It is the Word implanted (James) that creates faith and nurtures the Fruit of the Spirit.
· So it is all so simple. We do not preach as the apostles did, commanding all men to repent and believe and knowing that only by the ministry of the Spirit will they do so, because (unlike Peter and Paul) we are afraid of creating a false impression that human effort saves.
"The theology of homiletics is far less simplistic and requires a genuine comprehension of biblical soteriology.". But then, it’s easier to paint a straw-man of applicatory preaching:
- A good preacher will reference the Word as to soteriolgy, as what true faith looks like and does, but 10 steps to this or that, or barn burning harangues (address somebody loudly and forcefully) about Christian morality won't change anything.
Because, you know, the whole history of applicatory (suitable for applying) preaching may be summed up with reference to a few miserable trends in the last few decades: application can only take the form of raving : i.e.
- (Irrational, used to emphasize the sense of admiration and excitement felt for something, or wildly irrational speech, anger, or insulting utterances)) fundamentalistic diatribes (a bitter verbal or written attack on somebody or something) or silly self-help seminars. No one has ever done it any other way.
