If our pastor’s preaching is harsh, demanding, and condemning, etc., then we’ll view God as an unyielding judge who’s never satisfied with our best efforts. If our pastor’s preaching is jokey, humorous, and laugh-a-minute, then we’ll view God as a circus clown who’s just out to make us His buddies.

Think back to the pastor you sat under as you grew up in church, or the first pastor you had as a young Christian.

Now think of your view of God.

Related aren’t they?

Our view of God is not just determined by our pastor’s message but by our pastor’s manner.

• If our pastor’s preaching is academic, above-our-heads, heavy in facts and light on feeling, then we’ll view God as a distant professor who finds it hard to come down to our level.
• If our pastor’s preaching is harsh, demanding, and condemning, etc., then we’ll view God as an unyielding judge who’s never satisfied with our best efforts.
• If our pastor’s preaching is jokey, humorous, and laugh-a-minute, then we’ll view God as a circus clown who’s just out to make us His buddies.
• If our pastor’s preaching is touchy-feely, weepy, and emotional, then we’ll view God as a soft-hearted weakling who’d like to help but just can’t.
• If our pastor’s preaching is argumentative, belligerent, and combative, then we’ll view God as a pugnacious debater who wants to win an argument rather than our souls.
• If our pastor’s preaching is confused, inconsistent, and rambling, we’ll view God as a befuddled and bewildered senior who’s seen better days and really can’t be trusted.
• If our pastor’s calls to faith in Christ are rare, half-hearted, or always dry-eyed, we’ll wonder if God really wants us to be saved.
• If our pastor’s preaching is long, boring, and repetitive, we’ll think God is similarly laborious and unappealing.
• If our pastor’s preaching is joyless, morose, and gloomy, we’ll view God as a cranky and pessimistic killjoy.

Yes, people’s view of God is impacted by our message, but also (equally?) by our manner.

What a responsibility! How much we need the Holy Spirit for message, method, and manner.

Update From Nancy Guthrie’s Comment: “But if our pastor speaks to both our heads and our hearts, applying God’s Word to where we live, then we’ll view God as present with us, inviting us to come and reason with him.”

David Murray is Professor of Old Testament & Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. This article first appeared on his blog and is used with permission.