An old friend who was interested in young people’s work observed that some new methods are being adopted in the lay-out of our teaching materials. Instead of the older, more “deductive” type of material which just presented what was to be learned, only too often to meet with an indifferent, “couldn’t-care-less” response, we arc now getting a more “inductive.” audience-oriented kind of material which begins with “What interests or troubles you?” and tries to proceed from that beginning to show the way the gospel meets that need or trouble. My reaction to this change was that if it merely concerns a teaching approach it may be excellent but if it determines the material that will be taught it could be the most destructive thing that could happen to the church and its faith.
Considering the people whom one is trying to reach has always been a requirement of effective teaching or preaching. Recall how the Apostle Paul wrote: “And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews. To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:20, 22). Think of our Lord dealing with the Samaritan woman (John 4) where the conversation began at a well over a drink of water. Think of the beginning of our Heidelberg Catechism: “What is your only comfort . . . ?”
But, however necessary and useful this approach may be, if this consideration of the interests of the people being approached begins to determine what is to be taught, it must inevitably lead away from instead of to the Christian faith. It must lead the Christian into unbelief instead of the unbeliever into the church. The same Paul who was ready to go to such lengths to meet people was always keenly conscious that, if he was really to help men, he must preach a gospel that was “unto Jews a stumbling block, and unto Gentiles foolishness.” He must stedfastly resist every temptation to alter that gospel because it is exactly that offensive gospel which is “the power of God unto salvation” to both Jews and Greeks” (I Cor. 1:2.3; Romans 1:16). So urgent was this matter that Paul warned: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema” (“accursed,” K.J.; Gal. 1:8; cf. vs. 9).
It has always been a mark of the false prophets and preachers that they preached what people wanted to hear. They are what Paul called “teachers after (men’s) own lusts” (II Tim. 4:3). The gospel that is preached or taught is not to be in any way conditioned or adapted to the tastes of the “natural” man; it must challenge, convict, change, convert him to a “spiritual” man. Tn our educational and evangelistic outreach, let us go out of our way, as Paul did, to meet men where they are, but always and only with the gospel. Let’s throw out any evangelistic or teaching materials or methods that would pervert the gospel to make it more appealing.
Peter De Jong is pastor of the Christian Reformed Church of Dutton, Michigan.
Considering the people whom one is trying to reach has always been a requirement of effective teaching or preaching. Recall how the Apostle Paul wrote: “And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews. To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:20, 22). Think of our Lord dealing with the Samaritan woman (John 4) where the conversation began at a well over a drink of water. Think of the beginning of our Heidelberg Catechism: “What is your only comfort . . . ?”
But, however necessary and useful this approach may be, if this consideration of the interests of the people being approached begins to determine what is to be taught, it must inevitably lead away from instead of to the Christian faith. It must lead the Christian into unbelief instead of the unbeliever into the church. The same Paul who was ready to go to such lengths to meet people was always keenly conscious that, if he was really to help men, he must preach a gospel that was “unto Jews a stumbling block, and unto Gentiles foolishness.” He must stedfastly resist every temptation to alter that gospel because it is exactly that offensive gospel which is “the power of God unto salvation” to both Jews and Greeks” (I Cor. 1:2.3; Romans 1:16). So urgent was this matter that Paul warned: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema” (“accursed,” K.J.; Gal. 1:8; cf. vs. 9).
It has always been a mark of the false prophets and preachers that they preached what people wanted to hear. They are what Paul called “teachers after (men’s) own lusts” (II Tim. 4:3). The gospel that is preached or taught is not to be in any way conditioned or adapted to the tastes of the “natural” man; it must challenge, convict, change, convert him to a “spiritual” man. Tn our educational and evangelistic outreach, let us go out of our way, as Paul did, to meet men where they are, but always and only with the gospel. Let’s throw out any evangelistic or teaching materials or methods that would pervert the gospel to make it more appealing.
Peter De Jong is pastor of the Christian Reformed Church of Dutton, Michigan.