by Steve Higginbotham
Several years ago, I read of an entry found in an old church record of a business meeting. The entry stated the following: “A committee was appointed to investigate the squeak in the pulpit.”
While I am sure the business of this church meeting described in this entry was not referring to the content of the preacher’s message, I couldn’t help my mind from wandering when I read that line. I began to wonder how many churches today have a similar problem, that is, a squeak in the pulpit? Now, maybe more than ever, our society desperately needs more than a “squeak” coming from the pulpit.
It is disturbing to hear how many churches are “selling out to the culture.” The distinctive preaching of New Testament Christianity is seldom heard in some pulpits. As in the days of Josiah, the Book of the Law may be lost, in of all places, the house of God. In some quarters, sermons which challenge our morals, expound our doctrine, question our ethics, and rebuke our mediocrity are exchanged for sermons that have an air of religiosity, but which are lacking in substance. We mustunderstand there is a real danger of so “watering down” the gospel of Christ that it is rendered useless, lacking the power to convict and cause people to change.
There are many challenges which face the church today. If we are to meet these challenges, we must have a strong pulpit. Pulpits that will speak the truth in season and out of season, with all the love it can muster. Pulpits that will not compromise the truth. Pulpits that do more than just “squeak.”
The church at Karns has been the beneficiary of healthy, balanced preaching which has encouraged, rebuked, and consequently strengthened the church here. I will make a promise to you that if there’s ever a “squeak in the pulpit” which needs attention, it will be a board or two that need tightened, and won’t have reference to the content of the sermon.