Fundamentalists and the Lectionary

Well, since I don't know what it is, I guess I can say we don't use it.

Bro. James - a Primitive Baptist

 

I think we can say 100% that no Primitive, Old Regular, or any other type of primitivistic sect would be found using a lectionary (although it's hard to say anything 100% about Baptists). As for IFB's, probably harder to find than a needle in an haystack - but every once in awhile someone finds a needle in an haystack!

 

Haruo, the preachers in primitivistic Baptist groups (Primitive, Old Regular, Regular, United, et al.) usually preach extemporaneously.

 

I'm as conservative as they come, and I use the lectionary to help prepare my preaching calendar as well as Bible passages to be read during worship. I do so because just one sermon at Easter and just one sermon at Christmas is a joke. Ignoring Good Friday is a joke, and ignoring some of the other Christian observances is unnecessary, too.

Stephen Rummage's new book "Planning Your Preaching" (Kregel) has a very helpful section on the lectionary, and this man is a conservative's conservative who now teaches at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

I believe Dr. John Piper also utilizes the Lectionary some as well, doesn't he?

The Lectionary is nothing to be feared just because some liturgical churches may abuse it

 

The term "extemporaneous" in no way precludes careful preparation. Did you mean to use this term?

 

I use "ilk" as well - I just teased you once for assigning me to one.

Joshua

 

Yes, I did mean to use the term. It does not exclude preparation, but it does mean what I meant to say - "composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment, impromptu" [Webster's New Collegiate, definition 1 a (1)]. Tom, you might also wish to clarify that you and John Piper are not part of the groups Haruo referenced in his question.

 

Okay, from what I read on the link, I'm supposing that it means to prepare or write out your sermons in advance. Is that correct? If so, I can state for a fact that no Primitive Baptist, Old Line anyway, prepares their sermons. They, and I include myself in this, do study throughout the week, but many times, infact most times in my case, God will not reveal what he wants to be preached until you're in the pulpit.

As Primitive's, we depend solely on the Lord for the message. If I stood up and preached a sermon that I had written, I would not be preaching, I would be reading. I also believe that God would not bless me in that, or the congregation. The day I start depending on myself to write a good-sounding sermon, and not the Lord, I know he will slap me down and put me back into my place.

Also, I have seen before when a preacher has gotten into the pulpit, and immediately had to sit back down. That's one thing about us Primitive's, if God doesn't give us a subject, we sit down, but if He does, you are going to be there a while.

God Bless. Bro. James

 

This is nonsense that cannot be backed up by any Scripture taken faithfully.

Besides, I can produce similar quotes from Puritans who believed if you did not have a manuscript, you were not called of God and you were not preaching, and that if you stood to preach w/o a carefully, prayerfully prepared mss, you were sinning against God and could not be blessed by the Lord at all.

 

Usage of a lectionary does not always include a manuscript. Extemporaneous deliverers of sermons use it.

Robert wrote:

So long as extemporaneous is a method of delivery, not preparation And remember, it is one method, or one facet of a method. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

I write a manuscript, but I don't read it verbatim when I preach. (I do follow the lectionary - but we're a liturgical church.) For me, writing a manuscript forces me to organize and focus my thoughts so that I don't ramble when I preach. God can as easily move me at my keyboard as in the pulpit.

Joshua

 

Very sound logically and theologically. Now why can't you do that more often friend?

 

I have heard some extemporaneous sermons and think it would have been better had they prepared in advance and read it word for word.

My sermons are written out word for word, and sermon outlines taken into the pulpit. To each his own. God does not reward laziness, but when a man is called upon without prior notice, it has been known for God to pour out a blessing.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Sorry, I didn't know this was a debate over what type of sermons are proper (but I guess this is the debate forum, huh?). All I intended to do was answer Harou's question. Let me see if I can find some words about which someone will not complain. Harou, considering the fact that most, if not all, preachers in primitivistic Baptist groups do not plan their preaching in the way commonly accepted and practiced among the majority of Baptists, and adding the fact that most do not observe the "Christian Year," the use of a lectionary is quite irrelevant to their practice.

 

I didn't know we were going to debate this. I was just giving the answer that fits Primitive Baptist churches.

Tom, to call our beliefs nonsense is a very childish gesture on your part. We have our beliefs for a reason, scriptural and God-given. I'm not out trying to convert you, I'm just putting forth what we believe. It is not my fault God hasn't revealed the truth to you.

Seriously though, many times Primitive preachers do not know in advance if they are going to be called on to fill the pulpit. They must always study and pray for God to bless them with a message. One reason we don't write sermons in advance is because we are not told to do that in the Bible.

Nothing burns me up more than for people to say how my religion, which I believe with all my heart is the truth, is nonsense or ridiculous. My great aunt told me last weekend, she's a Southern Baptist from Georgia, that our beliefs are ridiculous and she would not step foot in our church.
Would anyone else here like if I said that your church practices nonsensical beliefs? We can debate things, but it must be done in a Christian manner, without insults, or I will refuse to answer.