One more thought on relevance -- the most significant bridge to relevance in our preaching may be the character of the communicator. Ethos is what the Greeks called it and it is huge. Let me explain.
I listen to the messages from the recent Desiring God conference and I think that what characterizes each speaker is their relevance -- D A Carson and David Wells the scholars, Piper the passionate worshipper, Keller the literary Gospel-connector, Driscoll the abrasive avant-garde teacher. Assuming a measure of godliness in each -- they are relevant because they are reflecting the gifting and qualities God has built into their lives.
Let me be specific -- Piper's passion is relevant because it is sincere and people, by the Spirit, are hungering for glory and passion and calls to radical obedience. Driscoll's abrasive, in-your-face preaching is relevant because it is Mark -- it is sincere and he is blunt and people hunger for clarity from a man who lives clarity. Carson and Wells are relevant because people hear in them a heart for God and the Gospel and a thoughtful approach to life. Keller is relevant because he sees and lives and communicates connections between the Gospel and the details of life and culture that give people meaning and help them connect the dots.
I could go on -- one of my favorites is CJ Mahaney who is relevant because of his transparent humility and sincere love for people -- and people think love and genuine humility is relevant.
All of these men "connect" because they are sincerely living out and preaching out their experience of Christ and their unique gifting. It would be phony for Piper to start quoting The Village Voice -- or for Driscoll to put on a British accent.
This is all because, as Philips Brooks used to say, preaching is truth mediated through personality. And personality is the totality of my humanity and how God reflects himself through me or you.
I want to learn from these men -- and I am more drawn to some than others -- it would be hard for me (a 51 year old with silver-grey hair who has no idea what is hip or cool -- and my fellow pastors are glad to hear me admit this) to even try to be like Driscoll. I am an intellectual and drawn to Keller -- but I should not imitate him.
What I heard in all the men at the conference was a passion to explain the Gospel to people in our day in a way that makes sense -- not because they are trying to be cool -- but because they have seen people do not have a Christian background anymore and they have prejudices and want to do their hard work to get through to their minds -- and allow the Holy Spirit to get the truth to their hearts.
Relevance is the fruit of godly desires, sincere pursuit of the Lord, humility, compassion, and a love of people -- without those we are a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
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