Tools for Effective Preaching in The Grapes of Wrath

The conversation between Jim Casey and Tom Joad made me to think deeper about the role and responsibilities of a preacher. I began to recognize that peaching is a high calling and not a mere vocation. It is a high calling because it deals with issues of being and non-being as well as issues of ultimate concern. Preaching is a daunting task that involves ministering to people needs spirit, soul and body. This is a huge obligation because leadership is responsibility and responsibility is leadership. The conversation between Jim and Joad also made me to reflect on issues pertaining to theology, philosophy, and the history of theology, church history, hermeneutics, teleology, fundamentalism and systematic theology.  

Jim preached with passion and intensity, one time he gave a whole sermon walking with his hands and yelling at the people. I believe that just like Jim preaching must involve the full engagement of one’s spirit, soul and body. Preachers minister to the whole person that is spirit, soul and body. The prophet Jeremiah said that the word of God was like fire shuttered in his bones. The word of God affects every aspect of humanity because it is powerful. The Soul is comprised of the mind, will and emotions. Emotions are an integral part of life because human beings are emotional creatures. A human being is a spirit with a soul living in a body. Preaching is very powerful because impacts the whole person which includes the soul. People open up their most vulnerable areas in life to preachers with absolute trust. It is important for preachers to create boundaries particularly when dealing with members of the opposite sex. Women trusted Jim because of his position of authority, unfortunately Jim abused this his office and slept with young women in the grass. Instead of protecting his sheep as a good and faithful shepherd, Jim became the perpetrator of abuse. This reminds me of what Jesus said in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves”. I began to think of preachers as shepherds, instead of protecting sheep they are devouring them, maybe they were not shepherds in the first place. Preachers are generally held to higher standards of accountability and responsibility. Preachers are leaders and they must never abuse their positions of authority. I also noticed that Jim ministered to others but it seems he had no one to minister to him. It is very dangerous for a preacher to burn out physically, emotionally or spirituality. I have noticed that as a preacher, I need to have time for replenishing, rest and refreshing. As a preacher I am human with limitations and weaknesses and desperately need to be ministered to just as I minsters to others.

I have discovered that preaching must bring transformation and change to individuals, institutions, communities and even nations. Jim reminded me of fundamentalists who in their passion to evangelize the world have misinterpreted the scriptures and gone into the world with bad theology because their canonology was wrong hence their historic criticism, hermeneutics and exegesis was incorrect. Jim was having a difficulty with preaching because he began to ask whether religion had answers to the difficulties the people were experiencing. It seemed that the people he was preaching to did not change nor their did lives improve. It dawned on me that there is a big difference between entertainment and transformation, between information and revelation and finally between religion and relationship. I have noticed that preaching is not supposed to tickle the itching ears of individuals nor does it need to satisfy people’s carnal desires. The preaching of the word must challenge injustices such as racism, classism, greed, oppression and subjugation. Preaching must challenge the misconceptions in the dominant culture and produce the kingdom of God. Karl Marx thought that religion was the opium of the masses but I strongly disagree because when the word is preached evil instillations are shaken and the masses are quicken through invigorating revelation. This will give the impetus for change and once momentum is gathered, change is inevitable. Preachers must preach sound doctrine and desist from preaching doctrines doctored by devils.