to pay for your licence every year...forget about whether that person is living right or not......that's all I can say for now.

That's interesting about paying for the license. Yes I also feel you when it comes to the confusion. Even though some of these things I've been wondering about for years, it is still confusing looking at what most of us in the black church have been raised under and to hear that we may have been doing it wrong the entire time is like......WHOA!

But the struggle is that part of me still goes back to "personal preference" and "it doesn't matter as long as souls are saved and the practices are not against the principles of Jesus" mindset. So idk.

chevonee · « **Reply #8 on:** June 12, 2011, 06:02:04 PM »

Quote from: blyempowered on June 12, 2011, 05:56:10 PM

That's interesting about paying for the license. Yes I also feel you when it comes to the confusion. Even though some of these things I've been wondering about for years, it is still confusing looking at what most of us in the black church have been raised under and to hear that we may have been doing it wrong the entire time is like......WHOA!

But the struggle is that part of me still goes back to "personal preference" and "it doesn't matter as long as souls are saved and the practices are not against the principles of Jesus" mindset. So idk.

I agree! Isn't that the whole purpose of the church....to make sure that souls are saved, set free, and delivuhed? If that's not what we're doing then what in da wull iz we doin!?!?!?! So much of what's happening has absolutely NOTHING to do with God...it's all cosmetic. But I'm afraid that all of the cosmetology (made up word) is masking the main thing and that's the power of the Holy Ghost which produces genuine change in people's lives. *shrug*

Hasmonean1 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:16:43 PM »

Interesting stuff going on in the book club. I'm gonna have to stick my head in there.

blyempowered · « **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:25:57 PM »

Quote from: Hasmonean1 on June 12, 2011, 07:16:43 PM

Interesting stuff going on in the book club. I'm gonna have to stick my head in there.

Umm....VERY interesting stuff!

chevonee · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2011, 08:46:50 PM »

I keep forgetting to get the book. I got a lot going on right now but hopefully things will slow down in time enough for me to catch up. $:-\$

MicrophoneCheck · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2011, 10:22:58 AM »

At a very young age, I heard the Lord tell me audibly, "Preach my gospel." Therefore, I know He called me. Who in their right mind would volunteer for this?

blyempowered · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2011, 10:32:56 AM »

Quote from: MicrophoneCheck on June 13, 2011, 10:22:58 AM

At a very young age, I heard the Lord tell me audibly, "Preach my gospel." Therefore, I know He called me. Who in their right mind would volunteer for this?

Do you believe that certain people are called to preach?

MicrophoneCheck · « **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2011, 10:34:15 AM »

Quote from: blyempowered on June 13, 2011, 10:32:56 AM

Do you believe that certain people are called to preach?

Generally speaking, we all are. However I specifically heard a call to an area of ministry- Preaching, Evangelism, Prophetic, and then Apostolic...the call expanded through the years.

rayjohnson83 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 13, 2011, 10:37:47 AM »

I might have to join the book club....even though I DO NOT like reading...lol

blyempowered · « **Reply #16 on:** June 13, 2011, 10:38:16 AM »

Quote from: MicrophoneCheck on June 13, 2011, 10:34:15 AM

Generally speaking, we all are. However I specifically heard a call to an area of ministry- Preaching, Evangelism, Prophetic, and then Apostolic...the call expanded through the years.

See this is what I"m trying to get to the bottom of. It's like we've argued in church for years that only "certain" people are called to preach. Here's my thing: you look at a lot of what is "preaching" as we've defined it today and it looks similar. What determines if someone is "called" to preach or not? That's what I"m confused about.

MicrophoneCheck · « **Reply #17 on:** June 13, 2011, 10:41:06 AM »

Quote from: blyempowered on June 13, 2011, 10:38:16 AM

See this is what I"m trying to get to the bottom of. It's like we've argued in church for years that only "certain" people are called to preach. Here's my thing: you look at a lot of what is "preaching" as we've defined it today and it looks similar. What determines if someone is "called" to preach or not? That's what I"m confused about.

IMO- its not an issue IF we are all called because we are (see the Great Commission- Matthew 28:16-20). Its WHAT AREA are you called to operate in. It's not the same for everyone. When you are saved you have "a ministry" but you should look at the areas you are gifted in to point to what you are called to do in the body.

blyempowered · « **Reply #18 on:** June 13, 2011, 10:44:16 AM »

Quote from: MicrophoneCheck on June 13, 2011, 10:41:06 AM

IMO- its not an issue IF we are all called because we are (see the Great Commission- Matthew 28:16-20). Its WHAT AREA are you called to operate in. It's not the same for everyone. When you are saved you have "a ministry" but you should look at the areas you are gifted in to point to what you are called to do in the body.

I like that.

So how would you explain this phenomenon of so many believing they are "called" to preach? I mean we don't want to judge but it just seems like many are wanting to preach to be in the "status" of church leadership versus being in it for the right reasons.

blyempowered · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2011, 10:47:32 AM »

Quote from: rayjohnson83 on June 13, 2011, 10:37:47 AM

I might have to join the book club....even though I DO NOT like reading...lol

*singing with the Georgia Mass Choir*

Come on....in the room!

Author Topic: The "Call" to preach? (Read 1421 times)

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