Napoléon Roussel: How Not to Preach
Jesus Christ, a Role Model for All Preachers
Roussel dedicates the last and without doubt the most beautiful chapter of his book How Not To Preach to him who was the greatest of all preachers: Jesus Christ.
Roussel first notes that Jesus does not make use of rhetorical artifices: “Jesus does not make a speech but he speaks …there is no division, no preconceived arrangement, no exordium and no peroration.” He who wishes to imitate Jesus Christ in the pulpit must speak rather than preach.
The subject-matter
Jesus does not speak in abstract terms but he ‘personalises’ his speech. “When he encounters an abstract idea, Jesus transforms it into a living being”: he does not speak of redemption, but of the Redeemer, he does not dwell on humility but on the humble. Thereby Jesus focuses on real life. Abstract notions may convey ideas but not feelings; they may communicate a system but not salvation. Moreover, they may lead the audience to the erroneous belief that they are Christians just because they understand the Christian doctrine. Finally, stories involving people are much more interesting than abstractions.
The audience
Jesus adapts to his audience. He takes account of their intelligence and morality, of their prejudices and their profession. He meets them where they are and leads them step by step to the point where they can recognise where they have gone astray and grasp the truth that he wants them to understand. He only condemns the Pharisees, whom he considers to be lost beyond recovery in their hypocrisy.
Very often, Jesus, instead of answering the questions of his interlocutors, addresses what is behind the questions: “he goes to the bottom of the heart of his audience and seeks what they hide or even ignore. He does not settle for superficial triumphs but he wants real victories; he does not wish to silence people, but to persuade them.” This distinguishes him from many preachers who want to confound rather than to convince and who are happy when they have answered a question without giving any consideration to whether they have answered the real need behind the question, which the words do not fully convey.
In addition, Jesus is a master in the art of touching people. His threefold questioning of Peter, which reminds Peter of his threefold denial, is one example; his delicate way of dealing with the case of the adulteress is another one.
Roussel refers to the saying of Jesus according to which “anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” and points out that a man reaches the truth to the extent to which he loves what is good. “Therefore, we will only succeed with our audience if we reach them where they are in respect of their love of what is good.” As a consequence, the preacher has to teach the audience in accordance with its needs and understanding. This approach, however, requires him to leave the trodden paths and the comfort of the “one size fits all” approach.
Roussel is of the opinion that the preacher should place himself on the common ground of human nature. Everybody has a certain degree of heart, conscience and reason. However, if the preacher reaches into the depths of theology, logic or philosophy, he will leave most people behind.
Jesus is different because of his naturalness and his simplicity. Who does not understand his parables? Jesus does not even mention the subtleties that may have excited the scholars of his time; he takes his images from nature, the fields, and family. Despite their being deep, his words are within everyone’s reach.
“Who preaches as simply as Jesus Christ? Who could say: There is no servant or peasant in the audience who has not understood? Nobody. Why? Because nobody cares for his audience to the point that he forgets himself.”
The preacher
Despite his greatness and the importance of the role he has to play, Jesus does not dwell on his person. He speaks mostly of other people. He, the Son of God, refers to himself as the ‘Son of man’.
“Also, he does not refrain from adopting a popular style. There is no literary ambition in him. Whenever he colours his ideas, uses repetitive forms, or dramatizes his teaching, it is always for the sake of his audience, because he wants to be understood and not admired.”
Roussel briefly mentions Adolphe Monod, whose eloquence impressed everybody. But his most powerful speeches were given on his death bed, “precisely because they was less style and more simplicity.” Roussel pursues:
“Yes, when somebody wants to talk to me on eternal matters, I want to hear the man and I distrust the orator. I do not want to be charmed, I want to be taught. I am here, not to be excited but to be converted to God. If you make me remark your talents, I miss the real purpose; you make me serve your reputation when you should dedicate yourself to the work of my salvation. This pulpit was not made for you, the preacher, but for me, the auditor. You are my minister, my servant!”
Roussel then summarises his findings in three recommendations:
- focus on people rather than ideas;
- adapt to the level of the audience; and
- make little case of yourself.
He adds to further exhortations. First, he addresses the non converted preachers. He considers that their work is in vain, lest they convert. Roussel then turns to the converted preachers. He advises them to give up their desire to be admired and to simplify their speech. In order to do so, they have to prepare themselves better before they go to the pulpit:
“If our subject was developed in depth, if we possessed the matter well; if our ideas were clear, our plan complete, our heart prepared by meditation, and above all, if we had obtained the Spirit’s anointing by prayer, we would go to the pulpit without fear, we would stay in it without being afraid of missing a development, without being worried that we would not produce the desired effect. Our mind being free and calm, we would hit the right note; our very behaviour would command respect, and being master of ourselves, because the subject would seize us more and more as we progress, we would become master of the audience and end up joyfully leading it to the desired end.”
As a final remark, Roussel insists on the importance of faithful prayer in view of the Spirit’s assistance. Without an intervention of the Spirit of God, all our efforts are doomed to fail.
Back to chapter 7 (Ovid)
Back to the index |
