One of the papers published by our institution-supporting brethren (Christian Chronicle, March 2002) recently printed an interview with Tim Woodroof, evangelist for a church in Nashville. The introduction goes on to state that brother Woodroof has “a passion for engaging church members in the study and understanding of Scripture” and a “concern for the Biblical illiteracy of our fellowship.” Having similar passion and concern myself, I read on in the hope of learning something that would help me in my own efforts to engage others with God’s word.

I agreed with brother Woodroof’s observation that we who preach the gospel “have to make the connection between life and Bible explicit.” He continues, “Each Sunday, I feel the challenge of handling the Bible in a way that shows its vitality and relevance, its power, its applicability to everyday life. I want people to be impressed with what God has to say to them — enough to put words into practice.” I feel that same responsibility daily.

But brother Woodroof made several other comments in the interview that I found difficult to reconcile. For example, when he addresses the way preachers should engage Christians with the sacred text, brother Woodroof says, “It’s not enough for us to ‘preach Bible.’” I’m not sure I understand that. If one’s intent is to draw people to God’s word, how can it be that preaching that word only is insufficient? Woodroof goes on, “So, when it comes to the pulpit and lectern, I think passion is the hook.” I’m sure it’s not what he meant, but that almost sounds as if brother Woodroof is saying that without emotionalism, it’s impossible to interest people in what God has to say. To me, that’s selling the power of the word awfully short.

When asked how we can encourage people to know the Bible, particularly those who do not have much background in Scripture study, brother Woodroof replies, “I’m convinced it will only happen through story.” He goes on to describe a series of commentaries he is writing, the first volume of which deals with the book of Philippians. “I’ve done this with narrative,” he says. “The bulk of (title of the Philippians commentary) is narrative fiction.” Excuse me? The way to get people to study the Bible is by telling them stories? The way to comment on the inspired truth is through “narrative fiction”? I don’t get that. I doubt Paul would get that either, especially in light of his teaching regarding “fables” in 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

Here’s an interesting comment from brother Woodroof: “If there is a characteristic weakness of our preaching, it is the tendency to view the preaching task through an educational lens. ‘Sermons should make points. Sermons should be heavy on Scriptures and light on illustrations. Listeners should be better informed after a sermon.’” “Such a view of preaching,” he says, “gets us in trouble…Jesus told parables more often than He quoted Scriptures.” Brother Woodroof says, “The task of preaching isn’t primarily about conveying more information. It’s about convicting people to care about and practice the information they have.” I wonder how brother Woodroof would assess Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 — a sermon largely composed of quotations from and references to the Old Testament Scriptures.

The central flaw in brother Woodroof’s position is illuminated by a remark he makes near the conclusion of the interview. “We are preaching to a postmodern world,” he says. “For many in our audience, piling up fact on top of Biblical fact is not of much interest. They already have more facts than they know what to do with. Their questions are different.” There’s the true bottom line. That old Bible stuff just doesn’t play today. “Book, chapter and verse” is “old-school,” as the kids like to put it.

I have more faith in God and His word than that. I believe that the word is still “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). I believe that the gospel is still “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). I believe that preachers should still “preach the word…in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). I believe that the word of God, planted in noble and good hearts, will still bring forth fruit, thirty, sixty and a hundredfold (Matthew 13:23; Luke 8:15). And I believe that the word of God will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11). I only wish all my brethren still believed.