May 22, 2009
Audience of One
To me the phrase ‘for an audience of One’ implies that the only recognition and approval a presenter needs is from the Lord. While I like the sentiment, I’m not sure it’s accurate. We serve the Lord with our preaching, teaching and witnessing, but the audience is actually those who are willing to listen. I recently read an article that said, “If you, the speaker, want to make your presentation meaningful for your audience, you must convince them to make Yes! decisions to these four questions.” 1) Am I going to listen? 2) Am I going to benefit from what is said? 3) Will it be valuable enough to take with me? and 4) Am I going to act on what I hear? Regardless of the size of His audience, Jesus makes it easy for listeners to sort out what is needed and to take it with them
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Gail;
-----It strikes me as paradoxical that Jesus spoke in parables lest those whose hearts had grown dull might perceive and understand and turn to Him for healing. It seems that He sought from some the “no” answer to your four questions. Yet His messages were compelling of “yes” from those whose hearts were soft and receptive.
-----I remember what you told me a couple years ago: choose your audience, know them, and speak to them. Jesus chose His audience by the delivery of His message. He also knew them, that they would dig out the meaning of what He said. But He certainly did not make it easy for them.
-----Some messages simply can not be conveyed through ear tickling. The message conservatives are trying to spread is a good example. Progressive liberalism has been burning Western culture for the last couple centuries, and I get so flustered by the masses who give ear to its insanity. But the substance of its message is the stuff of the senses and emotions, and it trucks hardly at all with logic. Most people want to just eat, drink, and be merry, so they will only think deeply enough to know and understand a few notable quotes for impressing their friends over a can of beer and a slice of pizza. But the underpinnings of classical liberalism (which in the mid-1900’s was renamed “conservativism” so collective Progressives could call themselves “liberals”) involve information and rational constructs like concrete involves gravel and sand. Conservativism calls forth thought as well as obedience to known principle, while liberalism calls forth thought and imagination. Which has a chance for the bigger audience?
-----But size of audience and mass reception is secondarily the point to the bearer of a relevant and true message. He knows reality sits as hard and immobile as the boulders in the belly of the Black Canyon. He does not want his audience to slip and fall on the way to the bottom of it, so he must be careful with the important details on the way there. But he also knows only the boldest will go with him, for his message bores many folks even beyond what great delivery might rescue. So he does his best for as many as he can, states his message for them, and understands that entertainment is less important than communication, because in the belly of life, the stakes are high.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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