Emphasis Preaching Journal

People have always found the gift nature of the Christian message too good to be true. In his book, The Transforming Friendship, Leslie Weatherhead examined some of the ways the Christian message is presented with a false emphasis. For instance, there is the emphasis on struggle. Of course, he noted, there is a place for the will in the Christian life. "Paul, even to his down-and-outs, does not say, 'Try harder.' He says, 'Believe differently.' " Furthermore, there is the false emphasis on intellectual belief. Again, there is no doubt that we need good, straight thinking in our theology.