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One of the most persistent misunderstandings that people have with SoulPreaching.Com is the idea that Soul Preaching is teaching Black people to only preach to Black people. One white preacher asked me on Facebook once, “Why do you talk about preaching only to Black people? Everybody needs to hear the gospel. Some of my favorite preachers are Black preachers…”
I asked him, “Why were Black preachers some of your favorites?” He answered that he likes the way these preachers used story and applied the scripture to real life. I then told him, I try to teach all of my readers (black and white) to incorporate such insights as that into their preaching.”
Others want me to address how to preach to white folks or people of other ethnicities. They ask me, “How do I change this to preach to white people?”
All of this misunderstands what I am trying to do on this website. I must hasten to add that there are others who get the idea and apply the insights to their context. For example, another preacher told me, “What you are teaching works just fine when this White preacher preaches to his white congregation.” And I believe that. I am just happy to offer to the universal Christian church the insights from the African American tradition. These insights will help you preach to anybody who is in front of you. No they don’t replace Haddon Robinson or Bryan Chapell, but they do stand next to them to aid in the sermon development process.
Preaching To Everybody
I have preached to congregations where I was the only Black person in the room. I have also preached to congregations that were totally African American. And I have addressed different mixtures as well. And let me say this, I always use the techniques and tools that I have learned from the Black preaching Tradition as well as other preaching teachers.
It is true that I do make some alterations, but these alterations are largely stylistic and relativity minor. The congregational response may be more audible in some congregations than others. Some congregations show it on the face more than they show it with their mouth. Maybe it is just a hearty amen, but it is still congregational response. There may not be whooping in your church (African American or non) but the preacher may change his tone, may have a increase or decrease in volume. Maybe it is a simple run, but it is often some form of verbal embellishment and style added to the preaching moment.
This Will Help You
So yes the tradition is applicable to you, whether you are a white preacher preaching to black folks, or a black preacher preaching to white folks or a black preacher preaching to black folks, or some other ethnicity preaching to some other ethnicity. The tradition will help you address them. Becuase if you have some folks who have had life hit them upside the head, the tradition will help you. If you have some folks in your congregation who have lost their job. Yes the tradition is going to help you.
In short the keys the Black tradition gives you will help. What are the keys? Well let’s quickly review some of them.
A key like Celebration is applicable to all churches (when celebration is called for). The key of having a tendency to look at the scripture from the perspective of the underdog or the poor is applicable to all chruches. The key of trying to put the great theological concepts into the language of “grandma and dem” is applicable to all churches. The key of emphasizing the practical over the theoretical is also applicable to all churches. The key of making the Bible story our story through identification with the Bible character is applicatble to all churches. The key of allowing the individuality of the preacher to come through is applicable to all churches. The key of structuring the sermon for maximum impact is applicable to all chuches. The key of emphasizing a theology of God with us in our pains and hurts is applicable to all churches.
I remember an eye opening experience at seminary. Dr. Brad Braxton, one of my homiletics instructors, played for us two sermons. In the first sermon he was addressing an upper middle class white congregation in a suburban context. I believe it was in Dallas. He preached and the people responded. No they were shouting, but you could see it. He used the black tradition. No he didn’t whoop, but he had a celebration. He used intonation. He had solid Biblical content presented in a powerful way.
He then played his sermon to a predominantly African American congregation in urban chicago. The style was a bit more amplified, but it was still just a celebrative conclusion where the people responded.
Both sermons used the Black preaching tradition. And no one felt as though they were discriminated against. Just like Black gospel music is not just meant to be heard by white people. Just like Jazz music is not only meant for black people. The Black Preaching Tradition, when it is at its best, helps and blesses all that come in contact with it.
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Amen to that, Brother Sherman. I am not a black preacher, but the first time I preached to a predominantly black congregation, and heard a beautiful “Amen, Sister,” from the back of the church, I was hooked. I have always taken a story (scripture) and attempted to relate it to real life. And in so doing, I often times pull a story from my own life – and believe me, they can tell when it’s real! I sometimes use music to illustrate a point (singing is my 1st love). I preach about a lot of Jesus’ love! I once used a real-life story from my childhood, brought tears to the eyes of a couple of little old ladies, and at the end received a standing ovation – so I have begun to watch with anticipation for your next article. May God continue to bless you and your ministry. Pastor Sandy
What a wonderful article Elder Cox II. I do realize that different cultures respond differently based on how they were taught to respond to certain things. My total belief in the Holy Bible has taught me that Adam was indeed the first man God created, and that Eve is with out question the mother of all living, (Gen. 3:20). Therefore, we are all both connected and related in the world God gave us to inhabit.
I said that to say this. There is no such things as RACE, nor should there have ever been this type of comparison made simply because it produces PRIDE, something God hates! The sooner we can get rid of the term, the better off this world will be. The word RACE is an infringement upon humanity. We as human beings, made in the image and likenes of God have all been made with one blood for all nations of men, Acts 17:26. The Bible describes the differences being nations, kindred, and tongues having no respect of persons with God, (Romans 2:11). Thank God that He loves variety or else we might do somethiing foolish like cling to the skin color issue as a reason to separate ourselves one to another!
Some of our brethren are taught under quite ministries, while others are taught in a more animated atmosphere. The point is, when you have something to talk about as exciting and wonderful as the love of Jesus. Whether your way of rejoicing is through stillness, or with the shout, praise, and the dance. God is still the one who examines the true heart of man. We can all benefit from great preaching styles, regardless of where they originate, as long as they are effective in reaching the lost. Great topic…
@Elder Carl Bruce. You said “We can all benefit from great preaching styles, regardless of where they originate”
You have said in a very few words what I attempted to say with many…God bless…
@Sandy C. Yes, an energetic and engaged congregation can be a great aid while we attempt to preach. The reason for that is that the congregation plays a role in the preaching event.
“Others want me to address how to preach to white folks or people of other ethnicities. They ask me, “How do I change this to preach to white people?””
hahaha…oh the irony of that statement! I am a white preacher who grew up in Pentecostal churches where the preaching was highly oratorical and often from the viewpoint of the disenfrachised. I contend that preaching in the classial pentecostal denominations and traditions is black preaching due to the historical influence of the black church on pentecostals.
But I remember the first time I was asked to preach for the local almost all white middle class respectable First Baptist Church and the first question I asked, without even thinking about it was, how do I change my preaching to preach to white foks? Then it hit me of course, Oh yea…I’m white. I can do white preaching. So I mistakenly figured I would “do white preaching” by staying tied to the pulpit and not letting myself get too excited and definitely DON’T WHOOP!
Well I soon got tired of preaching that way because it just isn’t me and now I preach pretty much the same anywhere to anyone.