Further comments

First on evangelistic preaching: it seems to me that today we ought, in general, to make evangelism separate from worship. In fact, I'm not sure that it should ever really have become so much a part of worship as it did. However that may be, evangelism today needs to make space for people to ask questions and for answers to be given. It is much better to have small groups, perhaps following a course - though most that are available are too short - where it is possible for people to get to know each other as well as simply hearing a message. Evangelism in the open-air often leads to questions which can be answered either by the speaker or by others who are ready and available for the purpose. It is also worthy of notice that the sermon on the mount addresses the disciples early on - 'you are the light of the world' etc. whereas later on our Lord applied what he had to say to those who are not disciples. This looks like an interesting precedent for making an evangelistic application in a sermon which is not directly addressed to unbelievers.

On quite another subject I was struck in a way I never have been before by the way that the fact that mothers brought their little children to Jesus for him to bless them casts a remarkable light on his character. What sort of person would you, your wife or mother want to bring small children to, for him to lift them up and pray over them? Especially what sort of bachelor? Surely, one who is gentle and kind, one who can be trusted absolutely, one who clearly loves children and is concerned for their welfare. It is surely an indictment of our society that it would be almost impossible for such a thing to happen in modern Britain!

Evangelistic preaching

On one of the blogs I occasionally visit I saw a note about evangelistic preaching, advocating regular preaching of that nature from the pulpit. I am by no means so sure about that. Just for starters I want to distinguish between evangelistic preaching and gospel preaching. The difference, as I see it, is that the former addresses itself distinctly to those who are not Christians, while that latter expounds themes centred on the Gospel which can be applied both to unbelievers and believers. In other words the former is person centred preaching, the latter subject centred preaching – though it must be applied to be preaching at all. In many cases today congregations are almost exclusively made up of believers (the great majority) or those who attend regularly but have made no distinct profession of faith. If you are going to preach the Word of God to the people who are there – and that is surely what preaching must be about – it means that distinctly evangelistic preaching will not have so great a place in our services of worship. But are services of worship the locus for evangelism anyway – especially in these days?

A big question

I have been fascinated in reading the history of IVF/UCCF in Douglas Johnson’s book Contending for the Faith. In particular I was intrigued by the Inter-Varsity Missionary fellowship which was formed in 1933. All who joined were to sign a declaration of membership which said: ‘Acknowledging Jesus Christ as my Saviour, my Lord, and my God, I purpose, if God permit, to serve him in the foreign mission field.’ After this came the following: ‘The Declaration is more than a mere expression of willingness or desire to become a foreign missionary, it is a statement of a definite life-purpose formed under the direction of God. The purpose of those who sign this declaration is by God’s grace to spend their lives as foreign missionaries. Towards this end they will shape their plans; they will steadily set themselves to prepare for this great work; they will do all in their power to remove the obstacles which may stand in the way of their going; and in due time they will make the necessary arrangements to go out. Only the clear leading of God will prevent their going to the foreign field.’ Then a final statement: ‘It is the duty of every Christians to face this question and to think to a conclusion, but let no one decide it without careful thought and earnest prayer.’ Times have changed and missions have changed, but it is surely still true that every Christian has a duty before God to face the question: ‘What does God want me to do with the life he has given me?’

150 years of Grace Baptist Mission

Saturday saw Mary and me at the Renewal Centre in Solihull for the 150th anniversary meetings of Grace Baptist mission. This was a great day, though leaving home just after 7am and arriving back after 10pm made it very long. The main speaker was Don Carson who spoke with his usual passion and biblical insight. Part of the evening service was recorded by the BBC and broadcast next morning on radio 4 (available now on I-player). Don mentioned quite innocuously Muslims and Christians, but this was removed from the broadcast - how sensitive can you get? There was much to stir the heart. Over 1400 people gathered. After the first session we found it better to be in one of the overflow rooms rather than the main auditorium. We met numbers of people from the past, going back right to Bible College days. One thing struck me - some of the more recent missionaries are actually going to the countries from which they originate. This seems a wholly admirable and valuable thing. May more such be sent out.

An old haunt

At the end of last week my wife and I visited Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire where, 20 years ago and more, we often visited with our family. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon we walked, with one of our daughters, sons in law and granddaughter, along by the side of the lake with the sun shimmering on the water. The narrow gauge railway train was puffing up and down alongside and lots of visitors were strolling by or sitting at the water’s edge. The lake is actually a reservoir, built in 1797, to feed the Cauldon canal. It was here that John Kipling first met Alice MacDonald and so they gave its name to their famous son. It was a favourite spot for outings in the Victorian era, especially for people from the Potteries and Macclesfield. It is hidden gem, not so well known when we first used to go there, but having something of a renaissance now – but not too much of one, I hope.

Comments

I see that at the ‘God’s Glory, our Joy’ conference next Saturday in Warrington the opening session is entitled, ‘Building Biblical Churches in an Ageing Society’. How fascinating, and how relevant! Already the proportion of older people in this country is getting greater and greater and that of younger people proportionally smaller. This is the first time I have seen any Christians acknowledge this or suggest we should prepare for it. What differences would this make to our worship? Should it make any?

A commission carried out by the Royal College of GP’s and the Health Foundation charity says that doctors should adopt the role once taken by the ‘local priest’. This, I think, is a challenge to pastors and churches. A pastor, or elder, who really knows the families in the church, and reaches out to relatives beyond the church; who understands people, who knows how to get alongside them, who is able to give good general advice and be a real friend, is doing invaluable work and making openings for the gospel that are hard to get in any other way. I think we have probably failed very much in this area – and I don’t think GP’s will ever be able to fill the gap, even on a social level.

Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs

In his recent biography of John MacArthur Iain Murray refers to the use of musical instruments in Christian worship. He says: ‘In the Reformed tradition, the use of one musical instrument, simply to set the tune, is a very different thing from introducing a collection of instruments as a part of worship, as in the Temple: a single instrument may belong to adiaphora, or “things indifferent”, no more to be regarded as a part of worship than the pulpit on which the preacher stands.’ It seems to me that this is correct, because it is part of Christian worship for the congregation of God’s people to sing and make melody ‘to the Lord’ (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16). In most nonconformist services the verbal participation of the congregation is limited to sung praise and possibly the ‘Lord’s Prayer’. It is sad thing when Christians do not realise that it is their privilege, their duty, and should be their joy, to open their mouths and sing to the Lord from their hearts. Who would really want to be playing when he or she ought to be praising?