Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.15UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.17UNLIKELY
Fear
0.12UNLIKELY
Joy
0.5UNLIKELY
Sadness
0.52LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.63LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.47UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.81LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.49UNLIKELY
Extraversion
0.12UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.62LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.6LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
There was once a term frequently used in the church.
In the old days it was used often.
You rarely ever hear it today.
Indeed, in my 16 years in the ministry I have never preached a sermon on the topic until now.
Despite the infrequency with which it is mentioned, the concept, I think, is still valid.
It is backsliding.
The term backsliding, I discovered in my research, was popularized in the 1600’s by John Bunyan in his very famous allegory Pilgrim’s Progress.
In the story, you may recall, the character of Christian and Hopeful are on their religious pilgrimage.
While on the journey they begin to discuss an individual by the name of Temporary.
He had started the pilgrimage, but along the way he fell by the wayside, or, as Bunyan worded it, backslid.
That term was picked up, particularly, but not exclusively by the Methodists in early America and became a stock phrase.
It referred to those once faithful individuals who had lost interest in their Christian pilgrimage.
Jesus had just finished one of his more obscure teachings.
He said several things, which confused some and upset others.
“I am the bread of life,” he said.
Some objected to this language because he was comparing himself to Moses who gave the children Manna, or bread, in the wilderness.
Jesus then took it a step further and declared, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
This appeared odd to some because they knew he was the son of Mary and Joseph and not some modern day Elijah sent from heaven back down to earth.
And then he just flat confused many because he suggested that everyone must eat his flesh and drink his blood otherwise they would die.
It sounded too cannibalistic.
You can then understand why in verse 66 of chapter 6 (please don’t read anything into that) we read that many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
Notice what is said, they turned back!
They quit following.
They became Temporary.
I don’t think a single reason can be identified as to why so many stopped following, a combination of issues probably, as we have already noted: His teaching confused some.
His images offended others.
But primarily, I think it was his claim to be the new source of life, his claim to be greater than Moses, a new Manna.
Either way, they weren’t buying it and they left.
Just like that.
One day they were disciples and the next they were not.
They became backsliders.
First, I would suggest that backsliding is a reality.
It has often been said that backsliding is something that is preached by Lutherans, but is practiced by all denominations.
We believe that backsliding is a proven reality in scripture.
The Bible is filled with people who started out well but who ended up tragically.
For the sake of brevity I will offer just two examples: one from the Old Testament, the other from the New Testament.
Who in the Old Testament began a more promising career than Saul?
There was not a man among the people of Israel who offered more potential in leadership.
He represented more than a King.
He represented hope.
Yet, Saul was eaten with jealousy when the young David appeared on the scene and stole the spotlight, and twice he attempted to have him killed.
So a life that seemed set for success and honor, ended instead in failure and tragedy.
In the New Testament I hold up for your consideration the person of Demas.
He is mentioned only three times.
The first instance is in Philemon.
Paul introduces him by saying: Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
At that moment we can see what great esteem he was held in.
He is equal with Luke, a fellow worker, and is even mentioned before him.
It is evident that at this point he is a faithful follower of the Lord.
The second time he is mentioned is in the Book of Colossians.
Paul now writes: “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demes.”
Now something seems to have changed.
Luke is mentioned first, rather than Demas.
Not only that, there are words of praise for Luke, but Demas is mentioned only by name.
Apparently he is beginning to slow down.
Later, in Paul’s letter to Timothy, he writes: “Demas deserted me, having loved this present age.”
There in a few words you have the story of a man’s life.
What started out with so much promise ended in disappointment.
Backsliding is not merely a problem for Biblical characters; it is an issue for the modern church.
In every congregation I’ve served, a similar situation has occurred on my arrival there.
Invariably, someone has shown me the latest picture directory and, thumbing through the pictures, I’ve heard this words: “You know, I haven’t seen them for a long time.”
Or, “Yes, they used to be active but..” I would dare say some of you have already thought such things with our new directory.
Listen, there is not a protestant or Catholic Church in the city of Coeur d’Alene that could possibly hold all of its members if they decided to show up on Sunday.
But we don’t gear our building facilities for such an event because we know it will never happen.
Why?
Because we all know that backsliding is a reality.
Yes, there can be no argument about the reality of it, either in the Bible or in the local congregation.
Secondly, I would pose the question: why do people backslide?
There are many reasons for backsliding.
Some of it is due to incomplete conversions.
I have often wondered if we make it too easy for people to join the Lutheran church, thereby setting up a situation whereby people may not take their commitment seriously enough.
When Jesus fed the 5,000 by the Sea of Galilee he told the crowd: You seek me not because you saw a miracle, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
In other words, they followed him for what they could get out of it.
We live in a day of cheap grace, and far too often crowd approval and peer pressure result in conversions that are not genuine.
But while incomplete conversions may explain some backsliding, it does not get to the heart of the problem.
Most backsliders do so, I am convinced, simply because their spiritual buckets develop a leak and much of their commitment seeps out.
We need to understand that there are certain periods in our lives when we are more susceptible to doing what these disciples did, turning back and no longer following him.
The college years, for example: Out of earshot and eye range of mom and dad, the college student is often tempted to drop church.
When a couple first gets married.
So often love is blind concerning the spiritual relationship of marriage and faith is ignored.
The promotions years, when we are climbing the corporate ladder: God so often gets crowded out of the picture.
Perhaps most of all, however, people turn back because our priorities get flipped.
Increasingly people resort to excuses as to why they cannot come to church.
It’s an indication of a dwindling spiritual life, hobbies, jobs, even family crowding God out of the picture.
The road to backsliding is paved with excuses.
It will cripple the Christian life.
I sometimes wish that people would listen to themselves as they parade forth their excuses.
All living things can die through neglect.
A plant in a garden, a friendship, a marriage--all can wither if not nourished.
I have never met a person who crashed out of the Christian life.
By that, I mean that I have never personally known an individual who woke up one morning and announced: From now on I will not be a Christian.
I will turn my back on God, on the Bible, on the church.
I have known many persons who oozed out of a once vital faith with the Master.
It was done simply through neglect and inattention.
The flame of faith was extinguished through neglect.
Commitment, discipleship, long suffering, faithfulness.
These were not found in the life of those who turned back that day in Galilee.
But there were twelve who were committed.
Peter spoke for them: To whom shall we go?
We will stay here with you Lord.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9