The great Welsh reformed preacher, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, died on this day in 1981. It’s said that he was a puritan misplaced in time. He is perhaps one of my favorite preachers from the past, in part because I can still listen to his sermons; and so can you by clicking HERE. You can also watch a very well done documentary on his life and ministry by clicking HERE.
One of the reasons I love this man so much is because of his creedal-backbone. Though he was kind and gracious, he was a man of reformed theological conviction who boldly stood for what was right and preached the gospel plainly and courageously to all. He had no problem calling the world to repent and believe. He had no problem standing against the depraved tides of the world around us. But he also had no problem standing against the church when he needed to.
Much like now, in his day so many in the church were compromising in an attempt to attract the world, but he refused. He believed that, “Christians, by being Christian, influence society almost automatically.” He said, “what the Church needs to do is not to organize evangelistic campaigns to attract outside people, but to begin herself to live the Christian life. If she did that, men and women would be crowding into our buildings.” In fact, he saw this as fundamental to what the church is and does.
When he was once addressed by church members who—wanting to see the church grow—said that they needed to bring in certain programs, events, activities and the like that would attract the world in, he responded, “If we are to have a New Testament church it will be by the preaching of the Word of God, it will be by prayer, and it will be by our going into the world and living out the reality of Jesus Christ.” Now, I would push back against that a bit, because he didn’t mention singing, the sacraments, or fellowship… but, overall I think he’s right. And I think it’s the last part—going into the world and living out the reality of Jesus Christ—that we so often neglect.
Lloyd-Jones said, “The greatest need of the hour is a revived and joyful church.” And by that he didn’t mean only when we are gathered together; he meant when we are gathered, but also, especially when we are scattered out in the world. He said, “The whole of our life is an expression and a proclamation of what we really are.” And what we are is God’s New Covenant people; we are His children; we are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven who are able to rejoice and be glad come what may, because we are in Christ and He is in us. We are the very bride of Christ called to live for the glory of Christ. Lloyd-Jones encouraged Christians to, “Say, as you wake up in the morning, ‘What a wonderful thing—another day of walking with God!’” And what he meant was that we are to live in the joy of our salvation for the glory of our God every day, all day. That in all that we do we are to do it unto the Lord, with joy, pointing others to the glory of the Lord. And he knew that this—the ordinary Christian life, a life of salt and light—is a powerful thing in a world full of darkness and decay.
When he was near death, homebound, and could no longer preach, a few young preachers visited him and asked him if he was sad that he could no longer preach. He explained to them that his great joy was never in preaching, and then he reminded them of Luke 10:20: “do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” But don’t misunderstand what he was saying; he didn’t mean that his joy was heaven. His joy was the Lord. As he was dying and could not speak, so he wrote on a piece of paper: “Don’t pray for healing. Don’t hold me back from the glory.” Meaning, don’t hold me back from being with Jesus and basking in the radiance of His glory. And on this day 42 years ago, he entered into that glory.
Friends, do we live for that glory? A life lived for the glory of the Lord is a life that stands out and shines out in a world full of darkness and decay. May we look to men like Lloyd-Jones and follow their example. May we be the true New Covenant people of God who have creedal-backbone; who not only stand against the darkness of the world, but who push back against it with the joy of the Lord.