I just read a wonderful little article entitled, “Why Academics Revel in Bad Writing.” It made me laugh by calling attention to the elephant I have long known was sitting in the middle of the room, but was too busy to point out.
The basic premise of the article, written by a woman who pursued a Ph.D. in English, is that academic writing is often marked by, and prides itself on, writing that is unintelligible to most humans. The assumption is that “real” academic writing will be so nuanced, so technical, that it cannot be understood by the general public. The logic is then turned around: therefore, if I write in a way that is not understood by most people, then I must be saying something important.
I have had to push myself through countless presentations by scholars who write in just such a way. What has often bothered me is how many times I’ve read something that has huge implications for the general public, but because of its style, it will not be grasped by many. And in those moments, I have to wonder whether there might be a better way. I don’t know.
But what is more disturbing to me is how often I have seen pastors preach sermons with the same logic in mind. “My sermons should use fancy, big words so as to make myself sound more sophisticated.” I have heard several sermons that are written seemingly to be pretty, albeit complicated, pieces of literature. And I have to wonder: Is that really the goal of a sermon?
Whatever else my own shortcomings in preaching might be, I personally always aim in a different direction. When I begin the process of writing a sermon, I think, “How can I communicate clearly, effectively, and successfully just one point to this congregation?” I try my hardest to stay focused and to err on the side of clarity, even if it may not make me sound more sophisticated. I’ve learned in recent months that not everyone agrees with this style, but that’s the subject of another, more frustrating conversation…