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Oh, how far we've fallen...

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by JohnDeereFan, Dec 2, 2010.

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  1. JohnDeereFan

    JohnDeereFan Well-Known Member
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    Some of you know that we don't have TV in our house, so we like to listen to old radio shows, instead.

    I just wanted to share something I heard last night.

    I was listening to an old radio show called The Halls of Ivy (one of my favorites), starring the English actor, Ronald Coleman (also a regular on the Jack Benny Program). Based on some references in the show to recent political events, I'd say it's from around 1948 or so.

    Coleman plays the dean of students at a small New England college and in this episode, the school's chaplain falls ill and is unable to preach at the daily chapel service (this is a secular college, but chapel attendance is mandatory).

    Dr. Hall, played by Coleman, is called upon to preach at the chapel service and part of the plot involves him diligently studying the Bible into the wee small hours of the morning.

    His wife comes to check on him and begs him to come to bed. He explains to her that he can't, because he has been charged with preaching the Gospel at chapel and that it is a holy obligation, one that he takes very seriously. He goes on to explain how the Bible is not a mere book made by man, but was given to man by God as the Holy Spirit spoke through men.

    He actually loses sleep worrying that he is not worthy to preach the Gospel.

    I was so struck by the reverence the characters showed to both the Bible and to the Gospel and to the calling to preach the Gospel, that I had to stop what I was doing to listen.

    This was not a religious show on some tiny religious radio network. This was a popular prime time show on NBC.

    In a television landscape where the Bible is riduculed, the Gospel is perverted, and the name and character of Christ are used as punchlines, can you even imagine God's Word being treated this way on television today? Can you imagine a character actually trembling at the responsibility of preaching the Gospel?
     
    #1 JohnDeereFan, Dec 2, 2010
  2. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    I think the answer is no. Even when a character is a priest, preacher or rabbi, they are generally caricatures. Priests and rabbis come off better that preachers, though. It has been a long time since I've seen a preacher portrayed other than a country bumpkin clod or money-hungry shyster, or clown, usually with big hair and a shiny slick suit.

    Unfortunately, some preachers make themselves easy targets.
     
    #2 Tom Butler, Dec 2, 2010
  3. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    Honestly, I have a hard time imagining this attitude in the church much less any place else.
    Several years ago I was new in the area and looking for a church in the community and stopped in at a local Baptist church close by. I sat with the Pastor to get to know him a little and ask him some questions. One that I asked what about how many hours he spends studying for the Sunday message. He replied that he did not study at all. He did not even know what he was going to preach until he got into the pulpit and he just relied on the Spirit to guide him. I made some reply and then excused myself and have never been back.
     
    #3 freeatlast, Dec 2, 2010
  4. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Different times these days. It would be interesting to play that clip for young pastors in seminary and see what their responses would be.

    Maybe it isn't that we're a less "moral" society but that we're definitely more open about being immoral. Asking people to abide by a standard has always been difficult....especially now.

    Was he primitive baptist? Because that is their position and one they've held for quite a long time...centuries if you will.
     
    #4 preachinjesus, Dec 2, 2010
  5. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    No it was a first Baptist church SBC affiliated.
     
    #5 freeatlast, Dec 2, 2010
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