To know me is to hate me

A busy day preaching on Sunday, Ephesians 6.10-13 here and Matthew 14.13-21 here.

In the morning we looked at the reality of Satan from Ephesians 6, and the need for us to take up spiritual weapons against his tactics. We need to hear God's call to stand in the face of trial armed with His weapons of grace.

But the Devil is as subtle as he is active. I well remember reading the extract following from John Bunyan's spiritual autobiography 'Grace Abounding' many years ago. A timely word to wake us up, and to drive us back to God's resources for us in Christ.

"Then hath the tempter come upon me, also, with such discouragements as these – You are very hot for mercy, but I will cool you; this frame shall not last always; many have been as hot as you for a spirit, but I have quenched their zeal. And with this, such and such who were fallen off would be set before mine eyes. Then I should be afraid that I should do so too but, thought I, I am glad this comes into my mind. Well, I will watch, and take what heed I can. Though you do, said Satan, I shall be too hard for you; I will cool you insensibly, by degrees, by little and little. What care I, saith he, though I be seven years in chilling your heart if I can do it at last? Continual rocking will lull a crying child asleep. I will ply it close, but I will have my end accomplished. Though you be burning hot at present, yet, if I can pull you from this fire, I shall have you cold before it be long."

There is a Fountain

'Out of the death of Christ the life of our soul springs up; and in this blood of the cross, all our mercies swim to us. The blood of Christ runs deep to some eyes: the judicious believer sees multitudes, multitudes of inestimable blessings in it. By this crimson fountain I resolve to sit down.'

John Flavel, sermon on John 17.11

Barely a close Shave - and not the True Gospel

Noone knows the name of the little boy whose 'tolle, lege' Augustine overheard, for his own salvation. Who was it whose reading of Luther's Preface to his commentary on Romans led to Wesley's saving encounter with Christ? And though a number claimed to be the preacher, noone knows the identity of the Primitive Methodist whose sermon won Charles Spurgeon for the Lord.

I won a convert recently, and saw a man made new. I want to speak of my joy. Specifically, David Meredith's new, unveiled face came from my male grooming outreach. He wasn't looking for David Somerset, but through me, David Somerset met him. David can now reach out to other men because he was first loved, and won. He has made me glad.

My intent here, though, is not to receive praise. Instead, I need to warn of an altogether false grooming Gospel. A Gospel which looks like it's from the King, but is unworthy of its name. Please heed this ministry of warning.

The King of Shaves shaving range is everywhere. Every supermarket and pharmacy is the land of the King. Like bindweed, this range creeps, chokes, blocks out the light and threatens the good seed. It will not - and cannot - co-exist with David Somerset's oil. It breathes fury as its rival, the true King. You will look for Somerset, and not find it. Tight is the grip of the false king. The King marches with his phalanxes of oils, gels and other deceiving paraphernalia. His appearance is like that of a man. David Somerset has no range, no deceiving visage, nor needs he any.

As with any pretender, The King of Shaves' rule brings no blessings, and yet, it easily fools the unwary. King of Shaves brings a shave, cheeks are left smooth. But that is all. Where is the real closeness which the true King David gives? Where is the eucalyptine zing? Where is the fresh yet moisturised feel, where King of Shaves leaves a remnant of his oily presence?

David Meredith has done a Shepherd's job, he has preached about the new birth, and exhorted shavers to flee to the soothing balm. I thank him. But his job is only half-done. Shavers need warning away from the perils of an oil which brings no lasting peace. The aisles where you find King of Shaves are broad and easy; narrow and obscure the aisles in which Somerset's oil can be found, and few are in them. But what joy they have, what an oil of gladness.

Embrace the true Gospel. Accept no substitutes. And keep yourselves from idols.

...when I could be here?

In 10 days time I plan to be fishing the Usk in Monmouthshire. Joy, joy, tears of joy (as Pascal said).

A Conversation which sticks

"I want to find out more about Christianity. But I don't know where to start. I want to try a church. There's a church on my road, but I'm a bit scared about going there. What should I wear for church? I don't know if I'm a Catholic or a Protestant. I wonder if you could help me, please?"

People don't approach me with requests like that everyday. In fact, they probably do it once every five or so years. But there is nothing to get the heart beating faster than when someone we know signals that they are really interested in finding out more about Christianity. In this case it was a Brentford footballer in the youth team who I only knew by sight. How thrilling that someone is actually seeking spiritually! For me it's a bit like my old rugby playing days, when you're about to receive the ball with the try-line beckoning. It's all about taking a deep breath, controlling the adrenalin surge, and not doing anything foolish.

Let's be honest, it's easy to fluff it when it comes to helping people to see the truth and grace of Jesus Christ, isn't it? We can be cowardly, and let the opportunity slip; we can be clumsy, and leave people in even more of a muddle by our enthusiastic but ill-chosen words; or we can be overbearing, saying too much and just putting people off. We drop the ball, and the chance goes begging. So how do we make sure that we are channels of God's grace when people actually do want to find out about Christianity? Here are just two ideas:

Be yourself. If someone has asked you something, anything, about Christianity, it's presumably because they've seen something attractive about you. They feel safe to ask you. Don't then suddenly change into something you're not, least of all an arms-waving 1000 words to the minute apologist for the Gospel. They've taken a very big step in opening up to you as they admit an interest in God and Jesus Christ. Be yourself, and help them to take just one more step in their interest. Possibly they're at least as underconfident in asking you as you are in responding to them. Recognise that, and don't flap. You may not be the person to tell them the whole Gospel and answer all of their questions. You can, though, be a link in a chain.

Be patient. Most people take a thousand very small steps as they come to Jesus Christ, over a very long period of time. Maybe it was like with with you. Conversion happens overnight for very few people. For most of us it comes after a huge number of conversations, thoughts, changing perceptions, sermons, insights, and so on. It happens, to almost all of us, through the input of Christian friends. So my inquirer approached me six weeks ago, and was very serious about checking us out at Gunnersbury. I believe that he's still serious. But he's also nervous, and come sunday 10.30, he tells himself many reasons why today's not the day. I need to be patient with him, remembering that God was infinitely patient with me before I came to Christ. And I need to be prayerful.

In all of our efforts to see people coming to Christ, let's remember that we are called to point them not to ourselves, but to Him. Remember the Samaritan situation, in John 4? One woman encountered Jesus, a man who read her heart and her life-history. Her word to her fellow villagers was 'come and see a man' (Jn. 4.29). They went to check out Jesus because they had been encouraged to by someone who clearly had discovered something for herself in Jesus. And their experience? 'We have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the World' (v. 42). Amen, may many see the difference Jesus makes in our lives and be motivated - and helped by us - to come to Him for themselves.

Free Thinking

I had a great weekend in Inverness preaching for David Meredith at Smithton Free Church. We had important conversations about motorbikes, male grooming and preaching, and a terrific curry with the men from Smithton on the Saturday night. From the window of the Manse you could see the snow on the top of Ben Wyvis and other peaks beyond the Black Isle over the Moray Firth, and the fresh air on the walks I took was superb.

This part of the world is very dear to me due to our sabbatical and a number of holidays in the area through the years. Best of all, though, was the fine Christian fellowship of David and Nina, and the splendid people of Smithton. They listened seriously to the Word, and were kind, generous and good fun. Exhausting as the preaching was (for me, I trust not for the congregation!), it was really refreshing to be away. I think preaching dates out of one's own congregation are an essential part of ministry, and not an indulgence. Week by week pastoring and preaching hve very definite drains on any Pastor, joyful privilege though they are; to be elsewhere, seeing the truth working in different lives and witnessing another part of God's Kingdom, is a faith-building experience. It was great to be away, and it's great to be back.

I love the Free Church of Scotland. I've fellowshipped with countless people who are clear in their theology and serious about serving their Lord whose roots are Free Church. I love to sing Psalms and to worship God in hearing His Word in Free Church congregations. But this isn't an Englishman going misty-eyed: I'm well aware of the Church's past tragedies, current problems and the tough decisions it faces as it seeks to bring the unchanging Gospel to a changing Scotland. The more densely populated areas of the Central Belt need courageous church planting. Can that be done by the Free Church? Why ever not! The denomination needs to decide on the psalms and hymns issue. Its outcome will be painful to many, especially if hymns are permitted as an expression of biblical worship and a further means for intelligible outreach. This is the denomination which once had a genius for evangelism. It must again evangelise or die - and be helpless to the spiritually dying nation.

A church which is worth my preaching is certainly worth my prayers. I thank the Lord for the many gifted Pastors in the Free Church, and for the tireless labours of its people. If the Church is willing to surrender all that it treasures to the Lord, its traditions, values, practices and the like, and be obedient to all that He desires for her, then she really will be a mighty force again for the nation's blessing.

The Glorious North

The members at Gunnersbury have been a model of kindness and support since we announced our news that we would be moving on from ministry here in order to church-plant in Huddersfield. We had a very encouraging members' meeting on Wednesday. In our prayer time at the close of the meeting one precious member prayed in her excitement about our 'missionary' endeavours that - and I quote - 'going to Huddersfield's like going to Iran'! The sniggers from all round the hall were barely restrained, but I do agree that life is going to be very different. If Sarah and I are to be disciple-makers we'll have to be wise and patient listeners, learners and pray-ers before we ever make any contributions. Iran it is not, another place it most certainly is!

The joys of moving five children involve the quest for schooling. In the Lord's kindness we've discovered a couple of excellent schools which would suit our kids very well. The junior school hatches its own chicks, perfect for my poultry-mad children. The senior school offers textiles, rugby league and a great art department, which will keep my tribe very happy, and I'm chuffed that they offer Latin, too! Of course the schools are oversubscribed, so now begins the work of getting a local postcode - probably through taking our a local house-let - whilst still living and working down here for now. To that end Sarah and I had a long day yesterday in the town seeing schools and viewing properties. In the course of the day a few asked why we were coming North. It felt daunting but good to say to them 'to plant a Bible-preaching church in the town centre.' It sounds a little mad, but the Apostle Paul must have felt that many a time in his life. The Lord can do it, we long to be part of it.

So, change, change, change. Sarah will rediscover her flat Yorkshire vowels, our mixed-heritage children will discover their other Yorkshire gene-pool, and I will be an incomer amongst these wonderful people. But for now our prayers are that we would live wisely in the present whilst planning appropriately for the future. In all of this we need energy and much grace. Please pray for us.

Tomorrow morning I go the the real North, Inverness, where the compasses probably stop working. I'm to preach for David Meredith at the three anniversary services of Smithton-Culloden Free Church of Scotland. I've not been to Smithton for over three years, and am really looking forward to the return.

Our New Ministry

Two weeks ago I told the Elders that I believed that the Lord was calling me to a new ministry in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, and that I would be be finishing my time at Gunnersbury in July. Last week I told the church members, and made the letter below available for them yesterday.

These are strange times for all of us. The last resignation of pastoral office at Gunnersbury was in the late 1930s, and the 51 year ministry of John Caiger which I followed was ended by his death, so we are all in unfamiliar territory as a church! We honestly could have seen ourselves here for decades rather than 12 years, which I don't see as a long ministry in any sense. Still, our conviction is that the Lord is moving us. The church here is strong in maturity, clear in doctrine and serious about evangelism, and in the Lord's hands, above all.

We're going to our new work of planting a church in Huddersfield with a deep sense of the Lord's leading, with no small amount of trepidation - no nucleus of believers and no pledged support, yet. Still, we've been serious about doing our research, listening to experienced and wise Pastors local to Huddersfield who've confirmed the need and offered their help, looked closely at our strengths and weaknesses, and have prayed, prayed and prayed some more. So we do have a real excitement at this new chapter in our lives and Gospel service. Please pray for us.

Dear Gunnersbury Family,

This is a very difficult letter to have to write to you all. Sarah and I believe that the call of God is on our lives to move, and we have the conviction that He is leading us on from Gunnersbury in order to undertake a work of church planting. We plan to leave Gunnersbury in the summer in order to move to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

There is no way I can find in order to lessen the shock to you, or the disappointment which you will probably be feeling. A couple of points must be stated at the outset, though.

I have been and continue to be so happy here at Gunnersbury. I still feel a deep sense of privilege and purpose as I do ministry here. Sarah and I believe that the Lord is leading us on from Gunnersbury, and we want to emphasise that the decision is not shaped by any situations or people here that we feel we can no longer work with. If the Lord had shown us that we have many years of ministry ahead of us here we would be resolved to be obedient to Him.

This is easily the hardest decision which Sarah and I have ever faced. Our decision to move comes from an intense period of over six months during which we have especially sought the Lord’s will for our lives. Through our prayers, conversations and research we are sure that the Lord has confirmed to us that He wants us to establish a church in Huddersfield by His grace. We will establish a charity and will be initially dependent upon the prayer and financial support of current friends who share a vision for the work, and a couple of Christian charities as we seek to gather a nucleus of people in the town.

Since I informed the Elders of our decision we’ve had the opportunity to meet together for prayer and discussion, along with our wives. They’ve been full of kindness and support for us. I’ve also had a good time with the Deacons to talk through the Lord’s leading and to pray with them.

There is almost never a convenient time to leave a church. Much work is in full flow, whilst important decisions need to be faced. Gunnersbury is a church, though, which is well-resourced with godly members and leaders. My heart has been increasingly burdened for places where the Gospel must be planted, and reformed and evangelical churches established. In many ways we could justify and look forward to many years ahead at Gunnersbury. As we’ve sought the Lord so much about this, we believe that He’s saying that He will look after Gunnersbury, and that it is right that we move onto a different place for our ministry.

This decision will become a priority item on the 17th March members’ meeting, when I can explain more and take any questions. I anticipate finishing my tenure here in July, and wish to do everything possible in order to finish well, with strong and God-honouring relationships amongst ourselves and the whole church, and the goodwill and support of all as we begin life in Huddersfield.

With much love in the Lord, and every prayer for His will to be done,

Lewis

Jazz goes the Gospel

Saturday night saw our Jazz event at Gunnersbury, with Ruth Naomi Floyd and Aaron Graves. It was a tremendous night. The quality of the singing and playing was simply outstanding. The set explored the African-American slave experience, and Ruth sang a number of Spirituals, giving brief and helpful explanation of how various songs give voice to both despair and longing. Many of the songs had a clear Gospel voice in them.

Two-thirds of the way through the evening David Meredith spoke for 15-20 mins. David explored the themes and issues which Ruth’s set brought up, and he gave many perceptive comments on Jazz and its reflection of what life is like. The Gospel came through clearly, and ears which would never ever listen to an explanation of Christianity were playing very close attention.

The only disappointment was that numbers weren’t better. The downstairs of our building was reasonably full, but we had hoped to fill the gallery, too. We plugged the event extensively in the congregation and in the local community and beyond through posters, internet postings and invitations, including putting 10000 fliers into local homes. Noone locally could say that they didn’t know! I guess that some Christian people are simply conservative about an event like this one which brings Jazz and the Gospel alongside each other. The bigger factor, though, with our local community is that people are just prejudiced against the Gospel, and will avoid it at all costs, even when it’s part of a high-quality and well-organised event in a beautiful building. The Gospel itself is just too controversial and disturbing for our professedly open-minded neighbours.

Still, this was a really enjoyable evening. We were all stirred to hear afresh Christ as the answer to our deepest needs, and those who weren’t Christians saw and heard the transforming message of the Gospel. We pray that that will do them eternal good.

Our Shallow Brains

‘The ministerial work must be carried on diligently and laboriously, as being of such unspeakable consequence to ourselves and others. We are seeking to uphold the world, to save it from the curse of God, to perfect the creation, to attain the ends of Christ’s death, to save ourselves and others from damnation, to overcome the devil, and demolish his kingdom, to set up the kingdom of Christ, and to attain and help others to the kingdom of glory. And are these works to be done with a careless mind, or a lazy hand? O see, then, that this work be done with all your might! Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow. . . . But especially be laborious in the practice and exercise of your knowledge. Let Paul’s words ring continually in your ears, ‘Necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! ’ Ever think with yourselves what lieth upon your hands: ‘If I do not bestir myself, Satan may prevail, and the people everlastingly perish, and their blood be required at my hand. By avoiding labor and suffering, I shall draw on myself a thousand times more than I avoid; whereas, by present diligence, I shall prepare for future blessedness.’ No man was ever a loser by God.’

Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor

This week has been my final module of the Westminster ThM at the John Owen Centre. It’s another terrific session, and I count it as a great privilege to have the time to think and learn with others. Iain D. Campbell has been a wonderful model of godly, careful scholarship, and we’ve covered a lot of ground in the Doctrine of Scripture. I’ll certainly go back to the weekly charge of preaching with a deepened appreciation of the privilege of the work of unfolding God’s Word to His people.

Men of Strange Tongues

The next few days see my home counties’ life harshly interrupted by the men of the North. David Meredith from Inverness comes tomorrow, and will be doing a short evangelistic talk on Saturday night at our Jazz Event, and then will be preaching at our guest service on Sunday morning. The last time David came he criticised the cheapness of my whisky (or it many have been David Robertson; either way, I can no longer even afford the cheap stuff). I’m sure that he’ll strive for missional cultural flexibility as he spends time with us very Lowlanders.

Then I’ll be pursuing another module of the Westminster ThM course at LTS from Tuesday to Friday with Iain D. Campbell of Lewis. We’ll be studying the Reformed Doctrine of Scripture, surveying the historical scene and giving particular attention to recent books and controversies. The last time I heard Iain preach at the Banner Conference he made a gentle riposte at Baptists, only to look harder at the front row and discover a phalanx of us. I can still picture the bead of sweat which popped on his brow.

All of this is a perfect cultural limbering up for me before I return the favour and head to Inverness to preach for David at Smithton in a fortnight’s time. I’ve fond memories of the church as we worshipped there for some weeks a few years ago. To my son’s disgust I won’t be fitting in a fishing trip. There’s a seatrout on the Firth under the Kessock Bridge which my boy’s got unfinished business with…

Preaching and fishing are two of life’s greatest pleasures. In heaven I know I’ll lay down one of those loves, but desperately hope that I’ll get the opportunity to pursue the other, which is all-too neglected in this existence.

All that Jazz

Above all else

On Sunday evening we looked at God's people as Hosea ministered to them in Hosea 12. The sermon's here. Hosea's listeners were people who had received much from God. But they had jettisoned the high privilege of knowing and walking with the Lord for the short-term gratification of showy religion and materialistic living. Of course, in their eyes, nothing was wrong. God was in His heaven, and they were His covenant people, safe in their religion. Hosea's heart-wrenching call to them was to urge them to come back to their first love. Yet how resistant they were to that call.

So on Sunday evening we tried to search our hearts. Where am I forgetting my call to know Christ? Where am I proud and greedy? Where am I forgetting that the command to walk in God's ways are serious, all-or-nothing? Where am I exchanging the hard but glorious way of discipleship for the easy but fading pleasures of sin?

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life", says Proverbs 4.23

I treasure this verse. It was my verse for 2009, not by any selection, but because the Lord kept thrusting it at me in so many different circumstances and thoughts. I preached on it last year (twice, I think), and wrote a paper for my ThM on it as the Puritans John Flavel and Andrew Gray handled it. Hosea echoes the warning of Proverbs 4.23. Israel must look at her heart, and in God's strength bring it back to him and guard it in His love. So may I be a little bold and put their challenge to you?

What's the 'above all else' in your life? What's the value which defines and motivates you? What's the great non-negotiable in your life? Try these possibilities, as you read the following list slowly. Probably the one which makes your heart beat a little faster as yo uread it is the one where your heart lies.

Above all else, guard your career, for it is the wellspring of life

Above all else, guard your ministry, for it is the wellspring of life

Above all else, guard your savings, for they are the wellspring of life

Above all else, guard your property, for it is the wellspring of life

Above all else, guard your marriage, for it is the wellspring of life

Above all else, guard your children, for they are the wellspring of life

Above all else, guard your leisure activities, for they are the wellspring of life

Above all else, guard your retirement plans, for they are the wellspring of life

Above all else, guard your self-belief, for it is the wellspring of life

Above all else, guard your health, for it is the wellspring of life

Above all else, guard your reputation, for it is the wellspring of life


What are we guarding, I wonder? We guard where we think true life is. God's Word says that true life is found by the heart which knows the love of Jesus Christ. That love, known alone by the repenting, believing heart, must be prized above all else. The love must rule our hearts alone. God give us the grace to seek that love afresh, and to guard the heart it indwells. Above all else.

Train up a Parent in the way he should go

On Sunday morning I preached on Parenting from Ephesians 6.1-4. I tried to get the congregation right into the text, and sprinkled it liberally with wisdom from the Heidelberg Catechism and Ted Tripp. I think we had a great time. I love the surprises in the text: fathers are commanded not to exasperate their children - confrontational parenting as much as inconsistent or absent parenting are the chief culprits; and then we learn that the perfect antidote to exasperation is instruction in God's truth, which I take to be the parents' wise, careful and daily leading of their children into the Bible.

I wanted to identify and eliminate the Pharisee approach which bedevils our efforts at 'Christian' parenting. This approach is when we insist on outward conformity of behaviour above all else. The danger with this wrong approach is that we end up making little Pharisees - children who know how to toe a line, give every appearance of being great kids, and are practiced experts at hiding a heart which is actually deeply resistant to their parents, and to the Lord. In other words, little Pharisees! God's Word is full of instruction that we commend and command obedience through a careful appeal to the hearts of our children, as patiently help them to identify their sinfulness and seek God's help as they struggle to obey us. We want to be parents who rely on grace as we show our children that they need grace for their hearts and their actions.

This began to come home to me a few years ago when we were in the States on Sabbatical. I learned a great one-liner from Matt Schmucker at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. In his home he uses the little tag when he's encouraging obedience from his children, 'right away, all the way, with a happy heart.' Those words betray a world of theological and pastoral acumen. We use them at home, and I commended them to the congregation on Sunday. If you want to use them with your children, they'll mean something like this:

'Right away' - means you're to do this now, not at the fourth asking. And you're to do it because dad/mum has said, and God has given them authority over you. Prompt obedience is the clearest sign of trust and respect.

'All the way' - no half measures, please. Plate in the dishwasher doesn't mean near the dishwasher and then run away! Don't take my gentle commands and turn them into merely a suggestion for you to follow if you want, and how you want. That shows no respect, and the Lord calls you to respect me. 'All the way', please.

'With a happy heart' - I love you and God loves you. I'm seeking to show you that it's good for you to trust me and obey me, and that you please God as you do that. He and I want your heart to be glad about our love as you do what I command you to.

So if you're a parent of young children why not use this little strap line? But only use it if you're striving by grace to be the parent you're called by the Gospel to be: a servant-hearted leader and encourager of your children, attending to their spiritual needs with loving Christian instruction, prayer and example. Show them that God is real in Jesus Christ - wise, kind, encouraging, infinitely patient and tender. Then we can trust that their obedience will be increasingly a joy to you and to them, and that through their honouring of your grace-filled leadership they will see and follow the Good Shepherd themselves.

Last night we held the first of three parenting sessions led by Anne Benton. These were designed for our own parents, but particularly for parents in the local community. It was an opportunity to show our friends and neighbours that what the Bible says about parenting brings sense and incredible resources to the stressful business of parenting. And twenty people came along, a number who've had no previous connection with Gunnersbury. It was a great night, with the majority staying around to chat for a long time afterwards. The Lord is always good.