Using the Pulpit as a Bully-Pulpit

Using the Pulpit as a Bully-Pulpit

After being accused of using the pulpit as a 'bully pulpit' one Sunday, I determined to investigate the meaning of the term. Unfortunately, I found that it's one of those terms that has been distorted. One man in the church was probably using it with the modern-day understanding of the word 'bully.' Yet thet term has been, or was used since the 16th century as a noun meaning 'good fellow' or 'friend.' It is thought to have come from a Dutch word meaning 'brother' or 'lover.' Our more familiar negative sense of 'bully' is actually a recent development of the word in the history of language, it seems.

Teddy Roosevelt coined the term during his Presidency to describe the office of President as a powerful position from which to promulgate his views. It made perfect sense to Roosevelt's contemporaries. One would think that since the ones who use this against pastors today are usually the 'old cronies' they might remember far enough back to Teddy's days to remember the meaning of the phrase!

By 'bully' Roosevelt meant 'splendid' or 'excellent' and never threatening. In fact, he was famous for using 'bully' as an interjection, much in the way that we exclaim, "Wonderful!" or "Great!"

Thus, the pastor's pulpit is truly a 'bully pulpit' for he is a lover and friend of Christ as well as His people, and He is a brother to those he shepherds. His views are not his own but rather they are from the Chief Shepherd. And from his pulpit he preaches the word and proclaims the gospel of the kingdom. It is a platform indeed, bu tonly one upon which the patsor places Jesus. It is a position of prominent authority, yet it is the authority of Jesus. It is a very advantageous position to rally support, yet it is to rally support and encouragement for one another toward edification.

With the change in understanding about the term 'bully' the phrase 'bully pulpit' is now used to define a position used to threaten or verbally beat up an audience. A pastor must indeed preach, exhort, reprove, and correct. And he must do so with great patience. But he must never threaten or verbally beat up on the sheep. Pastoring is leading not beating. Perhaps 'brother pulpit' fits better, or perhaps simply the word 'pastor' fits the bill better!

Rob Wilkerson, '00 Grad.