Proclaimer Blog
The preacher and his side-swipes
I've just started reading Simon Sebag Montefiore's Jerusalem: The Biography. It's mostly excellent (so far) – very readable and insightful. SSM himself admits that for much of Jerusalem's early history the only historical source is the Bible. He then gives a (sometimes erroneous) summary of the Bible's account of Jerusalem. So far, what you would you expect. What irritates me, though, is that throughout this account, SSM constantly sideswipes at the historicity or authenticity of the Bible – even when the points he makes have nothing to do with his analysis. This is typical:
"There are so many contradictions in the stories of these co-called Patriarchs that they are impossible to date historically"
And, making the point that the account of David bears hallmarks of authenticity, he says,
"The earlier books of the Bible are a mixture of ancient texts and backdated stories written much later."
Or, on the extent of the kingdom, admitting that its size was possible,
"David's kingdom…is plausible too, however exaggerated by the Bible."
Where history provide proof of Bible accounts, it seems that SSM only admits this grudgingly:
"Fortunately, however, the Dark Age [where only the Bible gives an account] was over: the inscriptions of the empires of Egypt and Iraq now illuminate and often confirm the furiously righteous pontifications of the Bible."
Because, of course, the inscriptions of Egypt and Iraq are all together better accounts! One last one, explaining that it was Isaiah who first introduced the idea of a heavenly Jerusalem:
"There were at least two authors of Isaiah, one of them wrote over 200 years later, but this first Isaiah was not just a prophet but a visionary poet….."
And so it goes. I suppose it is not surprising, though it does rather get me cross. The point is that most of SSM's interjections and asides are unnecessary. They are just side swipes. They don't add anything to his description or argument.
But this isn't a rant against what is otherwise an excellent book (so far). It's a blog for preachers. So, here's a question for you. How many times does your preaching contain side swipes. They don't add anything, but any chance to get your little bit in on the topic you feel strongly about (or that you know someone else in the congregation feels strongly about)…..
Brother, it's an abuse of your position as herald of the Word of God. Stick to the text. I realise that I do it more often than I care to admit to myself. It can be especially true on hot topics. For example, I've just preached a four week series on Genesis 1 – trying to focus on the God who reveals himself there. The temptation to have a pop at positions different from mine on creation is astounding! Yet it's not going to add anything. It's just going to detract from the message and leave people feeling angry or misled, certainly not edified.
So, preacher: stop your side swipes!