I am a life-long Pentecostal, so my criticisms of Pentecostalism are born of Pentecostal zeal. I am not committed to Pentecostal culture; rather I am passionately devoted to the Pentecostal message that God the Father has sent the Son and Spirit to gather humanity in a divine embrace. So, allow me to offer a critique of an element of Pentecostal culture that may lead to Pentecostalism’s irrelevance in coming decades – Pentecostal preaching.
As a child reared in Pentecostal church, I knew that preaching was a serious task. People needed to be saved, sanctified, and filled with the Spirit. Preaching had a strong eschatological flavor – Jesus was coming soon! Because preaching was a serious task, preachers were serious about the study of Scripture. Although most Pentecostal preachers lacked formal education, many of them were self-educated and well read. They preached informed and inspired messages with such passion that hearers, under conviction, filled the altars with tears of repentance seeking the cure for their souls. I know this description doesn’t apply to all preachers, but it does apply to the leaders, and it was my experience. In fact, it was this serious devotion to the Word of God that inspired me to be a serious student through the years.
However, much of Pentecostal preaching is no longer serious, no longer inspired or informed. It seems to me that Pentecostal preachers are as enthusiastic as ever, but their content is empty. I faithfully attend many Pentecostal events – camp meetings & conferences – only to be regularly disappointed. When God’s people gather together, they don’t need to hear pop-psychology, self-help lectures, enthusiastic exhortations, or even dubious scholarship. They need to dine on the bread of life. They need the milk and meat of the Word.
Why the change in Pentecostal preaching? Maybe it’s because preachers have become too conscious of the desires of their audience. Maybe it’s because that the preacher’s goal is no longer the sanctification of God’s people, but affirmation from the audience. Instead of preaching to train in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16), many Pentecostal preachers have become expert ear ticklers trading the prophetic mantle for the accolades of the entertainer, or the votes of the politician. Paul warned, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires…” (2 Timothy 4:3).
Let me offer an example. A common slogan I hear is “We don’t need theology, we need kneeology.” Sure we need prayerful preachers, but don’t we also need studious and informed preachers? I once heard a Pentecostal preacher remark, after reading his text, “Well I don’t know what those educated theologians would say…” The problem is that the speaker is an educated scholar with masters degree, and a denominational leader. He was simply playing the crowd and they loved it. So, he succeeded in being entertaining and provoking affirmation from his audience; but did he succeed in training in righteousness? What about his negative affect? Did he discourage young men and women from pursuing serious study of the Word? Do we really want a generation of preachers who are biblically and theologically illiterate?
The greatest Pentecostal preachers are serious exegetes, excellent expositors, and profound theologians. They preach with a prophetic zeal: “Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it” (Jeremiah 20:9). These preachers understand that they preach to an audience of one. Their priority is to be faithful to God. They are willing to sacrifice popularity for the sake of veracity. They understand the solemnity of their charge. James wrote, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment” (3:1). Paul charged Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter…” (2 Timothy 2:15-16). He continued, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Tim 3:16-4:2).
The call to preach is a solemn charge because sinners need to be saved, believers need to be instructed in sound doctrine and godly living, marriages need to be restored, young adults need encouragement in sanctifying their bodies (sexual morality), and all believers need to be equipped for the mission of God. The call to preach is a solemn charge because Jesus is coming to judge the living and the dead, and he will begin with preachers and teachers (Matthew 7:15-23).
This blog is dedicated to my great uncle, the Reverend Earl Paulk, Sr. Uncle Earl was a pioneer Pentecostal preacher. His formal education was limited to grade school, but he dedicated himself to the study of God’s Word and became known as “The Walking Bible” because he had memorized so much of the sacred text. As a denominational leader he was often called upon to preach, or write, on topics of doctrinal importance. When I was a young man answering the call to ministry he encouraged me, saying, “Son, get your education. I want you to have the same degrees as the Baptist and Methodist preachers and still be a Pentecostal.”
