The Pride of the Pulpit and the Pride of the Pews

As far as I'm concerned, the word “pride” is a rather unfortunate word. On one hand it can refer to something healthy and appropriate (to be “proud” of one's accomplishments) on the other hand it can refer to a sin so deep that in the Roman Catholic tradition, it's referred to as a “deadly sin.” While I certainly don't believe in “deadly sins,” there is a certain amount of wisdom in the recognition that pride can be powerfully destructive.

Eventually maybe I'll write about a “healthy pride” in the pews and in the pulpit but for now, I'd like to note the later kind – the kind that's destructive and, yes, sinful.

I've only been standing behind the pulpit for about 10 years. Prior to that, I sat in front of it. Both can be good places to be; each is prone to a particular type of hubris. The hubris of the pulpit is obvious. Preachers often imagine themselves as the “voice of God to the people.”

Yes, there's some truth to that... but only some. Only when the voice from the pulpit is truly proclaiming the words of God. All too often, we behind the pulpit are proclaiming our own message baptized by a few proof texts and a handful of emotionally wrenching stories. I once had an elderly preacher's wife tell me that every minister has a mere handful of sermons that they continually preach. All she had to do was listen to him (she used the masculine) for a month and she could figure out his (again, her pronoun) three or four fundamental sermons. What she meant was that often, ministers resort to preaching that which they're most familiar with regardless of what the passage truly seeks to say. She was right. The pride of the pulpit is the belief that my message is God's message regardless of whether or not I've taken the time to ensure that God's message has become mine.

There is a particular hubris on the other side of the pulpit however too. The pride of the pews is the belief that, because someone has been attending church all of his or her life s/he is automatically qualified to make theological, doctrinal and biblical pronouncements. Yes, there's some truth to that... but only some. Only when the pronouncements are faithful to the scriptures and true to the wisdom of the church. I use a toilet every day... that doesn't make me qualified to plumb. I drive a car every day... I am not able to change my own brakes. I go to a doctor regularly, and yet I am not suited to remove someone's appendix. The hubris of the pews is the belief that the training and experience of a minister is worthless and that personal experience trumps all.

The preacher's pride is not unlike that of any other professional. Truly, I've seen pedestal-sitting doctors and teachers and construction workers. But the pew-sitters-pride is unlike anything I see elsewhere. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it is a fault of the reformation and the belief that the “priesthood of believers” somehow makes everyone equally qualified for all things (which, of course isn't true – each of us are differently gifted, differently skilled and differently resourced). Perhaps it is the fault of seminaries and the increasing belief, on the part of both pew-sitters and pulpit-pounders, that a M.Div. provides little (or no) helpful preparation for “true ministry.” I'm not sure.

I am sure, though, that in my 3 decades, I've seen immense destruction done in the name of both the pride of the pulpit and the pride of the pews. I wonder what you think....

Grace and Peace,

`tim

Comments

[K L Davelaar]

Great thoughts Rev. TenClay

[Chris Chopp]

Pastor Tim,

I can relate to the "pride of the pulpit" as a science teacher. This applies to my students colleagues and friends alike. Often I feel like a target for peoples criticism of what I have spent time studying and teaching. Postmodern philosophy which permeates, whether we acknowledge it or not, our viewpoints attitudes and reactions toward teaching/preaching contribute to our pride of the pews. It seems ironic that this is the case given preachers present the truth for an hour or two a week, and after hearing it along with our own experience we are now somehow qualified to make truth statements that border on relativism. It is paradoxical that scientist collect data, perform experiments, and come to conclusions based on observation of the natural world and yet the conclusions they come to are relative to whatever a person wants to believe. (natural selection, age of the earth, existence of dinosaurs, origin on the universe etc.) Science, though it seems like an unlikely comparison to faith, shares many similarities when it comes to peoples reactions to it, and the fact that everyone not only has an opinion, but consider them selves experts on the matter with little to no formal training. Thank you for bringing up some interesting thoughts on the the pride of the pew. My post is a tangent, but loosely related. I enjoyed this humble pie along with my thanksgiving meal this weekend.

cchoppnyc