The Resurgence have posted a great article on Prayer by John Newton, [Go and read it NOW, its better than reading my post].
In it Newton talks of the length of prayers, Preaching in prayers, Methods of praying, Peculiarities of Manner in praying & Informality in Prayer. But one paragraph that I found interesting that Newton picked up on was the tone of praying, about this he said;
"The tone of the voice is likewise to be regarded. Some have a tone in prayer so very different from their usual way of speaking, that their nearest friends, if not accustomed to them, could hardly know them by their voice. Sometimes the tone is changed, perhaps more than once, so that if our eyes did not give us more certain information than our ears, we might think two or three persons had been speaking by turns. It is a pity that when we approve what is spoken we should be so easily disconcerted by an awkwardness of delivery: yet so it often is, and probably so it will be, in the present weak and imperfect state of human nature. It is more to be lamented than wondered at, that sincere Christians are sometimes forced to confess: 'He is a good man, and his prayers as to their substance are spiritual and judicious, but there is something so displeasing in his manner that I am always uneasy when I hear him'."
Along with a few friends I often talk of 'preacher voice', by which we mean when someone speaking begins to speak/preach in a voice and/or tone that is not their normal way of speaking. In saying this we acknowledge that we have done this in the past and probably still do to an extent but it is great to read such a man as John Newton picking up on that very thing and saying its not the best and that we should be concerned with praying in a normal tone so as not to put others off!
I guess its not stretching it to say the same about our preaching?
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
About Boaly
Gary has been involved in printing the Scriptures for 20 years, enjoys photography and rambling online
6 comments:
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How far do you take that though? Many people have a different way of carrying their voice in public speaking than in conversation. Now, I'm not likening the preaching of God's Truth to simple public speaking but to talk publicly does our way of pronunciation and emphasis remain totally the same or does it change slightly for a clearer effort at communication? And is it different for prayer again?
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6:22 pm
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Is it simply that there is no change at all, in any way, or the point that there should not be such a change that the personality and the voice of the preacher is unrecognisable that you are thinking?
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6:27 pm
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Id say its more to do with being ones self when speaking in public, often you can look through a denomonation and many of its pastors/ministers sound the same, using pronounciations and similar tones.
It is pretty obvious that we are going to make every effort to be clearly understood by our listeners but often this comes across as though we're putting on a voice, tones etc that we would not normally use.
I know many ministers who are speak completely different in the pulpit and a few who even put on a weird scottish type accent which just freaks me out.
I think we should also allow our personality to come through, which doesnt mean that we prettend to be funny or anything else but that we are the same personality when speaking as we are at normal times.
Just thinking and am totally willing to rethink or/and be rebuked.
Anyone else have something to say? -
8:36 pm
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I agree that the Scottish thing is freaky! And also the denomination thing is clear, but I think most people sound different when preaching but I guess its down to whether sounding different in ways really qualifies as putting on an accent and trying to be someone who we aren't. I don't have much of an issue with people who sound a bit different, cos I know I do a bit (not that that gives justification or not), but I do have an issue with trying to sound like someone else or trying to draw attention to powerful oratory skills through the use of accent and voice manipulation. It's a hazy issue in that the task of preaching in one sense is not just normal conversation but it always is a task in which God uses an individual who He has made in a unique fashion and who He is working in and moulding so the personality should not be removed.
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9:00 pm
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Yeh, and I guess another aspect to consider is that we are influenced greatly by others and a natural human tendancy is to imitate those we spend time with. So if we spend alot of time listening someone who speaks alot of truth into our lives eg Piper, then I think its fair to say that that becomes part of who we are and we may take on characteristics, tones, expressions, vocabulary etc that those 'mentors' use!
Knowing you bro, I know who you are in and out of the pulpit and don't see much difference, you have an intensity and a passion for Christ and though your tone may change it is not extreme nor just for the sake of sounding class!
As for myself id say that influenced by Driscoll I have been freed to relax more into it and find an enjoyment in preaching where, before I was very 'stiff' and 'preachery' and not really myself.
Over the weekend we'll be listening to each others tones as we preach bro', after this post I definately have to get up and sound normal Gary Boal! Haha! ;-)
I also think there's a tendancy to us that as we are taught, influenced and grow older our personalities can change!
Again there's the area of "I became all things to all men..." So I guess it'd be fair for someone to speak with more eloquence etc if speaking to upperclass or well educated and yet bringing a different tone and moving into laymans terms if speaking to a more uneducated or unlearned in the scripture group!
I guess as long as Christ is preached, the gospel is upheld and we are understood by and relevant to our hearers alls ok! -
9:17 pm
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I agree, but also truly believe that your concern is worthy of concern! I believe you hit the nail on the head in the summary, "as long as Christ is preached", I would add "and clearly seen" and not hidden in any measure whether by our wit, our accent, our language, our relevance, eloquence, not any of it! Jesus and Jesus only! And delivered with passion, whatever way each individual may convey that! The bottom line is be faithful to the Word, be faithful to Jesus and be faithful to who God is making and calling you to be! You are Gary Boal in the pulpit bro, to the glory of King Jesus!
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9:27 pm
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