Martyn Lloyd-Jones
The Pastor as Preacher
By Erroll Hulse
Dr D Martyn Lloyd-Jones was omni-gifted. He was a born
leader and a brilliant chairman of meetings, whether in church meetings or in conferences. But he was pre-eminently a preacher. It was his care for and his love for souls that made him an effective preacher. When he was leader of the large congregation at Westminster Chapel, London, it was not possible for him to engage in systematic pastoral visitation of the flock. However it was his custom after every service to spend about two hours in his vestry counselling those who needed his help. A deacon was always in charge to supervise this part of the doctor’s ministry. Mr Micklewright was a principal helper in this work. He had pastoral experience himself and was ideal for assisting the doctor. Dr ML-J was a pastor by telephone to many other pastors. Much of his time was spent in advising and shepherding fellow pastors, especially younger men.
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By Erroll Hulse
Through the constant republication of his sermons and voluminous writings (135 books) the influence of Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) maintains an immense spiritual influence throughout the evangelical world. Over half a million visits have been made to The Spurgeon Archives, probably the best of several Spurgeon websites. The last five years of Spurgeon’s life, 1887-1892 were troubled and saddened by the Downgrade Controversy. Spurgeon carried an enormous workload. He possessed neither the time nor the energy to pursue and remedy the widespread doctrinal decline in the B U (Baptist Union). For any leader to appraise so great an issue would involve full-time work for more than one astute theologian. For his unwillingness to provide documentation concerning his allegations CHS was misunderstood and maligned. The controversy exacerbated his health problems. He admitted at one stage that the controversy was killing him.
A preliminary comment is needful with respect to the Baptist Union. There are many Baptist denominations around the world and they differ widely in character. In South Africa the battle over liberal theology was won in the 1920s so the B U of South Africa is evangelical and has managed to remain intact and resist soul-destroying liberal doctrines. As an introduction to Spurgeon I recommend Iain Murray’s book The Forgotten Spurgeon published by the Banner of Truth.
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By Erroll Hulse
The word protocol is used to describe a code of etiquette or procedure for diplomatic negotiation, or, in military circles, for agreed codes of conduct. The term will be employed in this study in a similar way, to describe the procedures agreed to by local churches for the right ordering of church government, particularly as it concerns those who rule, namely the elders. The Head of the church requires that everything be done decently and in order, and the provision of protocol is dictated by divine wisdom, the wisdom that foresees the difficult problems that will be faced by elderships, producing differing views, consequent tensions, and possible divisions.
Many of the independent churches formed during the last thirty years, following the lines laid down in the Pastoral Epistles (Timothy and Titus), have created elderships for their particular governments. The revival of interest in the doctrines of grace on both sides of the Atlantic has spawned a renewed interest in implementing biblical forms of church government. Full-time pastors, while still taking the leading role, began to function in parity (equally shared authority) with part-time ruling elders. During the 1970s a series of articles on Eldership appeared in Reformation Today magazine which seemed to illustrate well this heightened sensitivity. That series began with the following paragraphs:
A discovery of the dynamic of New Testament eldership is one of the most urgent needs of the churches today. The subject is not removed from that of revival. Some evangelicals have been seeking revival through evangelism, thinking that the Church will be revived through the addition of converts. Glory and joy result from new converts but with the gladness comes added responsibility of pastoral care and teaching. Evangelism is our responsibility until the end of the age but we should never concentrate on one area of the Church’s life at the expense of another. If churches arc weak, ill-taught, lacking in discipline and carnal in outlook they are not likely to be effective in evangelism and will be poorly equipped as a place of nurture for spiritual babes.
We should aim at a spiritual, mature and inspired leader-ship as well as a godly, well-disciplined, dedicated and well-taught membership. I believe that the Lord will send revivals again and that one of our responsibilities is to prepare for them by providing homes for new converts in which they can be nurtured and built up. It is imperative therefore that the practice of eldership be revived and that the difficulties (and there are many) be analysed and overcome gradually with patience. There are those who are content with traditional forms of Church government. They are opposed to change and hostile to the concept of eldership. They believe that different forms of Church government are available and that churches are free to opt for the form that suits them best. (Reformation Today No 35, Jan-Feb 1977.)
The APC is vitally concerned with the promotion of missionary work and seeks to encourage believers to consider whether they are called to missionary service. Click here if you wish to download/print a PDF of this document. (Requires Acrobat Reader).
Sixth Missionary Paradigm in Church History
By Erroll Hulse
David Bosch in his magnus opus Transforming Mission which is regarded as the most important text book available today on Missiology, has a sub-title which reads Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission.
Writing in 2008 I observe that Bosch is forty metres higher than any other writer in the field of mission. I give three reasons why Bosch’s book leads the pack. First he provides a brilliant exposition of what the Scriptures teach on mission. For instance if you have wondered why his home-town kinsmen tried to kill Jesus when he spoke in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4) read Bosch page 108ff. Second he reviews the whole of Church history from the standpoint of mission, and third he analyses accurately and fully where we stand internationally on mission today. It is not as though I am entirely uncritical of David Bosch. He is ecumenical in his approach. The reader always needs to bear in mind the huge differences between the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and churches which proclaim faithfully the doctrine of justifiication by faith alone.
In discussing the manner in which the Christian Church has through the ages interpreted and carried out its mission, Bosch follows Hans Kung who submits that the entire history of Christianity can be subdivided into six major paradigms. By paradigm is meant character. Each paradigm has its own character. The change from one to another is gradual but each epoch has its own characteristics. The six major paradigms according to Kung are:
- The apocalyptic paradigm of primitive Christianity
- The Hellenistic paradigm of the patristic period
- The medieval Roman Catholic paradigm
- The Protestant (Reformation) paradigm
- The modern Enlightenment paradigm
- The emerging ecumenical paradigm
Each of these six periods Kung suggests, reveals a peculiar understanding of the Christian faith. To this Bosch adds that each also offers a distinctive understanding of Christian mission.
As we look back over the whole of Church history we should note that there is only one Church of those who are united to Christ by faith. It is one united family from beginning to end. There are changes in emphasis but the same desires for the glory of Christ indwell believers from century to century. There are times such as the medieval Roman Catholic period, when the Gospel was almost extinguished and when we have to search for those who exhibited the indwelling sanctification power of the Holy Spirit. He, the Holy Spirit, is the Spirit of mission. The compassion and missionary concern of the Head of the Church lives in all his disciples but with different degrees of power and passion and intelligence (John 15:7). Outstanding examples of true Christianity through history are seen in the love and sacrificial service of those who have given up everything to go out to the unreached. In doing so they faced hazards and perils of all kinds. A high proportion were martyred..
Continue reading ‘Mission Yesterday and Today’
Who is ‘our Lord’?
This reference of course is to Jesus Christ. It is his birth that set our calendar. In that he is unique. In what other ways is he unique? About 60 billion people have been born into the world. Every one of these is unique or different in personality. I will set out and then explain ways in which this person called “our Lord” is completely different from all others.
- Jesus was predicted in detail by prophets
- Jesus was born of a virgin
- Jesus lived a sinless life
- Jesus made unique “I AM” claims
- Jesus supported his claims with miracles
- Jesus made a sacrifice of himself that ended all sacrifices
- Jesus sent the Holy Spirit
- Jesus has kept his promise to build his church
- Jesus is the creator of the world
- Jesus is the judge of all mankind
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A lecture on the life of Christian pioneer and explorer to Africa, David Livingstone, by Erroll Hulse.
Life of David Livingstone [58:00m]:
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