Book review of Why Johnny Can’t Preach
Why Johnny Can’t Preach is a
wonderful little book discussing why ministers in our day and age “Can’t
Preach” or at least can’t preach well.
The author discusses such things as
the fact that we no longer write letters to each other where we take time to
compose our thoughts and discuss the important and significant things. He also
touches on the fact the people who talk on the telephone regularly tend to
discuss the insignificant because silence on the phone is extremely awkward and
so we tend to fill it up with things that don’t really matter.
The author also discusses how we no
longer read texts carefully but instead scan them for information. Unlike years
ago when people read poetry and read Shakespeare and read them slowly and carefully.
These and other cultural shifts have affected the preaching of many ministers
but the author doesn’t simply tell us the bad news he does off help and hope for
the preacher. If we will choose to cultivate habits like reading good
literature slowly and carful as well as writing letters and journal articles or
even journaling then the preacher can grow and get better at preaching.
This really was an interesting and worthwhile read.
