Greetings All,
This week's 'thought' comes from John Piper in a book entitled:
"The Roots of Endurance." In the book Piper looks at the uncanny commitment, perseverance and endurance demonstrated in the lives of three great men:
1.) John Newton, former slave trader and author of the beloved song, "Amazing Grace."
2.) William Wilberforce, the
man almost single-handedly responsible for abolishing slavery in the
British empire. He worked relentlessly for 46 years in the British
Parliament to abolish the slave trade (against tremendous opposition,
insults, and threats),
even though his legislation was defeated eleven times between 1787 and
1807. His battle to abolish it entirely throughout every colony did not
pass until three days before his death in 1833. He was a man of immense
fortitude and strength of resolve.
3.) Charles Simeon, who pastored of Trinity Church at Cambridge University in England for 54 years (1782-1836).
Our quote
for today is in reference to Simeon. It contrasts him and us. Piper's
initial cultural critique (I believe) is right on the mark for many -- uncomfortably so. Enjoy!
"I know I am" (says Piper of himself),
"in great measure, a child of my times. And one of the pervasive marks
of our times is emotional fragility. It hangs in the air we breathe.
We break easily. Our marriages break easily. Our faith breaks easily.
Our happiness breaks easily. And our commitment to the church breaks
easily. We are easily disheartened, and it seems we have little
capacity for surviving and thriving in the face of criticism and
opposition.
A
typical emotional response to trouble in the church is to think, 'If
that's the way they feel about me, then I'll just find another church.'
We see very few healthy, happy examples today whose lives spell out in
flesh and blood the rugged words, 'Count it all joy, my brothers, when
you meet
trials of various kinds' (James 1:2).
When
historians list the character traits of America in the last third of
the twentieth century, commitment, constancy, tenacity, endurance,
patience, resolve, and perseverance will not be
on the list. The list will begin with an all-consuming interest in
self-esteem. It will be followed by the subheadings of
self-assertiveness, self-enhancement, and self-realization. And if we
think that we are not children of our times, let us simply test
ourselves to see how we respond when people reject our ideas or spurn
our good efforts or misconstrue our best intentions. We all need some
help here.
We
are
surrounded by, and are part of, a society of emotionally fragile
quitters. The spirit of the age is too much in us. We need to spend
time with the kind of people -- people whether dead or alive -- whose
lives prove there is another way to live.
Scripture says, 'be imitators of those who by faith and patience
inherit the promises' (Hebrews 6:12). So I want to hold up for us the
faith and patient endurance of Charles Simeon for our inspiration and
imitation."
He
turned down a fortune from a family member in order to be able to
preach the Gospel. He was at Cambridge University for three years before
he found even one other believer on
campus!
He so desired to preach the Gospel at
Cambridge, and be an evangelical witness in that place, that he worked
as an assistant at the church for five years hoping to be appointed
lecturer (pastor/preacher). Yet after those first five years, he was
passed over for another, and had to wait another seven years before he
was chosen to be lecturer -- a position which gave him the opportunity
to practice what he believed was the threefold purpose of preaching: "To humble the sinner, To exalt the Saviour, To promote holiness."
When he was finally assigned the pastorate, he endured years of cruel treatment from his congregation, "for his biblical preaching and uncompromising stand as an evangelical."
Because of resistance from members,"he
started an evening
service for the townspeople, but the church wardens locked the doors
while the people stood waiting in the street. Once he had the doors
opened by a locksmith, but when it happened again, he dropped the
service."
The members of the church, "locked
their pews on Sunday mornings. They refused to come, and refused to
let others sit in their pews. When Simeon set up chairs in the aisles,
nooks and corners at his own expense, the wardens took them out and
threw them into the church yard... When he tried to visit from house to
house, hardly a door would open to him. This situation lasted 10
years."
Even after he'd been there 30 years (at age 53) people still gave him trouble.
He was slandered. People
intentionally, repeatedly and rudely disrupted the services.
And on several occasions, "stones were
thrown at the windows.... On one occasion a band of students waited by
his usual exit to assault him, but providentially he took another way
home that day.... Students who were awakened and converted by his
preaching were soon ostracized and ridiculed."
Yet he persevered with a smile. He was gentle and full of grace, never harsh or rude. Said Wilberforce, "How full he is of love, and of the desire to promote the spiritual benefit of others. Oh that I might copy him, as he Christ."
Long after most people today would have given up and moved on, he
pressed on -- for the sake of the Gospel. And the fruit of
his
years of patient perseverance were students and townsfolk converted to
Christ and discipled in Christ, as well as others who headed into the
ministry, and others off to the mission field. Henry Martyn, the great
missionary to India, was converted and mentored by Simeon, and within
five years of arriving on the field had translated the New Testament
into Urdu, Persian, and supervised its translation into Arabic.
If you are going through rough waters, and are thinking of giving up,
you might want to pick up Piper's book. It's an inspiring read to say the
least!
In the Service of Christ, who left us the example of enduring great opposition from sinful men (Heb. 12:3), Pastor
Jeff
2.) William Wilberforce, the
man almost single-handedly responsible for abolishing slavery in the
British empire. He worked relentlessly for 46 years in the British
Parliament to abolish the slave trade (against tremendous opposition,
insults, and threats),
even though his legislation was defeated eleven times between 1787 and
1807. His battle to abolish it entirely throughout every colony did not
pass until three days before his death in 1833. He was a man of immense
fortitude and strength of resolve.
He
turned down a fortune from a family member in order to be able to
preach the Gospel. He was at Cambridge University for three years before
he found even one other believer on
campus! 
