Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-03
Promoter or Prophet, Which? A
Question Regarding Modern Preachers
D. Dill. IIrH..n,, Cna,ILnr
By Bishop Warren A. Gambler

Il is to be feared that the preachers
and the churches OF today are more
concerned In efforts ameliorate earthly
conditions than 10 bring souls into
right relations with God Il is perhaps
not too much to say that there IS
prevalent in our time great deal OF
worldly christianity by which is meant
a christianity absorbed in things Of this
world. and utterly obliviOus OF God and
the eternal world
This condition has been brought TO
pass BY the dominating disposition of
men OF the world who have assumed
10 lecture 10 the churches and tell the
preachers how 10 preach. These men
never tire Of insisting that the sum OF
religion is in relieving bodily wants
rather than in knowing God through q
personal experience Of divine grace.
They are utterly ignorant OF the things
81 yirit and utterly indifferent
or interests OF the soul. They
proceed on the idea Jhat man
d, uy bread alone, and that II
&c.. 10y wants have been supplied.
tus ,Jusummation OF religion has been
achieved
Neither preachers nor churches should
submit Tor one moment TO the influence
ana demands OF this dOmineerius wordli-
ness: but unfortunately many OF them
nave submitted, and evil consequences
are flowing from the submission.
This wordliness has affected even the
type OF preaching in our day. Its evil
atmosphere has penetrated the pulpit
and in some puIp.ts il has almost sutfo-
Gated the prophetic spirit which ought
10 characterize every preacher Of the
gospel. Multitudes Of preachers. espe-
cialIy preachers in urban communities
have been changed from messengers OF
God into managers Of material enter
prises; they are engineers rather than
svangelists, promoters rather than
prophets This state of things is strong
IL set forth in the following paragraph
taken from an editorial which appeared
recently in one OF the religious journals
of our country:
Have YOU noticed the people when
ne service is done? Under the preach
ing OF strong men in other days, and
wen today. sometimes they are scarcely
able TO 20 to their homes. or oetake
themselves 10 their employment the
whole week after without thinking OF
that sermon. This is the witness OF now
preaching once affected men, They were
80 ssrmOn-smitten they did not know
what to do We seldom see congrega-
zion in that state Il is not easy for
a preacher 10 deliver a Understanding
message that so affects men that they
do not get over it for days. Many do
not know how. They are not acquainI-
ed with heart-searcbjns experiences in
their own lives. They have never mad
a heart-break because of their sins.
While others do not know how because
they have not had the time 10 mediate
and commune with their Lord They
are taken ND so much with church en-
gineering. They are promoters rather
than prophets. They wear out the soles
Of their shoes more than the knees OF
heir trousers
II what this editor says be true, and
no one will deny that it is true, then
Ne hays a sad state Of affairs. The
ureacher no longer devOtes himself TO
Leading souls TO Christ, but Is con-
s1ued In efforts TO lead worldly
schemes TO success. His sermons are
lectures rather than proclamations OF
h. Rospel OF God. He is no longer an
ambassador OF heaven, but a servitor OF
Earth
This state Of things may account Tor
the need OF evangelists like Billy sun
dzy. Sunday breaches no new TRUTH
nor does he preach old truth with any
degree Of theological learning; but ne
loes press upon men eterpal Things.
This he does often in q vulgar way ana
n very Objectionable forms OF speech:
Notwithstanding these blemishes OF
STYLE and method. he reaches multi
trdes of PEOPLE. and all for the SIM
pie reason that muItitudes OF people are
hungry for spiritual life and are not