posted by Dan Phillips
The PyroManiacs devote space at the beginning of each week to highlights from The Spurgeon Archive. Phil had thought he'd be out of town and wanted one of us to do a Spurgeon, so I found this goodie. Now, you get double your Spurgeon, double the offense to wishy-washy SpongeBob Christians!
In keeping with the momentous day we mark tomorrow, this week we enjoy an excerpt from A Luther Sermon at the Tabernacle. It was preached on November 11, 1883. Spurgeon's text was Habakkuk 2:4 — "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." See what Christianoid movements Spurgeon's words bring to your mind.
he text ...cuts off all idea of living by mere intellect. Too many say, “I am my own guide! I shall make doctrines for myself and I shall shift them and shape them according to my own devices.” Such a way is death to the spirit. To be abreast of the times is to be an enemy to God! The way of life is to believe what God has taught, especially to believe in Him whom God has set forth to be a Propitiation for sin, for that is making God to be everything and ourselves nothing. Resting on an Infallible Revelation and trusting in an Omnipotent Redeemer, we have rest and peace. But, on the other unsettled principle, we become wandering stars for whom is appointed the blackness of darkness forever. By faith the soul can live—in all other ways we have a name to live and are dead.The same is equally true of fancy. We often meet with a fanciful religion in which people trust to impulses, to dreams, to noises and mystic things which they imagine they have seen— all of it is fiddle-faddle! And yet they are quite wrapped up in it. I pray that you may cast out this chaffy stuff—there is no food for the spirit in it. The life of my soul lies not in what I think, or what I fancy, or what I imagine, or what I enjoy of fine feeling, but only in that which faith apprehends to be the Word of God! We live before God by trusting a promise, depending on a Person, accepting a Sacrifice, wearing a righteousness and surrounding ourselves with God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Implicit trust in Jesus, our Lord, is the way of life—and every other way leads down to death. It is a narrowing statement—let those who call it intolerance say what they please—it will be true when they have execrated it, as much as it is now!
7 comments:
"Now, you get double your Spurgeon, double the offense to wishy-washy SpongeBob Christians!"
Dan, you are having too much fun!
I was at the Spurgeon seminar that Phil did this past weekend. It was GREAT! He did such an excellent job.
Not quite as 'awesome' as you may think!!
"Especially to believe in Him whom God has set forth to be a Propitiation for sin, for that is making God to be everything and ourselves nothing."
The Lord brings us as nothing to Baptism where we die with Him, we are then lifted up out of the watery grave - new creatures and new beings - perfect in The Father's sight under Grace.
We are elevated to positions of high standing, power and authority, to be rulers of cities in the future - Sons and Daughters of God - Brothers and friends of the Lord Jesus Christ - Royal Priests.
Now that's what I call awesome and by comparison your Mr Spurgeon is looking a little wretched, tired and miserable with all his Victorian, Dickensian, self inflicted false humility.
n2sbp
I LOVE Fiddle-Faddle. It's a delightful snack. I prefer my meals to be more fancy, of course - but how can anyone say no to such peanuty goodness?
"execrated." Boy has English taken a downturn in 150 years.
"trusting in an Omnipotent Redeemer, we have rest and peace"
Truly wonderful words from the Pastor. This verse came to mind.
"Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." Rom. 8:33-34
n2sbp:
Dude -- do you realize that there is a real conflict between calling something "Dickensian" and "Victorian"? As in, Dickens was a pretty serious critic for the phoniness of Victorian society?
Sounds like Spurgeon was describing the “Charis-fiddle-faddle-matics” of his day.
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