Coat of many colors

There's a story in the Bible about a young man named Joseph whose father made for him a coat of many colors -- much to the chagrin of his older (jealous) brothers! Joseph added fuel to the fire by an apparent arrogance with regard to his special status with the old man. A Broadway show took its cue from this story: "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Coat."

A few years ago Dolly Parton had a hit song which told of her own "coat of many colors" she had as a youngster. It wasn't really a sign of prestige for her, but rather a pulling together of cast-off patches and rags that her mother lovingly stitched together. And this became a beloved garment, not because of the way it looked, but because of the one of who made it.

The other day I was in a conversation with several pastors as they talked about their styles of preaching sermons. None of them had the same approach. They each used the Bible as the inspiration for their remarks, but their method of preparation and delivery of sermons was highly personal and individualized.

Through the years I've noticed a wide range of preaching styles, not only in my own Church but in many other Christian groups around the world. They have in common the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Bible as the Word of God, and the calling to proclaim Good News with those who will listen in worship or other settings. Some preachers are quite reserved in their style. Others are very dramatic, moving from place to place on the platform, gesturing for emphasis. There are denominations that lean toward a Sunday homily -- often read word for word -- and others that prefer a freewheeling, spontaneous presentation. An African American friend uses a delivery that typifies the sing-song chant which is quite interactive with the congregation; a Korean American friend, preaching in English, frequently uses humor to make his point, as does one of my Anglo preacher friends. One female minister tells me she's lost without a full manuscript in the pulpit, while another uses her gift of storytelling to great effect.

You might say that in the Christian tradition, preaching is like a "coat of many colors." Woven from millions of experiences intersecting with the Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, this coat of many colors is given by the Heavenly Father, but it is given not as a source of pride but as a means of grace, calling one and all to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ the Lord.