The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-02-11
SENSATIONAL PREACHING.
Feb. IA. 'os-tActs 5:17-4O.

that he is sensational preacher, Is
TO discount him greatly in the esti-
nation of most people. And yet, not
to be a sensationalist, In the proper
sense Of that word, Is to be a coun-
terfeit, and not a genuine preacher
The real apostolic succession is de-
monstrated in the ability to make a
sensation, for the original apostles
we're characterized by sensational
ism Of the most magnificent pattern.
Cannot BE Muzzlcd.
They could put Peter and Paul
into prison but they could not muz-
xle them. The moment they we're set
ut liberty they began to preach.
Peter had no apologies to make for
his message. He did not attempt to
argue that two and two are four. he
stated the fact, reiterated it. thun-
dered 1t in the ears of those who dis
believed 1t, no matter what the con-
sequences to himself. In the opin-
ion of his critics Jesus Christ was
merely a fanatical Jew, who had set
Himself up to be God, and who
had got Himself put to death for his
pains. Peter bluntly told his coun-
trymen that Jesus of Nazareth was
not only the son of David. but the
Son of God, hat He was the Mes
siah, whom all the prophets for g.
500 years from Moses down to John
the Baptist, had been foretelling.
and charged them with blindness Of
eyes and hardness of heart for not
accepting Him.
And he did not whisper this in
the ear; he thundered It on the
housetops. He did not make this
claim to a little handful of con-
genial spirits in the privacy OF a
secret gathering; he boldly pro-
claimed II in the temple itself, and
TO the judge and jury composed o.:
the highest council of the Jewish
people when arrested for doing So
He made such a sensation in the
ancient city that the very officers of
the law pleaded with him to stop 1t.
lest the populace should turn upon
them and tear them in pieces II
modern preachers got into jail as
often as Peter and the other apos-
lies did, and were chased out Of
town by mobs Of infuriated people
as frequently as they were, no
church In the country would be
brave enough to call them to its pas
torate or lift up voice in their de-
Tense. And yet those preachers made
nf hn1
the world with the words of this
life. Sensational preaching. the
world is asleep for want ,of it! The
truth concerning Jesus Christ will
always make a sensation. 1t will
make sensation in the heart. in
the family. in the church even, GER
tainiy IN the world. or that sort Of
sensational preachers the world has
but few. and they are growing few
er every day.
Peter did not go off into some OBJ
scure corner among the Gentiles.
ana there, where the people knew
nothing about the circumstances,
preach against the Jews. He erect
ed his pulpit in the very city where
Christ was crucified, and to the very
men who had killed Him he boldly
declared that they had executed
their Messiah. He made no apollo
gles, he offered no excuses. he re-
fused to be bribed, he scorned bonds
ana imprisonments, when command
ed not to preach any more he as
serted that he had higher authority
than theirs to continue, and he kept
at 1t, until the very authorities con-
fessed that all men had gone after
him.. They said, you intend to
bring this mans blood upon u.s." It
certainly began to look that way.
Makes Men Mad or Glad.
That sensationalist affected the
people in two ways: he made some
OF them mad and he made others
glad. Those who were determined
TO be unconvinced gnashed upon
MIN with their teeth, those who ac-
eepted the truth were filled with re-
loicing. The first class hissed, the
second class applauded. The same
truth hardened one and softened the
other. The one class, like set of
owls, put their wings over their
heads to keep the glare of the sun
out Of their eyes and hooted, Day.
lights failure the other realized
the fulfillment of the prophecy, "The
sun of righteousness has arisen with
healing In his beams"
Only Preaching That Tells.
Explain 1t as you will. this Is the
only Kind OF preaching that tells. II
the preacher cannot deliver a mes
sage that will stir people up and set
them to talking, he had better not
call 1t preaching. No one will act
until he is moved. II a man can
neither make his hearers glad or
mad there is something the matter
With the man. He has either got
the wrong message or he don't know
now to use the right one. Peter
newer suffered from the fear of hav-
ing his congregation request his