The danger is often subtle. The megachurches have demonstrated that they
have been able to develop methodologies capable of drawing large audiences of
the unchurched into their preaching services. And in many ways they have
taught the church how to minister to a culture long out of touch with its roots in
Christianity. Certainly few have done this more successfully than Pastor Rick
Warren. His Saddleback Valley Community Church in Southern California is
arguably the most widely known church in America. His book, The Purpose
Driven Church, may well have influenced more evangelical pastors than any
other single contemporary book on ministry. Warren should receive our highest
commendation for his obvious desire to preach biblically and to reach people for
Christ. His criticisms of much evangelical preaching are valid, especially when
he criticizes what he calls "Ain't it awful" preaching, which does little more than
complain about society and conditions in general and offers little to make a
difference.
However, at points, his views on preaching to attract an audience and build the
church raise a central question about the character and breadth of authentic
biblical preaching. He wants to assure that the message is not compromised,
even though it is important to aim it toward the needs the listeners perceive as
central to their lives. "Please understand," he says, "The unchurched are not
asking that we change the message or even dilute it, only that we show its
relevance. Their big question is 'So what?' They want to know what difference
our message makes."
must determine what is and what is not relevant about the message? It should
be noted that his expressed intention is to direct his preaching ministry toward
unchurched, and presumably unregenerate, people. There is a subtle danger
here that we are close to surrendering sovereignty to the listener. If we can
convince our unchurched hearers that our message is relevant to their lives and
needs as they see them, they will happily listen. This methodology of preaching
to the unchurched may too easily slide toward shaping our messages according
to what the crowd wants to listen to. Warren goes on to say, "The truth is not
optional. But your audience does determine which truths you choose to preach
about."
included in the revealed Word may get short-changed in the process.
William Willimon expresses graphically this subtle danger: