A summary of that address is given below. I apologise to readers who are not members of the Church of Scotland for making this summary my editorial, but I suspect that at least some of the points made may have relevance to other denominations as well as my own. In the pulpits of such churches, the Word is preached with confidence and faith.
Sin is declared to be sin.
The holiness, righteousness and love of God are not seen as mutually exclusive. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are proclaimed as God's remedy for the human problem. Uncertain, tentative preaching which betrays to those listening that the minister has little or no conviction about what is being said will never equip the people for the conflict with evil and temptation. It is not enough for preachers to rant a bit and get hot under the collar. Unless their message is based on biblical truth, a sceptical congregation will only become more sceptical.