D. Scott Meadows
This fifth of John Newton’s trove of 41 letters on religious subjects is advice to a new pastor about his preaching. He writes as a seasoned veteran in this theater of spiritual warfare. He emphasizes the need to keep one’s heart right despite all the criticism and praise of hearers. My paraphrased abridgement uses corresponding paragraphs. Please read the original.
“Pitfalls and Challenges of Pastoral Preaching”
1. I am glad you are now ordained and settled in your first pastorate. I hope the Lord has made you totally devoted to serve Him and His people for His sake. By your request, I offer my thoughts.
2. Be prepared for an unpleasant surprise. The ministry in future prospect and the ministry in actual practice will strike you as two very different things. A young soldier has some idea about his calling, but he gains a whole new perspective on the battlefield. If we knew everything beforehand, who would dare enlist? Instead, God draws us into the work by His love in us for precious souls, and then He lets us discover little by little whatever is difficult and disagreeable. Gospel ministry is bittersweet, like the book John ate, with the sweet coming first (Rev 10.8–11). When the bitterness comes, we are so engaged in the work there is no turning back.
3. I do not mean to discourage you by saying this. Our cause is good and noble. Our Master is good and gracious. He will let us feel our weakness while keeping us from despair. His grace is sufficient for us (2 Cor 12.9). As long as He supplies us with the spiritual graces of humility, resolve, and devotion, we will overcome even mountainous obstacles to faithfulness.
4. Before you were a pastor, with all Christians you were Satan’s target. The Lord kept you spiritually while you suffered the Devil’s assaults. In this way God has made you a better counselor to precious ones likewise afflicted. But Satan concentrates his attention upon pastors because our well-being affects so many others. Your sins as a gospel minister would damage God’s reputation in the world so much more, as well as the church’s morale. The pastorate is honorable, and it comes with great dangers. That is why Paul urged ministers, “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching” (1 Tim 4.16)—on yourself first, and then on the teaching. The teaching will not be practical or profitable if you neglect yourself.
5. No matter how people respond to your preaching, you must beware of dangers. If you face strong opposition (which you can expect where truth has not been faithfully preached), this is a heavy burden with its own temptations. First, you must resist the impulse to resent your critics and then morph into an angry preacher full of combative and cutting remarks. You would feel guilty about this, and besides, it is counterproductive. Some men relish opposition as a sign of spiritual accomplishment, but we should not provoke offense by a lack of meekness. All by itself, gospel truth agitates carnal hearts, so some opposition is inevitable, but we should soften it as much as possible by our commitment to well-doing, virtuous character, and returning good for evil. This policy has at least gained respect for ministers, and that even from steadfast unbelievers. “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Rom 12.18). We ought to seek outward peace without compromising truth and faithfulness, and this we do by convincing them we love them and have their best interests at heart. Second, beware of self-congratulation in firmness, as if that, by itself, were a sign of your faithfulness and courage. Praise God if He has given you a spine; except for that you would fall flat on your face. But remember, the worst sinners are stubborn. Christian fortitude is preaching God’s truth in His strength.
6. If your hearers mostly approve rather than oppose your preaching, you are still exposed to great danger. Popularity is a powerful enemy. Your obvious gifts, skills, and zeal suggest to me that you may become a popular preacher. I am painfully concerned for you. You are likely to become very useful in a wider sphere, but this is like walking on thin ice. How will you feel when you see people flocking to hear you and hanging upon every word? Popularity and pride go together like fire and gunpowder. Unless the Lord is constantly moistening our hearts, we are bound to blow up. Most celebrity preachers come to ruin. The few who survive spiritually have received from the Lord a deliverance almost miraculous. Watch against the first sign of pride or it will grow stronger and stronger in you. Beware of mistaking gifts for graces. The very nature of our public work has a tendency to produce impressive displays of oratory even when our hearts are not right with the Lord. God will sometimes bless such a ministry for the congregation’s sake and in spite of the preacher. Afterward God deals with him. Remember how Moses satisfied the congregation’s thirst, but since he spoke in anger, he was humbled later (Psa 106.32–33). Even if the Lord keeps us somewhat humble, we still have to suffer. Sensitive preachers are sometimes downcast because they notice an amazing difference between their spirit in public and in private and so fear they are mere hypocrites. Other times we feel so empty and incapable of preaching that our former pulpit liberty seems a distant memory. We doubt we can ever preach well again. The Bible seems a closed book. We struggle to choose a text. Our confusion may even follow us into the pulpit. One Sunday we are mighty Samson, and the next, we are bald Samson, all tied up. Everyone who sees this knows that any power we have is not our own, but the Lord’s. This is how God keeps a good man humble, even in popularity. We should bless Him for this mercy.
7. I have only begun to address this subject, but if you wish to hear more from me on this in another letter, let me know. I pray the Lord will make you wise and watchful. May He be your light, strength, and joy. Signed, JN.
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We can only imagine the flesh-withering time on his knees, in the Word, behind the pulpit, and under public scrutiny that such wise and spiritual counsel cost Pastor Newton, but it is golden advice for all preachers today. Ω