I believe Paul Washer to be a gift to the modern church. His
passion is compelling. I'm not a Baptist and thus I don't agree with him on
every point. At times I'm baffled by his associations. I wonder if he's one of
those men that is willing to appear in any venue in order to get the message
out. If he's not invited back, clearly he doesn't really care.
This sermon, already and undoubtedly well known to many is
worth a revisit. I listen to it on occasion and encourage others to do so.
Apparently after viewing the worldly posture and display at a youth conference
combined with comedy and the bogus theology of the altar call at work... he
decided to let loose. His words are self-explanatory. He believes the people in
that room, in that audience hall are in grave danger. They have been deceived.
And he proceeds to deliver a compassionate but upbraiding message. He does not
fall into the theatrical or the hysterical type of display I've encountered in
Fundamentalist preaching. He is sound, sober and while his voice is elevated
and emotional at times, it does not overwhelm him, nor does it subsume or
subvert his message.
It's the kind of preaching that I think is largely absent in
Reformed circles or perhaps has been lost. I appreciate doctrinal even
technical sermons that delve deeply in the text and challenge hearers. It's not
an easy thing to do and those that attempt it often fall prey to a
lecture-manuscript style. If you know your material you can speak from the
heart and yet still be rooted in the text. By speaking from the heart I'm not
even suggesting that there has to be an edge to your voice. Emotion and passion
can come through (when genuine) even if one's demeanor is controlled. I've seen
forced emotion in many a sermon and it's always a bit off-putting. Sometimes
it's saved by the material content itself but it usually goes over like a lead
balloon.
Washer's sermon in this case is not deeply textual. He's
drawing out and applying central themes based around one of the great warning
texts of Scripture. It was legitimate even though it might not be the type of
message that is preached week to week. And yet many a congregation would
undoubtedly benefit from this kind of sermon on a more frequent basis.
The Antinomian leaning and influenced factions within the
Evangelical and Lutheran realms as well as some within the Reformed sphere do
not like Washer and consider him to be something of a legalist. Their confusion
regarding Sola Fide and its implications with regard to piety, mortification
and sanctification are put on display when confronted by the likes of Washer.
His message is in keeping with old Protestant Christianity. The modern aversion
to such messaging is rooted in the developments and theological elaborations of
the post-Confessional and post-Enlightenment period. Systems and rationalistic
thinking took over, even in many otherwise Confessional and conservative
circles. Formulations were tweaked, the focus changed and the theological
framework which emerged in the 19th and 20th century was still
a relative of the older system but a distant cousin at best.
We can hope that Washer will rekindle the ancient passion for
Biblical exhortation and there will be more examples of what men once referred
to as unction in preaching. Washer certainly exhibits this at times and it's a
blessing to hear. I may disagree with Washer on baptism and some other
structural points but I reckon him to be something of a kindred spirit... even
though I realise he probably wouldn't reciprocate.
Listen to the sermon, especially if you've never heard it
before. It's a blessing to hear good solid preaching. There's so little of it
these days.
May we all live and speak as dying men.
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