This morning I took the time to read all of the second lecture, ‘The Call to the Ministry’. Although it’s pretty exclusive in who it addresses and can be applied to, there are a few things I’d like to share with you.
(Missed the rest? Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3)
Speaking of the call to the ministry, Spurgeon said,
“The fascination of the preacher’s office is very great to weak minds, and hence I earnestly caution all young men not to mistake whim for inspiration, and a childish preference for a call of the Holy Spirit.”
He went on to solemnly say,
“It is a marvel to me how men continue at ease in preaching year after year without conversions. Have they no bowels of compassion for others? No sense of responsibility upon themselves? Dare they, by a vain misrepresentation of divine soverneignty, cast the blame on their Master? Or is it their belief that Paul plants and Apollos waters, and that God gives no increase? Vain are their talents, their philosophy, their rhetoric, and even their orthodoxy, without signs following. How are they sent of God who bring no men to God? Prophets whose words are powerless, sowers whose seed all withers, fishers who take no fish, soldiers who give no wounds - are these God’s men? Surely it were better to be a mud-raker, or a chimney-sweep, than to stand in the ministry as an utterly barren tree.
The meanest occupation confers some benefit upon mankind, but the wretched man who occupies a pulpit and never glorifies his God by conversions is a blank, a blot, an eyesore, a mischief. He is not worth the salt he eats, much less his bread; and if he writes to newspapers to complain of the smallness of his salary, his conscience, if he has any, might well reply, “And what you have is undeserved.” Times of drought there may be; ay, and years of leanness may consume the former years of usefulness, but still there will be fruit in the main, and fruit to the glory of God; and meanwhile the transient barrenness will fill the soul with unutterable anguish.
Brethren, if the Lord gives you no zeal for souls, keep to the lapstone or the trowel, but avoid the pulpit as you value your heart’s peace and your future salvation.”
Interestingly, speaking of applications into the college, Spurgeon spoke of a particular case saying,
“Application was received some short time ago from a young man who had a sort of rotary action of his jaw of the most painful sort to the beholder. His pastor commended him as a very holy young man, who had been the means of bringing some to Christ, and he expressed the hope that I would receive him, but I could not see the propriety of it. I could not have looked at him while preaching without laughter if all the gold of Tarshish had been my reward, and in all probability nine out of ten of his hearers would have been more sensitive than myself.
A man with a big tongue which filled up his mouth and caused indistinctness, another without teeth, another who stammered, another who could not pronounces all the alphabet, I have had the pain of declining on the ground that God had not given them those physical appliances, which are as the prayer-book would put it, “generally necessary.”
There is much that I am reading in the book that men nowadays would not dare to say, either because of their fear for of the response they may receive from others, or because to say it would condemn their own hearts. Spurgeon held the office of ministry very high. Reading this book is truly humbling.
I’ve had little or no feedback on these quotations from this book, so I am asking now for feedback from my readers to tell me if they would like me to go on taking quotes from this book.
Please let me know.
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Added Commentary
By Melanie
on 05.03.07
This is severe stuff!! He doesn’t leave much unsaid!
Armen..yes i think you should continue with these quotations, they are beneficial for all.
By Taleen
on 06.03.07
Yes, it’s very intetesting reading. Can I just say WOW to the paragraph on preachers who don’t see souls saved? Many preachers today make excuses for the lack of reaping, etc….but Spurgeon doesn’t appear to have time for these ‘excuses’. Very thought-provoking.
On the paragraph about physical disabilities…I did not like his opinion so much. Some of it, we have to bare in mind Armen, may be as a result of the century in which he lived - prejudice, ignorant to those who were different, disabled, impaired in some way. I can understand an element of his belief that they are not born preachers, however, understanding as I am, I’m not sure of my complete opinion on it.
Interesting, all the same.
By Armen
on 10.03.07
Taleen - I am aware that 150 years ago there would have been more prejudice against people with disabilities. However, (I’m not saying he’s right) I do somehow see his point. Sometimes the messenger can distract from the message because of a bad habit (saying the same word/phrase repeatedly, or doing something repeatedly) or because of a monotone voice, etc.
Whether it is ‘right’ or not, it can be embarrasing to bring outsiders in when you know they are going to notice the ‘defect’.
I have caught myself on a few occasions while preaching, saying a word or phrase repeatedly and I have sought to remove it immediately before I preach again. It usually happens when my brain can’t think of another way of putting it, or another word that means the same thing escapes me.
Having said all that, I think someone with a ‘physical distraction’ could still be a preacher without being a hinderance, if he had a commanding ‘presence’ in the pulpit. If a man speaks with authority, people will be very quick to forget what he looks like, and will listen to what he has to say.
Just my opinion of course
By Taleen
on 12.03.07
I agree with some of your point there, in that, it can be embarrassing to bring someone into a meeting if you know the preacher has a certain habit, way, etc…..but trust me, they don’t have to have a disability for that one!!!!!!
By Armen
on 12.03.07
Taleen - What you speak of is still a disability, but instead of physical it is spiritual. However, unlike the physical (in most cases), it is self-inflicted!
Haven't you got anything to say?