Preaching the Gospel

J. I. Packer contends that we can learn a great deal from the Puritan viewpoint of preaching of the gospel.  Just as the Puritan view of the Christian life differs substantially from that of our day, so does their view of how a person becomes a Christian.  The Puritan approach to evangelism was controlled by the knowledge that fallen, sinful people cannot turn to God or exercise faith by their own strength.  Here is the crucial difference; much of evangelism today is carried on in the belief that every sinner has the ability to trust God anytime they choose to do so.  Of paramount importance is securing the sinner’s “decision” by any means. Puritan preaching was grounded on the conviction that conversion is a gracious sovereign work of divine power.  The implications of this are tremendous.  Foremost is the belief that the methods of modern evangelism, such as psychological pressure to make a decision, have a natural tendency to produce a crop of false converts.  The Puritans would seek simply to be faithful in proclaiming the gospel, leaving it to God’s Spirit to draw men to faith.  They would never accept the idea that preaching to modern hearers about law and sin is no longer valid or useful.  They understood that no one will see their need of the Savior if they do not know about God’s law and judgment.  There is so much more to say on this subject.