Preacher's Magazine Volume 56 Number 04 Wesley Tracy (Editor) Olivet Nazarene University
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Olivet Nazarene University Digital Commons @ Olivet Preacher's Magazine Church of the Nazarene 6-1-1981 Preacher's Magazine Volume 56 Number 04 Wesley Tracy (Editor) Olivet Nazarene University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_pm Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, International and Intercultural Communication Commons, Liturgy and Worship Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, and the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Tracy, Wesley (Editor), "Preacher's Magazine Volume 56 Number 04" (1981). Preacher's Magazine. 585. https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_pm/585 This Journal Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Church of the Nazarene at Digital Commons @ Olivet. It has been accepted for inclusion in Preacher's Magazine by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Olivet. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MAGAZINE "How doth the city sit solitary . All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul... Is it nothing to you, all Ve that pass by?" _ Lamentatl0ns 1:1i11.c THE JONAH SYNDROME MINISTERIAL SUCCESS IN THE CITY 14 WHY WE STAYED IN THE CITY 21 THE MULTIRACIAL CHURCH 24 A GOSPEL TO BE PROUD OF 33 MUSIC AND THE WORSHIP OF GOD 50 suitable Framing I asked God for strength that I might achieve, I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health, that I might do greater things, I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy, I was given poverty, that i might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men, I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life, I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for— but everything I had hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men, most richly blessed. by an unknown soldier r - Q E lit r iiil by Wesley Tracy Praise Junkies o question about it: praise . “While I was chatting with room as he lectured. The stu feels good. Small doses giv Billy Graham . “When Pro dents agreed that when he spoke Nen in a supportive environmentfessor Sagacious of Prestigious from the corner of the room, just do no real harm and may even U. asked my advice . Thus to the left of the chalkboard, they help a little. But praise is an ad they boldly demand nosegays of would listen with eager-eyed ad dictive substance and there is a praise-plaudits. miration. Whatever he said from fine line between casual use and Another type of praise junkie any other place in the room was addictive abuse. People addicted tends to go overboard repeating met with disdain and yawns. Soon to praise may find themselves whatever brought praise in the they manipulated him into that doing only those things guaran first place. Compliment him on a corner left of the chalkboard and teed to bring them more of the creative Communion service and from there he lectured the rest of stuff they crave. the next one will be a genuine the term. The thoughts of the preceding extravaganza complete with re Church members, once they paragraph come from Dr. Rick corded poetry and a spotlight on make a praise junkie out of the C u rw in ( Instructor, O c to b e r, an empty chair. clergybird, can control him. They 1980). He wrote about elementary The praise addict is, tragically, may change their minds about school students. But what about so busy pleasing potential prais- liking him and six months before us preachers? Since the advent ers that he (or she) may never recall vote cut off the supply of of “sloppy-agape” and “warm discover his own unique abilities. the praise drug. No matter how fuzzies,” isn’t it easy to become If he does bum p into his own avidly the preacher plays praise- addicted to ego-cuddling praise? gifts he won’t linger there long un getting checkers, the rewards are Then the preacher spends his less observers cheer like he has withheld and he’s sweating it out prime time as a peony plucker scored a touchdown in the Super “cold turkey.” First, he becomes strolling through the congrega Bowl. mousily malcontent. Then he be tion plucking praise blossoms. gins to appear at board meetings When that happens, we have in The more praise the hooked looking like a dilatory bill payer the pulpit a genuine praise junkie. preacher gets the more he needs. having his credit checked. By re Praise junkies come in several Soon it’s not enough for the wife call Sunday, he is preaching as varieties. One sort is always put and the parishioners to pay him gingerly as John Updike’s “ kudu ting himself down, in order to get praise homage. He now has to dipping his muzzle at the edge of a parishioner or wife to build him have the hierarchy praise him. a hyena-haunted waterhole.” Anything he does that is at all back up. He says things like, “I Praise can be positive and think there was something worth noteworthy, the beleaguered dis trict and general superintendents healthful. The danger is that while in my sermon, I just wish I praise can become for us what had been able to bring it out in a hear about at least three times. The praise junkie keeps on until coconut cream pie is to the “food- meaningful way.” “Oh, pastor, it aholic.” was great as it was,” the dutiful rebuffed or until he pries out a parishioner chirps. “A real two- pellet of praise. Even then he will If you find yourself prying eyed whooper of a sermon” the be back, because for this addict praises, counting compliments, manipulated mate adds. And our the need for praise increases with or hovering around the church preacher hooked on praise is on each dose. door hoping for plaudits for your homilies, you may be hooked. So another high. All praise addicts are vulner Some praise addicts brag all able to manipulation. Years ago a kick the habit. We are called to preach, not to be praised—or the time. They introduce sermons university class manipulated a even appreciated. with statements like, “When I was professor into a corner. The asked to give the benediction at teacher in question habitually P. S. If you like this editorial, the White House prayer breakfast roamed about the front of the please write and tell me. ^ 1 THE ARK ROCKER BARELY ALIVE! The alley is narrow and filled with trash. The and the lives of people “barely alive.” While these buildings lean forward under their own weight, words describe the quality of life in our alley, they blocking the sun. The seasons never change in the also mysteriously point to the fulfillment of Christian alley. It is always dark like a tunnel; and, if you stand hope. For in conditions not unlike these, the Hope at one end to see where it leads, the alley just goes of the World was born, clinging to His mother’s on forever. arms, “barely alive.” Children from our church live in the buildings on The stories of Christ’s birth in the Gospels sug the alley; so do I. I like to watch them play. They gest that we ought to regard marginal living situa play like children everywhere, except they have to tions like stables and alleys more highly. For mar dodge the trash, the bottles, and the bums. They ginal living situations can become the birthplace of make up games that can only be played in an alley. truth, the truth about ourselves and the truth about Most games involve contact, generating hostility our society. rather than enjoyment, because you can’t run full- More than one life has been changed simply by steam in an alley without running into somebody walking down an alley like ours and wondering how and getting knocked down. a place like this can exist in a rich, Christian nation “They grow up too fast here,” one of the mothers like America. In moments of reflection in places like told me. “They run the alley; they see what’s wrong. these, truth is born—truth that can set us free. The They see too much, too early. They become adults truth of Christianity has always had humble begin before they were ever children; and they end up like nings. It is frequently in the possession of those me, feeling barely alive.” “barely alive” and can be found in places where “we Sunday is a joyful time for me as I walk the alley. would not be caught dead.” For worshipping together reminds me that we, as Can you hear the Savior calling you to walk for the church, are one community. We are called, gotten alleys and pray for those children “barely especially, to celebrate the hopes and the dreams alive” ? Translations of the Bible used by permission in this issue are noted as follows: 1. Quotations cited NIV are from The Holy Bible, New International Version, © 1978, by the New York International Bible Society. 2. Quotations cited NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, © The Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975. 3. Quotations cited NEB are from the New English Bible, © The Delegates of the Oxford University Press and The Syndics of the Cambridge University Press, 1961, 1970.