I'm in the process of writing a talk for an outreach event our church is holding. In preparing it, I was very struck by a quote I read from Martin Luther:
'No-one can be a good preacher to the people who is not willing to preach in a manner that seems childish and vulgar to some.'
It reminded me that our aim in doing anything like this should be solely to present the gospel as faithfully, in a way that ensures everyone who hears can understand it. We must set aside any desires to be thought well of for our our skills as a speaker, our theological grasp or erudition, and use whatever means to win souls. Our simple, earthy illustrations and plain language without theological terminology might not earn us a reputation as a great speaker, but who cares? Augustine said that 'A wooden key is not so beautiful as a golden one, but if it can open the door when the golden one cannot, it is far more useful.' This is what Paul meant by 'becoming all things to all men'. He did not care a jot about what others thought of him or his preaching, but only for the glory of his heavenly Father and the benefit of his hearers.
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