I was in Boston last week for the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature. Having time to kill, I decided to creep around town looking for things to photograph (yup, at night, and when it was freezing!). That’s when I came upon Trinity Church in the heart of town. This venerable church, founded in 1733, is part of the Episcopal Diocese of ye olde Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On one side of the remarkable building was the statue of its most famous son, Phillips Brooks (1835–1893), who served as the rector of the church for over two decades. That sculpture was created by the 19th century “American Renaissance” artist, Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
Brooks, these days, is best known for having written the Christmas carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” And, by the way, he was single by choice, too, never married.
Standing 6’4” tall, Brooks was not only imposing in his physique, but in his moral stature as well. He was a firm believer in the principle that the character of the preacher was as important as the content of one’s preaching. The “real preacher,” Brooks said, in his lectures to students at Yale, is the one who pours out “truth through personality.” God’s truth delivered through our personalities—our words, our lives. In other words, there is no way one can demonstrate truth persuasively and be its effective witness but through one’s own life lived faithfully and consistently with that truth. Or as another, even more ancient one, said:
“Persuasion is achieved
Brooks, these days, is best known for having written the Christmas carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” And, by the way, he was single by choice, too, never married.
Standing 6’4” tall, Brooks was not only imposing in his physique, but in his moral stature as well. He was a firm believer in the principle that the character of the preacher was as important as the content of one’s preaching. The “real preacher,” Brooks said, in his lectures to students at Yale, is the one who pours out “truth through personality.” God’s truth delivered through our personalities—our words, our lives. In other words, there is no way one can demonstrate truth persuasively and be its effective witness but through one’s own life lived faithfully and consistently with that truth. Or as another, even more ancient one, said:
“Persuasion is achieved
by the speaker's personal character ….
[One’s] character may almost be called
the most effective means of persuasion [one] possesses.”
That was Aristotle (384–322 BC), in his Rhetoric. Paul would agree:
[One’s] character may almost be called
the most effective means of persuasion [one] possesses.”
That was Aristotle (384–322 BC), in his Rhetoric. Paul would agree:
… our gospel did not come to you
in word only, but also in power
and in the Holy Spirit
and with full conviction;
just as you know what kind of men
we proved to be among you for your sake.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
in word only, but also in power
and in the Holy Spirit
and with full conviction;
just as you know what kind of men
we proved to be among you for your sake.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
Character. Ethos. Credibility. Contributes a lot to the potency of proclaimed truth, no question. In combination with the power of the Holy Spirit (notice Christ standing behind the preacher in the scultpure), the content of the message, imbued with the character of the herald brings conviction. Rightly, Paul appeals to this facet of his preaching.
You are witnesses, and so is God,
how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly
we behaved toward you believers;
just as you know how we were
exhorting and encouraging and imploring
each one of you
as a father would his own children,
so that you would walk in a manner
worthy of the God who calls you
into His own kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:10–12
how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly
we behaved toward you believers;
just as you know how we were
exhorting and encouraging and imploring
each one of you
as a father would his own children,
so that you would walk in a manner
worthy of the God who calls you
into His own kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:10–12
A character of integrity, of probity, of respectability.
For our proud confidence is this:
the testimony of our conscience,
that in holiness and godly sincerity,
… in the grace of God,
we have conducted ourselves in the world,
and especially toward you.
2 Corinthians 1:12
the testimony of our conscience,
that in holiness and godly sincerity,
… in the grace of God,
we have conducted ourselves in the world,
and especially toward you.
2 Corinthians 1:12
Therefore I exhort you,
be imitators of me.
1 Corinthians 4:16
be imitators of me.
1 Corinthians 4:16
I wondered to myself if I could ever say that. For all the preaching I do, could I offer myself as an example of God’s truth lived out?
… we did not act in an
undisciplined manner among you,
… in order to offer ourselves
as a model for you,
so that you would follow our example.
2 Thessalonians 3:7, 9
undisciplined manner among you,
… in order to offer ourselves
as a model for you,
so that you would follow our example.
2 Thessalonians 3:7, 9
Truth through personality. May our lives complement the persuasiveness of our proclamation.
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1 comment:
Character that most difficult of all things to live out. It is the real us. Just finished a book called Bringing Back the Prodigals in it the author assets that when the church loves properly the prodigals will return. Character of love not lived out has decimated the churches, the Body of Christ, and turned away many. Truth lived out-You have hit a nerve. DM
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