Jerry Vines Blog
I certainly don't put forth myself as a paragon of excellence relative to language in the pulpit. I've made my mistakes, said things poorly, and have said things I regret. But, I can say I have tried to remember always that I was speaking for a Holy God, from the precious Word of God, and standing behind what I have always been told is the "sacred desk."
I am all for making every effort to communicate to our modern audiences. Tools of good communication can prayerfully be used claiming the power of the preached Word and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. But, I'm hearing about some crudity in the pulpit that really disturbs me. Profanity, toilet humor, and sexually explicit language now seems to be the rage with certain pastors.
Call me old fashioned, out of date, whatever. I just think crudity has no place in preaching.
Mike Barnett
January 28, 2009 @ 9:54 AMDr. Vines,
You are exactly right. It is not old fashioned or out of date to represent our Lord with dignity of person and vocabulary. My student minister recently refused to take our students to an event because he was uneasy about the speaker. A colleague of his kind of questioned him about it, but he stuck by his thoughts. The speaker used vulgar toilet humor and a graphic on the screen that was out of place. I commended my student minister for his insight and forward thinking.
I think too many times we try to rely on such things to get attention, to shock and awe -- or to drive home a point or simply be funny. Let us all pray that we will trust in the fullness of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word of God not our own wisdom or way.
Mike Barnett
B.J. Rocky Maddox
January 29, 2009 @ 8:09 PMDr. Vines,
I could not agree with you more. It is a sad day when men of God are so empty of spiritual power that they lower the standard expected and necessary to stand behind the pulpit. I think of men like J.Harold Smith, one of my heroes, he would never stoop so low as to bring the pulpit into the gutter. He was a "tell it like it is" kind of preacher that no one had any trouble understanding his message. But, he did not have to lower the dignity of the pulpit in order to communicate the Gospel or even a stinging rebuke of sin.
Once again, thank you for your strong stand for preachers to be real men of God.
Rocky
Donnie Bryant
January 30, 2009 @ 12:07 PMDr. Vines
There are a lot of things going on in the pulpit that I do not understand especially vulgar talk and mean spirits. God help us to focus on preaching the Bible. With so many people hurting, heart broken and bankrupt on life. My burden is to help them.
Thank you for your example of being faithful to preach the Bible.
Joe Lee
January 31, 2009 @ 11:13 AMDr. Vines,
I could not agree with you more. Thank you for your sterling example and biblical stand. The pulpit is a sacred place and thus should be treated with the highest degree of propriety and respect. If that is considered old fashioned and out of date then so be it.
Dr. David King
February 1, 2009 @ 11:16 AMDr. Vines,
I am uncertain of the specifics that you folks are referring to. Guess I am naive to what has been going on, and I've been over here in Oklahoma with my door shut trying to study for my preaching, so sometimes I feel out of the loop. Nevertheless, I don't need to know the details, and thosoe aren't important to what I want to say.
It appears to me that those things happen when the tongue is not controlled by the Holy Spirit. The tongue is not controlled by the Holy Spirit because the heart is not right or preparation has not been solid or both.
I thank the Lord for men like you who taught us better and taught us to "stay with the stuff" so to speak and exhort the text.
Stick to the text, Gentlemen, and let the Holy Spirit give us the words to say, and like Dr. Vines and these other Godly men have said, leave the trash-talking out of the pulpit and out of our lives. I have heard many of sermons by Dr. Vines who encouraged his congregation to bridle their tongue. Those of us who are pastors would do well to learn from that as well.
Hope to see everyone in Jax.
Kyle Gulledge
February 1, 2009 @ 9:55 PMI agree. This all stems from the idea by some "preachers" that the Bible is not sufficient enough to reach tothe hearts of their listeners. There used to be a saying when I was a boy, "Preaching the Bible as it is to men as they are." I like what ol' Vane Havner used to say, "You can't say it like it is unless you believe it like it was."
Steve Patton
February 13, 2009 @ 1:28 PMIt seems there is an increase in crude language from the pulpit. I believe it stems primarily from men who are attempting to impact the culture. That, of course, is a worthy goal. We impact the culture most, however, from a holy life that includes godly speech. I know I've said things from the pulpit that I wish I had not, but I've attempted to take Col 4:5-6 as my guide. Speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt.
Joel Shiflett
February 14, 2009 @ 9:57 PMI agree, I listen to a man use the word hell out of contect way to much and then make crude comments about sex.I think they believe they need to make you laugh for you to be intrested.I am one of those who believe it should be preached like in the word & Paul,Peter ect. never used crudness to get people to listen ,he just preached the word and let God entertain them. God Bless Joel
Perry Fowler
February 21, 2009 @ 12:59 PMOne thing that concerns me is not only the use of crude language but the crudeness we are seeing in choices or sermon series titles. One church in our area recently has had a series called "The Naked Truth" which they publicized with two people on their highway billboard shown from the backside without clothing on. The "rear end" was covered with a black line. In my opinion these "shock value" attempts to attract people to our churches is not right. My prayer is that we truly ask the Holy Spirit to lead us in our preaching and be sure that it involves no coarse jesting and etc. that might make people laugh but grieve the Holy Spirit.
Dr. James Galyon
March 2, 2009 @ 11:38 AMAmen!
David Hanna
March 28, 2009 @ 6:24 PMJust a thought, Could it be that some of this obusive language may come from an overflow of what is really in the preachers heart. I think that some of the things that are being allowed to enter the mind, can come forth by way of the tongue. Just a thought, God forbid that we would be awful enough to put things like pornography, sexual imagines, lust and on down the line in to our minds. Think about it.
Norris Ables
April 4, 2009 @ 12:48 AMTo quote Adrian Rogers, "What's down in the well comes up in the bucket"
James H. Cook, Jr.
April 8, 2009 @ 12:43 PMDear Dr. Vines,
You "old fashioned, out of date, whatever"--I LOVE YOU!
Bro. James
Stephen "Dwight" Miller
April 8, 2009 @ 10:14 PMThis issue is so important to the Church. The New York Times has even taken an interest in the type of language use described by you, Dr Vines, and each of your commenters. The NY Times finds it is odd, and they are certainly not what I call paragons of virtue.
Dear old Apostle Peter in his 2nd epistle chapter 2 speaks plainly to false prophets and how we may detect them. He gives us 2 things to look for: greed and sensual lust. He covers greed in 2 short clauses (vs 3 and 14) and spends the rest of the chapter descussing the false teachers lust problems. If this type of language problem is not a lust problem then I do not understand what lust is!
This problem stems from a desire to be "all things to all people", which is a misunderstanding of that verse's context. You taught us at FBCJAX that man's chief problem is that he is a sinner in need of redemption. The Gospel is the only solution to man's chief problem so what could be more relevant?
However, every generation believes that we need something else to be "all things to all people". Back 100 years ago many in the church thought we needed to modernise the church. So they became the "modernists" to become relevant to their generations. Well they became the liberals that you so valiantly fought and it was my privilege to be your's and the other conservatives' prayer warrior. So the libs became so relevant to the culture that they ended up becoming totally irrelevant. Just look at the results.
Some of your best servants at FBCJAX actually came out of those denominations.
When I was in High School 40 years ago, I decided to just watch people. It was the best decision I made in life. People have taught me volumes. The biggest thing I have learned is most of the time God just lets the clock run out on people. Time is the best truth teller of all. "Whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap.
So call sin, sin! Preach repentance and continue to shepherd the flock God gives you.
Sorry I missed you at FBCJAX in February. God had other plans for me because He sent me to the hospital for most of the conference. Hope to see you soon!
Dwight
Jerry Cantrell
April 14, 2009 @ 10:58 AMGod bless Pastor Jerry. I agree. Keep preaching the truth.
Jeremy L. Green
April 15, 2009 @ 5:48 PMI couldn't agree more. I only wish that more people would condemn such practice publicly. Thanks and God bless!!!
in Christ,
JLG