View the full issue for Summer 2009
Celebration of Biblical Preaching: Bridging the Gap Between the Bible and Our World Today
Preaching Plagiarism
by Dr. David Lose, The Marbury Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching
What is Biblical Preaching?
by Karoline Lewis, Assistant Professor of Biblical Preaching
What We're Reading
by Travis Gerjets
D.Min. Spotlight on Bill Smith
Polish Your Preaching
In the Company of Preachers - Speaking about the Scriptures
Preachers on Preaching
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What We're Reading
by Travis Gerjets
 John McClure presents a dense survey of the postmodern preaching landscape in his work, other-wise preaching: a postmodern ethic for homiletics. Though an informative read, this is not a book for the light of heart - or for the novice of philosophical/theological vocabulary! Referencing modern and postmodern philosophers throughout, McClure tries to offer readers a representative picture of the schools of thought regarding truth and the communication of truth as it relates to public proclamation, specifically exploring the deconstruction of biblical preaching.
Though accomplishing this task, other-wise preaching is a work on the verge of being inaccessible to all but the scholarly reader (and/or those readers with a quality thesaurus and great patience!). Also disappointing was, in my opinion, the scant efforts to develop homiletic theory with practical preaching examples. This being said, other-wise preaching is an important work for understanding the postmodern preaching conversation and is worth the attention of preachers today.
Reading McClure's survey and critique of postmodern homiletics while in the process of working on a sermon created a helpful dialogue between theory and practice; specifically, I resonated with McClure's critique of thematic/doctrinal hermeneutics and preaching (my words, not McClure's) as I worked through the process of Scripture study and sermon preparation. In my Lutheran reading of Scripture, I am quick to look for and grab hold of the "Law and Gospel" of the text, often either forcing my desired reading of Scripture or, perhaps more often, neglecting other readings of Scripture in the effort to conform to my denominational (and comfortable) hermeneutical practice. McClure's critique - and the critique of those he references - is apt in challenging a somewhat narrow thematic/doctrinal interpretation of biblical texts, encouraging preachers to listen to the voices on the margins of our traditions and be open to and challenged by alternative readings of Scripture.
In my opinion, this challenge is not only helpful in getting us preachers to listen to and for the other in our engagement with Scripture, but it is also helpful in ensuring that sermons do not become a repetitive and, as a result, an emptied assertion of core convictions and doctrinal beliefs. In my own Lutheran tradition, this would mean that not all sermons need to be "Law and Gospel" sermons and might instead explore alternative themes and messages that also bear the Word of God.
John McClure's other-wise preaching is a book that I am still digesting. Though I am still searching for the definitions of many of the words McClure uses in his presentation of the theory behind postmodern preaching, I am nonetheless indebted to his efforts; this is a work that helped me to more deeply understand an important conversation in preaching today and, as a result, re-imagine how I understand the responsibility of proclaiming the Gospel.
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