preaching skills
Does Being Tech-Savvy Cripple Preachers?
A book review of 'Why Johnny Can't Preach'
posted 01/31/11
Why Johnny Can't Preach: The Media Have Shaped the Messengers
by T. David Gordon
P&R Publishing, 2009
The 19th century literary wit Samuel Johnson noted that the thought of impending death tends to focus one's attention. "Depend upon it, sir," Johnson declared, "when a man knows he is to be hanged ...
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rating & reviews
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Carl Freeto
"This allusion to the dictum coined by Marshall McLuhan links changes in the pulpit to changes in the culture. In particular, Gordon blames the decline of preaching on the shift from a language-oriented culture to one that is dominated by images. Johnny can't preach, Gordon explains, because Johnny can't read." I wonder how much these same "cultural" changes those who are receiving the preaching. Whether preaching is "good" or bad, if the culture has shifted to a non-reading image interpreting culture, it would seem to me that what once was great (Or at least good) preaching may not reach that group at all. Finally, if we are still teaching 20th century preaching, how could it change to at least make the Good News understandable to a culture that has shifted toward a more image message life?