Earlier this year, when preparing to preach on the life and ministry of Spurgeon, I listened to John Piper’s biography on the Prince from way back in 1995.
About eight minutes into the talk he said something that so resonated with my heart for the place of history in pastoral ministry,
Oh how fortunate we are, brothers of the pulpit, that we are not the first to face these things. We are so fortunate. I thank God for the healing of history. Do you read history? Are you slipping into the abyss of the present? It is an abyss brothers! You cannot know yourself, or your times, or your God if you only know the present. I bless God for history and books.
Amen! Pastors need historical sensibilities if they are to engage the contemporary landscape with wisdom and truth. For history is an oh so powerful discipline.
History reminds us modern novelties aren’t really all that novel. History establishes precedent. History enshrines heroes. History discerns the ordinary consequences of decisions. History examines conclusions with hindsight. History exposes present-day blind spots. In other words, history brings awareness.
ARE YOU AWARE?
One of the great verbs of the New Testament is ἀγρυπνέω (agrupneó). It means to be sleepless, watchful, or alert. It paints the picture of a shepherd who stays awake at night to guard his sheep from the creeping presence of wolves and predators. Jesus uses the verb when talking about how His disciples are to live in light of His immanent return. In Gethsemane He used it when warning the Inner Circle against falling into the temptation to sleep. The great apostle used it when exhorting the Ephesians to constant prayer.
Pastor, are you awake today? Or are you, like good Dr. Piper said, falling asleep in the abyss of the present.
Faithful pastors are those who are ever alert and aware. They keep one eye out for any who would harm the body. One ear is always turned to discern danger in the common chatter. Leading includes protecting and history functions as something like armor of awareness for the ministry.
WHERE TO BEGIN
While I believe that every pastor needs history I don’t presume to believe the every pastor loves history. If that presupposition is true I know that many of you might need some unique encouragement in pursuing history as a pastoral discipline. Here then is my one piece of advice: read biographies.
I’ve yet to meet a person who doesn’t like a good story, and a good story is exactly what good biography is. So be a profligate reader of biography. Read the standard Christian biographies on giants like Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Edward, and Spurgeon. Read the Pulitzer prize winners on presidents, politicians, and people of power. Not only do I think you will be fascinated by the respected individual’s life, I think you will also be rather surprised at how much history one learns in such an endeavor.
For example, I remember reading Dallimore’s work on Whitefield and was utterly amazed at two things: 1) the sheer Spirit-wrought stamina of the great soul winner, and 2) how Whitefield’s methods were something of a seedbed for 19th century evangelicalism. And if you know anything about 19th century evangelicalism you know that much of our modern evangelical world is direct fruit of those happenings from two hundred years ago.
But more on that tomorrow.
SUIT UP!
History has power. When the weapon of days gone by is used rightly is not only keeps the pastor alert, but it produces wisdom, caution, modesty, and humility. Will you wield it in your ministry?