On Bellowing Preachers

Soft is the music that would charm forever.

Just heard a recording of a much younger Chuck Swindoll. His pulpit must have had a great audio system. It didn't distort him at all when he began to bellow.

Now Chuck should know better. He is good at preaching the Word. He even yells like a pro, though I like him a lot more when his voice is at an even keel. In fact, his message on self confidence could have been spoken quite softly.

I was driving with a friend, many moons ago. He was dialing for some music when he came across a frenetic preacher. He turned the volume way up so that the gasping man sounded even worse, not realizing that he was using the same tactics as the man on the air.

Some men of God catch on, lower the volume and learn to communicate with a normal voice. John McGee began as a yeller, but toned it down when he became a teacher. This latter became his greatest career, and his recordings are, thankfully, still on the air.

Is it the perception of the screamers that we are so dense and asleep that theatrics are needed to get our attention and prove their points?

McGee told of a New York City cab driver who tuned him in by accident and made a habit of listening to him just because he sounded like a yokel. But because of his quiet, conversational tone, the cabbie began to listen to his Bible teaching. Would anyone have done this to someone yelling?

We're not in basic training (and I don't see why it is needed there), we are rational beings. Of course, Chuck knows his congregation better than I do.