Penitent Disciple

Cardiphonia, or “Utterance of the Heart”

This collection of letters from slave-trader-turned-pastor/priest John Newton is a wonderful look into the pastoral heart of this 18th century believer. I have yet to dive in and read the whole thing, but this excerpt from a series of correspondence to a woman in 1775 shows Newton’s belief in the utter sovereignty of God, even in the midst of trials.

Letter 4
London, Aug. 19, 1775.
Dear friend,
You see I am mindful of my promise; and glad would I be to write something that the Lord may be pleased to make a word in season. I went yesterday into the pulpit very dry and heartless. I seemed to have fixed upon a text—but when I came to the pinch, it was so shut up that I could not preach from it. I had hardly a minute to choose, and therefore was forced to snatch at that which came first upon my mind, which proved “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12. Thus I set off at a venture, having no resource but in the Lord’s mercy and faithfulness; and indeed what other can we wish for? Presently my subject opened, and I know not when I have been favored with more liberty.

Why do I tell you this? Only as an instance of his goodness, to encourage you to put your strength in him, and not to be afraid, even when you feel your own weakness and insufficiency most sensibly. We are never more safe, and never have more reason to expect the Lord’s help—than when we are most sensible that we can do nothing without him. This was the lesson Paul learned—to rejoice in his own poverty and emptiness, that the power of Christ might rest upon him. Could Paul have done anything, Jesus would not have had the honor of doing all. This way of being saved entirely by grace, from first to last, is contrary to our natural pride. It mortifies self, leaving it nothing to boast of; and, through the remains of an unbelieving, legal spirit, it often seems discouraging. When we think ourselves so utterly helpless and worthless, we are too ready to fear that the Lord will therefore reject us; whereas, in truth, such a poverty of spirit is the best mark we can have of a saving interest in his promises and care.

How often have I longed to be an instrument of establishing you in the peace and hope of the Gospel! and I have but one way of attempting it, by telling you over and over of the power and grace of Jesus. You need nothing to make you happy—but to have the eyes of your understanding more fixed upon the Redeemer, and more enlightened by the Holy Spirit to behold his glory. Oh, he is a suitable Savior! He has power, authority, and compassion to save to the uttermost! He has given his Word of promise, to engage our confidence; and he is able and faithful to make good the expectations and desires he has raised in us. Put your trust in him; believe (as we say) through thick and thin, in defiance of all objections from within and without. For this, Abraham is recommended as a pattern to us. He overlooked all difficulties. He ventured and hoped even against hope, in a case which, to appearance, was desperate; because he knew that He who had promised—was also able to perform.

Your sister is much upon my mind. Her illness grieves me. Were it in my power I would quickly remove it. The Lord can, and indeed will remove it—when it has answered the end for which he sent it. I trust he has brought her to us for good, and that she is chastised by him—that she may not be condemned with the world. I hope, though she says little, she lifts up her heart to him for a blessing. I wish you may be enabled to leave her, and yourself, and all your concerns, in his hands. He has a sovereign right to do with us as he pleases; and if we consider what we are, surely we shall confess we have no reason to complain. To those who seek him, his sovereignty is exercised in a way of grace. All shall work together for good. Everything which he sends is needful; nothing can be needful which he withholds. Be content to bear the cross; others have borne it before you. You have need of patience; and if you ask, the Lord will give it to you—but there can be no settled peace until our will is in a measure subdued. Hide yourself under the shadow of his wings; rely upon his care and power; look upon him as a physician who has graciously undertaken to heal your soul of the worst of sicknesses, sin! Yield to his prescriptions, and fight against every thought that would represent it as desirable to be permitted to choose for yourself. When you cannot see your way—be satisfied that he is your leader. When your spirit is overwhelmed within you—he knows your path. He will not leave you to sink. He has appointed seasons of refreshment, and you shall find that he does not forget you. Above all, keep close to the Throne of Grace. If we seem to get no good by attempting to draw near him—we may be sure we shall get none by keeping away from him!

I somewhat recently discovered Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981), a Welsh physician-turned-preacher. For nearly 30 years he was the pastor of Westminster Chapel in London. In this clip from December 1970, Lloyd-Jones is sharp, clear-eyed, gracious, and unapologetic about (small-“o”) orthodox Christian belief.

The images and footage of the rioters who stormed the capital this past week were incontrovertible evidence that politics, including loyalties to political figures and unquestioning belief in conspiracy theories, is a full-on religion for people on the political right as well as the political left. Human beings are wired to believe in something bigger than themselves, and in the wake of an increasingly ineffective church for the past few decades, things that are less true, less eternal, and less honorable will inevitably fill the void. It should especially trouble evangelical leaders that many of those taken in by the latest conspiracy theories have been self-described evangelicals. Something is amiss in the American church.

Many American evangelicals will see the final election outcomes – the loss of all three branches of government to the Democratic party – as God’s judgment on America. I think they’re at least partially wrong.

I wrote two years ago that I believe there’s a judgment coming upon the church. (You can read that post here). I believe this is the beginning of that judgment.

Though this problem had been brewing for quite a while, American evangelicals mostly fell into two basic camps over the past four years: those who vocally supported and defended a mean-spirited, narcissistic, unrepentant serial adulterer as their champion, and those who quietly – almost silently – said they didn’t approve of his character, though they liked his policies. But their refusal to publicly call out his clearly (almost daily) unbiblical behavior betrayed their belief – clearly visible to an unbelieving world – that temporary, worldly political power was far more important to them than eternal biblical truth. The biblical term for this is “idolatry”. Really, at its core, it’s essentially an updated version of indulgences: You give us something we want, and we’ll look the other way and stay silent about your clear and obvious sin.

And the bad news is – which is actually good news from a biblical perspective – God is not the idiot that many evangelicals clearly believe Him to be. While they’ve engaged in a great deal of rationalization within and amongst themselves, they can’t rationalize their way out of their fickle allegiances and idolatry before the Almighty, who sees and knows all things.

What American evangelicals need to do now is don whatever the 2021 version of sackcloth and ashes is, and publicly repent. While I believe we will not escape judgment, we may yet find that judgment shortened.

Unfortunately, the least likely thing American evangelicals will do is publicly repent, because much like the people of God throughout biblical history, they’ve become an arrogant and stiff-necked people. And much in the spirit of their adulterous champion for the past four years (who’s said repeatedly that he’s never needed to ask forgiveness for anything), they actually believe they have nothing to repent of as a church.

I pray for humility and repentance among God’s people. God is righteous and just, but also merciful for those who seek his mercy. May His church do so, quickly.