I hate speaking at General Assemblies of the Free Church of Scotland. For one, it is the loneliest place on earth. For another, it is the most exposed place on earth. Every word must be carefully assessed before it is spoken – a task made all the more difficult because, rightly so, full notes are not permitted. The two easiest approaches are: first, not to open one’s mouth at all and secondly, to open one’s mouth and to say nothing. Say anything meaningful and it will be taken the wrong way partly because of incomplete expression due to time constraints and partly due to feeling what you are saying.
I find that I have fallen into the trap of being misunderstood. The offending speech was delivered on the invitation of the Chair of the College Board. I cannot but confess that in delivering that speech, I had many conflicting emotions running through my head. The particular area in which I was misunderstood was in asserting that preaching had been the main factor in the growth of Glasgow City Free Church. I came across to some as being arrogant and blowing my own trumpet. Rather I should have spoken about the Spirit blessing the preaching of the Word in Glasgow City Free Church. If I did come across that way, I’m sorry. It wasn’t meant. Perhaps I fell into the first trap of public speaking - speaking not so much to make myself understood but more to ensure that I am not misunderstood.
Putting aside what I perhaps perceive as pickiness and piety, the question is: do I believe that the Spirit of God is involved in the preaching of the Word? Yes, Yes and Yes Again. The Preaching of Paul was so effective not because of his rhetoric but because it was filled with a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. Question and Answer 89 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism states – “The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.” No Spirit – no Convincing and Converting of Sinners, not upbuilding in holiness and comfort, no faith, no salvation. He is the fountain of the effectual word. How grateful we are for the Reformed, Biblical teaching of the Spirit’s role in preaching – it frees us from self-loathing and frees us to give all the glory to Him.
Does this remove from us the responsibility for earnestly and diligently studying for preaching? Well, we don’t believe in ‘letting go and letting God’ when it comes to personal sanctification; and we don’t believe in ‘letting go and letting God’ when it comes to preaching. Does this mean that we must place preaching as our number one priority in the ministry? I go back to the answer of the Shorter Catechism – how is the Word made effectual unto salvation? Through the Spirit’s making the reading and the preaching of the Word effectual. Committees don’t give comfort to the dying believer. Management strategies don’t build us up in holiness.
And so, although I would like to write more on this subject and fully intend to in the near future, although I apologise for any misunderstandings of what I was saying, I don’t apologise for emphasising the primary of the preaching of the Word. I struggle with a proud heart and I confess my own sinful pursuit of self-glory (if any minister should say they don’t they either don’t know themselves very well or are liars). But for anyone who knows me, you’ll know that I’m not a self-promoter – I’m very good at disguising my proud sinfulness.
I hate speaking at General Assemblies. Next time I’m asked to go I think I’ll politely decline and suggest they send someone else.
June 7, 2011 at 10:44 pm |
Definitely don’t apologise, imho.
It’s very strange and mysterious, but it’s also simply a fact, that the reading but especially the preaching of the Word is what’s made effectual to salvation. Just because it too often falls to preachers to make that point doesn’t make them arrogant – it’s only something that everyone should already know from the Catechism anyway.
It seems sometimes that we have become kind of shy of appreciating the Word preached, and simultaneously inclined to expect too much from (and invest too much in) alternative ministries. Whatever the church does that *isn’t* (a) preaching, (b) administering the sacraments, or (c) exercising discipline, may very well have a role to play, but that role should ideally be subservient to getting people to sit under the preaching of the Word itself.
Both for evangelism and for discipleship, it’s preaching which is the primary God-ordained means, and there is a huge need to recover confidence in the sheer power of the Word in the hand of the Spirit.
June 11, 2011 at 7:12 pm |
If i may say it i never for one second thought that when i heard you? i thought you spoke very well indeed and it was filled with passion and conviction…just like a good preacher should speak!
Althought i have to say i was disapointed in your defence of the college. I don’t think it does what it needs to, there is a more holstic approach to ministry training needed in the Free Church. But i guess i can’t say to much as im not going to be around for much longer to do anything about it.
Hope your keeping well down in the darkness of “Glasgay” come and see us in Dundee sometime.