Copyright © 2019 Anthony Tyshawn Gardner All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. AN ANALYSIS OF PROPHETIC RADICALISM IN THE SOCIAL CRISIS PREACHING OF KELLY MILLER SMITH, SR. __________________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________________ by Anthony Tyshawn Gardner December 2019 APPROVAL SHEET AN ANALYSIS OF PROPHETIC RADICALISM IN THE SOCIAL CRISIS PREACHING OF KELLY MILLER SMITH, SR. Anthony Tyshawn Gardner Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ Hershael W. York (Chair) __________________________________________ Robert A. Vogel __________________________________________ Michael E. Pohlman Date ______________________________ To and with, Shonetay: For your unselfish sacrifices, unfailing support, and comforting companionship this whole journey. “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all” (Prov 31:29). To all of our children and grandchildren, Corey, Coretta, Tristan, Titus, and Tyson; Ayla, Carter, Brenna: You all are my inspiration. “With God all things are possible” (Matt 19:26). To my mama and daddy, Ednar and Edward Gardner: for your steadfast devotion. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Phil 4:13). Thank you. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PREFACE . vi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION . 1 Thesis . 9 Definitions of Terms . 12 James Earl Massey’s Sermonic Component of Radicality . 22 Background and Significance of the Field of Study . 24 Distinguishing Elements for Social Crisis Preaching . 29 Methodology . 33 2. THE CULTURAL CONTEXT AND THE ECCLESIAL PRAXIS OF KELLY MILLER SMITH AND JAMES EARL MASSEY . 36 Kelly Miller Smith . 38 James Earl Massey . 62 Conclusion . 70 3. AN EXAMINATION OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE SOCIAL CRISIS SERMON . 74 Ancient Rhetoric and Christian Proclamation . 76 The Pre-Proclamation, Pre-Crisis Function of the Preacher . 84 Development of Content . 92 Words, Words, Words . 96 The Perceptual Power of Focus . 107 Structure . 110 iv Chapter Page Delivery of the Social Crisis Sermon . 119 The “Post-Delivery” Function of the Preacher . 121 Conclusion . 125 4. AN ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL CRISIS PREACHING: USING JAMES EARL MASSEY’S SERMONIC COMPONENT OF RADICALITY . 126 Christ-Centered Prophetic Radicalism . 126 Insights from the Black Preaching Tradition . 129 Social Crisis Preaching through the Lens of Radicality . 135 Root-Work . 137 Courage . 146 Personal Address . 158 Confrontation . 164 Analysis and Conclusion . 176 5. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH . 179 The Social Crisis Sermon and Samuel Dewitt Proctor’s Adapted Hegelian Method . 181 Social Crisis Homiletic and Matthew Kim’s Cultural Intelligence Model . 186 Social Crisis Preaching through Bryan Chapell’s Christ-Centered Preaching . 190 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 196 v PREFACE The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a special place. This bastion of theological flourishing continues to churn out disciples for Jesus Christ who serve His church with biblical fidelity and global impact. I am grateful for their (our) place in the world. The Lord blessed me to be supervised by Dr. Hershael York, a man of impeccable character, intellectual sagaciousness, and pastoral perspicacity. I cannot thank him enough for his advice, encouragement, and wisdom. I want to thank Dr. Robert Vogel for taking keen interest in my work and lending helpful insights and wisdom to my projects. I am grateful for Dr. Michael Pohlman, his willingness to serve on my committee, and the unique way he challenged me in his preaching colloquiums. My committee has supported me and advised me in my research and writing about my passion; I am grateful. Likewise, I am thankful to the late Dr. T. Vaugh Walker, who insisted that I finish with excellence. My love for truth and mercy was inspired by my parents, Ednar and Edward Gardner. My love for the Lord’s church was instilled in me by my dear mother, who demanded not only that we attend church every Sunday, but that we serve. Most of all, my mother exemplified the deepest commitment to Christlikeness I have witnessed to this very day, by modeling self-denial and cross bearing. My daddy was not a churchman; however, he modeled the truthfulness, courage, and conviction-filled living sometimes missing among churchmen. My daddy imbued truth-telling and truth-living. He required me to be true to myself, to live a life above pretense, guise, and vanity. More than anything else, Daddy taught me that to know the truth about the world and people in it is painful and often dangerous, but to know the truth is a must. vi From the day I laid eyes and ears on Frank Kennedy, Jr., I knew what my life’s calling would be. I followed his footsteps to Beeson Divinity School. His love for the Lord, commitment to ministerial excellence, and magnanimous, giving heart represent what is best about the body of Christ. As my father in ministry, his impact on my life is indelible. In equal measure, his father, Frank Kennedy, Sr., has modeled strong pastoral leadership, an ethic of ecclesial service, an unrivaled devotion to community, and wisdom. Kennedy, Sr. has supported me, my family, and ministry in some of the most trying times, and I will forever thank the Lord for his firm and loving fatherly presence in my life. Freddie Robertson’s encouragement and help are invaluable and a blessing from the Lord. I owe him so much thanks. I would not be at the prestigious Southern Baptist Theological Seminary if it were not for Dr. Robert Smith, Jr. I will never forget the day he called me into his office and told me that I would be going to Southern to earn a PhD in Christian Preaching. Some people see things in you that you do not see in yourself—Dr. Smith required excellence of me because he believed I was capable, even when I did not. He remains the greatest professor I have ever had and a homiletical genius worthy of emulation. I want to thank the personnel at the Jean and Alexander Heard Library at Vanderbilt University for their help and assistance on this important project. Dr. Kelly Miller Smith, Jr. was generous, accessible, and encouraging. He is an incredible bearer of his father’s legacy. I want to thank Alice C. Smith, widow of Kelly Miller Smith, Sr.; Dr. Kelly Miller Smith, Jr., son of Kelly Miller Smith; the Smith Family; Dr. Peter J. Paris; Dr. Forrest Harris; Dr. Curtiss Paul DeYoung; Dr. Bernard Lafayette; Dr. J. Alfred Smith; and in memoriam, Dr. James Early Massey, for the countless phone calls, text messages, and conversations about their husband, father, dear friend, and gift to Nashville and the world, Kelly Miller Smith, Sr. Special gratitude is owed to the mayor of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, Dr. Eulah Peterson, for her commitment to Mound Bayou and her help in this dissertation. The Plum Grove Baptist Church family has been a community of love, patience, vii support, and understanding. For every seminar and colloquium, I was equipped with gas money, goodie bags, spending money, and the assurance that my family would be well while I was away in Louisville studying with my awesome professors and cohort. They allowed me to pursue graduate studies and financially supported along this journey. I love you all. I also want to give appreciation to Rev. Tim Plant and the Calvary Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for their love and support. The Macedonia Ministry in Tuscaloosa has been extremely supportive, I thank God for them. I am grateful for you. The Stillman College community and family has been a blessing to me for over a decade. I am grateful not only to be a graduate of this prestigious historically Black college and university, but to serve as an administrator and professor. I want to thank Dr. Cynthia Warrick for giving me the opportunity to serve my school and for her vision. I want to thank some of the most astute biblical scholars in the nation, my colleagues, who have shown interest in my work and offered advice along the way: Dr. David Ngong, Dr. Joseph Scrivner, Dr. Linda Beito, Dr. Mary Jane Krotzer, Dr. Mark McCormick, and Dr. Donald Chinula. Ms. Evelyn King provided invaluable support by tracking down several sources that are critical in this dissertation. I want to thank our children, Coretta, Tristan, Titus, and Tyson. They have endured my absence with grace and patience. Each of them is a unique blessing to our family. You all are destined for greatness for the glory of the Lord. Remember, do not ever give up! Lastly, and most importantly, I owe this degree to my wife, Shonetay. My wife is the backbone of our family, the smartest person in our home, and the most unselfish person in the world. I would not have made it had it not been for her support, her accompanying me to Louisville on a number of occasions, and her demand that I would not quit or drop out. I appreciate her kindness to me in making my dream come true. I love you. Tyshawn Gardner Northport, Alabama December 2019 viii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Kelly Miller Smith, Sr. contends, “Social crisis preaching is the proclamation of that which is crucially relevant within the context of the Christian gospel in times of social upheaval and stress.”1 Ronald J. Allen defines what constitutes a social issue: I consider a social issue to have the following characteristics. It is public. People are aware of it, or should be aware of it. The issue affects the community as a community, that is, it creates social consequences. It affects the well-being of the society.