Vance Havner: The Unintentional Comedian of the Evangelical Church

One of the most greatly used individuals in recent church history was the late Vance Havner. His influence on the modern day church is still evident in the quoting of Dr. Havner by Christian writers and speakers everywhere.

Many of today's Christian sermons, books or magazine articles will open with a quote from Havner when the author wishes to quickly gain the audience's attention. Though Dr. Havner died in 1986, his legacy continues.

What set Vance Havner apart from other preachers and teachers was his ability to get the point across without having to say too much. His often humorous one liners could simultaneously make you smile while also piercing your soul.

For you budding preachers and wordsmiths out there, here are a few of my favorite quotes from Dr. Havner:

"We are the salt of the earth, mind you, not the sugar. Our ministry is to truly cleanse and not just to change the taste."

"Too many churches start at eleven o'clock sharp, and end at twelve o'clock dull. You will never see revival in a comfortable church."

"Plenty of church members are shaky about what they believe, while not many are shaken by what they believe."

"Some preachers ought to put more fire into their sermons, or more sermons into the fire."

"The church is a hospital for sinners, and not a museum for saints."

"Not since Manhattan Island was sold for $24 has there been so much dirt available for so little money as now."

"Civilization today reminds me of an ape with a blowtorch playing in a room full of dynamite. It looks like the monkeys are about to operate the zoo, and the inmates are taking over the asylum."

"If there had been a social gospel in the days of the prodigal son, somebody would have given him a bed and a sandwich and he never would have gone home."

"When your up to your ears in crocodiles, it's no time to discuss draining the swamp."

"There's a price to pay to be a holy man of God. You have to buck the current because the tide's running the other way."

"Sometimes your medicine bottle has on it, "Shake well before using." That is what God has to do with some of His people. He has to shake them well before they are ever usable."

"Jesus performed miracles but didn't advertise them; we advertise them but don't perform them."

"I'm tired of experts who know all the answers when they don't even know what the question is."

"Were smart enough to walk on the moon, but not safe enough to walk in the park."

"If you want to be popular, preach happiness. If you want to be unpopular, preach holiness."

As a closing thought, here is what the Reverend Billy Graham had to say about Dr. Havner:

"I do not know of any man in my generation who has so stirred revival fires in the hearts of so many people throughout the nation as has Vance Havner. Whenever I see a book by Vance Havner I immediately purchase it, because I know that I am going to get some good thoughts for my own sermon material."

For more quotes, stories and sermons by Dr. Havner, visit www.vancehavner.com.