Letters to a Young Pulpit: Depth Without Drift

Letters to a Young Pulpit: Guidance for the Next Generation of Preachers on Spiritual Depth, Obedience, and Biblical Authority.

Young preacher,

Every generation of Baptists faces the same tension, even though it wears different clothing: the desire for spiritual depth without losing biblical authority. When that tension is mishandled, churches do not usually collapse overnight—they drift.

Let me say this plainly: most Independent Baptist churches are not in danger of becoming Anglican, Orthodox, or Roman Catholic. That is not the primary threat in our circles. Our danger has historically been different—and more subtle. We are tempted to measure spirituality by results, experiences, or emotional intensity rather than by faithfulness to the Word of God.

Still, the question beneath all of this remains the same: What governs the Christian life—the Scriptures alone, or something added to them?

This concern is not new among Baptists. In the 1980s, Jack Hyles frequently warned young preachers against what was then called the “deeper life” movement. His position was straightforward: you do not get any deeper than soul-winning. Hyles feared that an increasing emphasis on inner experience, contemplation, and personal spirituality would subtly redefine maturity and, in the process, weaken evangelistic urgency. In his view, when soul-winning was treated as “shallow,” something essential had already been lost. While his rhetoric and applications were often excessive—and at times unfair—the underlying conflict was real. Baptists have long wrestled with the danger of separating spiritual depth from biblical obedience, and of allowing spirituality to be measured by inward experience rather than by faithfulness to Christ’s commands.

That historical tension matters. It reminds us that the issue is not whether Baptists should care about spiritual depth, but how depth is defined and governed.

Young preacher, spiritual depth that is not anchored to Scripture will eventually detach from it. But depth is not measured by feelings, atmosphere, or claimed experiences—nor is it measured merely by outward activity, even good activity. True maturity is found where the heart is submitted to the Word of God, and that submission expresses itself in obedience. When spirituality is defined by private experience rather than governed by Scripture, authority has shifted. And when obedience is severed from inward submission, it becomes hollow. The Bible is not something we move beyond in search of depth; it is the rule that defines, tests, and judges every experience and every work.

In Independent Baptist life, this drift rarely comes through ancient liturgies or appeals to historic tradition. It usually comes through pragmatism: What works? What draws? What moves people? Methods become validated by visible results, and eventually the Bible is consulted less as a command and more as a justification. This is why two very different paths—tradition on one side and pragmatism on the other—can lead to the same place. Both relocate authority away from the Scriptures.

The Bible does not need supplementation to produce godly Christians. It needs belief. It needs obedience. It needs men who will submit to it even when submission costs them numbers, applause, or ease. True spiritual depth does not weaken evangelism, holiness, or separation—it strengthens them. When depth produces less obedience, less gospel urgency, or less clarity, it is not biblical depth at all.

Do not be persuaded that soul-winning alone defines spiritual depth, or that doctrinal preaching is barren if it does not produce visible results. Depth is not measured by activity or outward success, but by a heart submitted to the Word of God, which then bears fruit in obedience and service. Likewise, biblical authority cannot be softened to suit convenience or contemporary preference without undermining true spiritual maturity. The Scriptures were given not only to inform the mind, but to govern the heart and direct the life. They do not merely introduce us to God—they define how we live for Him, and how we serve Him faithfully.

So pursue depth, young preacher—but pursue it God’s way. Let Scripture define spirituality. Let obedience mark maturity. Let faithfulness outweigh novelty. And remember this: once authority shifts, drift is inevitable, no matter how sincere the motives.

Stand fast in the Scripture!

_____________________

Clarity Point: This is not alarmism, and it is not an accusation against faithful churches or pastors. Most Independent Baptist churches are not drifting toward liturgical or sacramental traditions. But history teaches us that authority rarely shifts all at once—it erodes gradually, often under the banner of sincerity, effectiveness, or spiritual depth. Addressing these concerns early is not fear; it is stewardship. Baptists have always believed that Scripture alone is sufficient to define doctrine, worship, and Christian living. Guarding that conviction is not overreaction—it is faithfulness.

Read These articles to learn more about this matter of proper authority and the results of misplaced emphasis.

Devotional Depth or Doctrinal Drift

Independent Baptist Book Review: The Pursuit of God, By A.W. Tozer