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LOUD MOUTH PREACHERS I saw a post where a brother expressed the very true sentiment that some preachers need to spend less time shouting and more time studying.  He was 100% correct, and should have received nothing but agreement from all commenters.   But not in Laodicea where there's always someone standing more ready to point out the exception than to appreciate the general truth. It just had to be pointed out that not all shouting was in vain (though no one said it was) and that preachers have different styles (though no one said they didn't).  The post was clearly aimed at SOME preachers who use shouting as a substitute for preparing quality sermons and not at loud preachers in general.  Yet that truth wasn't appreciated by some, or even acknowledged. That brings up an interesting question: Why would some people PREFER a loud mouth cheerleader preacher over a well balanced Bible preacher who knows how to really feed the sheep? Well, for starters, the cheerleader is more ENTERTAINING, and that's all that some people want.  Sitting and watching is about all that some folks expect to do at church, rather than chewing and digesting, so the cheerleader guys fit the bill. Another reason is a bit more subtle.  If a man makes lots of noise and burns up lots of calories when he preaches, then his listeners can sooth their consciences by pretending that they have a great preacher, that they hear great sermons, and they even go to the altar occasionally, so all must be well with them and the Lord.  A genuine Bible preacher could shatter that myth with ease, so they're careful to keep only cheerleader preachers in their pulpits.  Shallow sound and fury almost always trumps the deeper and more edifying truths of God's word.  Thunder and lighting might be exciting, but your garden needs RAIN. A third reason is that since the cheerleaders are more entertaining they are more in demand.  So it becomes prestigious to have such people speak at your church.  In fact, it becomes expected.  You become part of "the club" or "the brotherhood" when you play by their rules and host their celebrity cheerleaders. More could be said, but you get the point: excitement is no substitute for edification.  The only "shout" in Paul's epistles is the one that comes from the voice of the archangel in the rapture (I Ths. 4:16), and the word "loud" isn't used at all, even though a great deal is said about simply preaching and teaching the word.  Apparently, it is possible to preach and teach the word without engaging in acrobatics and an action-packed shoutfest.  Imagine that. Please understand that I am not condemning loud preaching.  I like it loud and clear, and the more passion, the better.  But loud preaching is not always BIBLE preaching, and it often entertains more than it edifies.  There's a big difference between sound and sound DOCTRINE, and, believe it or not, God doesn't always show out when He shows up (I Kgs. 19:11-12)