Clarity is not important these days.  Simplicity has been replaced by fancifulness or theological vagueness or cleverness which is usually couched in terms that no one understands.  Who would say anything however?  It is usually considered to be rude to tell a preacher, "I didn't understand anything you said."  No, we normally simply move on in our day, and are very nice.  But lately I had some friends and family visit my Church and we had a guest speaker.   The guest didn't know what he wanted to say.  It was obvious.  Notice- I'm not saying he was boring, just unclear in every way.  My friends and family were very nice though, but probably will not come back.  I asked their opinion of the service and the initial reaction was very polite.  I dug a little further, and one friend said, "I wasn't going to say anything, but I can't listen to a man, who has no clue what he is trying to say."  I concurred and told them our Pastor was on vacation.  It seems that pulpits across the country are testing grounds for young ordained men.  That is another blog topic all its own.  Now, I don't know the brother who preached the sermon, and I'm sure he is well meaning and a nice guy.  The point is not to focus on him as the preacher.  The question I have is this:  Should the sermon be one that can be understood?  Should it be simple, clear, proclamation?  Should it be so complex that seminary trained men and women don't grasp it?  Shouldn't my 7 year old daughter be able to get at least some of it?  Shouldn't I?  I'm an active listener, and I didn't understand any of it.

 It seems to me that when anything is taught, it should be evidently clear to everyone.  I love clarity, and hate vagueness.  Cleverness is not next to godliness.  As I've heard said before, "No one can show himself to be clever and Jesus mighty to save at the same time."  I like that, but thought of another saying:  "The one who is so complex that no one understands them, can show Jesus at all." 

I long for a clear presentation of the gospel in the sermon.  When we are so stinking complicated in our presentation of the sermon, the gospel, or general communication, then we should shutup, hush, or at least be quiet. 

Here's Paul on Clarity...

1 Cor. 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

1 Cor. 2:1-5 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.  For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.''

Gage Browning

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