Tag Archives: Bridges

Encouragements of the Christian Ministry (Bridges).2

27 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by in Charles Bridges, Exhortation, Ministry, Uncategorized

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Bridges next mentions one of the dearest encouragements of Christian ministry: the love and encouragement of the people we serve. It seems to come at the most needful moments. When it seems unbearable, God provides grace and strength through the hands and words of a friend who leaves a kind note, or comes by for lunch, or says, “I’ve been praying for you” (and I know its true). Such comforts overwhelm those who spread bitterness and slander. As Bridges writes, it is a “full compensation”.

The Christian minister may have an obligation to teach and to lead, but he can never think himself somehow apart from the people for whom he must answer. Too often pastors — and it is even worse for the wives of pastors — try to hold themselves aloof from the congregation. In so doing, the minister loses one of the dearest comforts God has given for the ministry:

The interest we possess in the affectionate sympathies of a beloved people is also a subordinate source of comfort and encouragement. Here we find a full compensation for the scorn of an ungodly world, and the secret spring of many an hour of support and enjoyment, by which we are carried forward in our painful course. The Christian and intelligent part of our flock well know, that we are “men of like passions with themselves,” that our path is strewn with snares, and our hearts are keenly wounded with sorrow and temptation. Christian sympathy engages them to communicate with our affliction.

Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry.

Encouragements of the Christian Ministry.1 (Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry)

16 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by in 1 Peter, Colossians, Ecclesiastes, Hope, Ministry, Philippians, Romans, Service

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Having discussed the discouragements of ministry, Bridges lists out six encouragements of the work. Yet, none of the encouragements pertain to the personal ease and rest of the minister. Rather, each “encouragement” actually entails throwing oneself into the work and seeking nothing beyond Christ’s glory.

First, anyone who actually knows the work and understands the impossible demands the ministry may despair. When a married couple comes into the office tottering on divorce; when a parent comes weeping over a child’s life, the minister willing to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15), fears that he too will break. When professing believers bite and devour (Galatians 5:15), the grief seems that it will overwhelm. Yet, as Bridges notes:

“How encouraging is the recollection of our office, as the ordinance of Christ, and as the standing proof of his love to his Church. For will he not honour his own institution, and secure its appointed end in the glory of his name and the happiness of his Church?”

Christ’s will complete his work; therefore, Christ’s minister need not despair.

Second, and related, Christ does not build his church through our human efforts alone — as if our skill and wisdom would raise the spiritually dead. Yet, as Bridges notes, it is the Spirit who works through us to perform our ends, “The life-giving Spirit” employs our Ministry as the vehicle of conveying his Divine influence “to open the blind eyes,” and to quicken the spiritually dead.”

This is not too much to say, for note, as Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:12, that the Holy Spirit communicates to God’s people through ministers of the Word, “It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.”

Third, if we are true ministers, then our greatest joy will be Christ’s glory — indeed that will be our true hope and seeing our Lord exalted will be our pleasure, “The blessed fruits of the Ministry in winning sinners to Christ, and stamping his holy image upon their hearts, are most refreshing. The subsequent walk also of this renewed people in the faith, hope, and love of the Gospel, forms our ground of unceasing thanksgiving to God, our chief joy, and the very life of our life.”

We see this very joy and encouragement exemplified in Paul who rejoices in the Gospel proclamation. Paul, speaks of his imprisonment as a positive good, because “what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” (1 Peter 1:12).

Here is the key to such encouragement, Paul defined his good in terms of Christ’s glory. Therefore, the advance of the Gospel brought Paul joy. Thus, the encouragement of the Christian minister can only lie in the glory of God in Jesus Christ. If we seek encouragement in personal ease, or comfort or praise, we will be continually discouraged. Thus, like Paul, we must pursue the work without complete, willingly spending our lives for Christ, knowing that our work is not in vain:

14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:14-18.

A moment’s reflection should help to draw out his encouragement: imagine a man or woman who comes to the end of life and wonders, What was the point of all my work, “What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” Ecclesiastes 1:3.

The creation subjected to futility (Romans 8:20), throws up work which can never profit. But work done for the glory of the Creator cannot be lost: we can rejoice in our labor, because it is not in vain (Philippians 2:16). By seeking our good and encouragement beyond ourselves, the Christian can rejoice in all his labor.

A further point: such minister is not restricted to the “pastor” — it is a promise to all Christian service to Christ. The Christian who graciously bears the brutality of a painful job and vicious employer knows, “that from The Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving The Lord Christ” (Col. 3:24). The wife who graciously lives with a husband who “does not obey the word” are “in God’s sight very precious” (1 Peter 3:4). The child who honors his parents for the Lord’s sake will receive a promise fulfilled (Ephesians 6:1-3).

The Hidden Blessing of Discouragement (Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry)

14 Thursday Feb 2013

Posted by in Charles Bridges, Exhortation, Meditation, Ministry

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In the final section of his discussion of discouragement in the ministry, Charles Bridges raises the paradoxical truth that discouragement can be turned to good effect in the life of the minister.  Even more strange, a lack of difficulty can actually produce a lack of true fruitfulness in ministry.

 

Now, true fruitfulness cannot be measured by numbers or programs or money or activity. True fruitfulness comes from the minister leading fellow believers to Christ. Think of the Great Commission, teach them to observe.  God may bring great numbers to be discipled in a particular congregation – but the Devil will bring far more to his congregations of discipleship (and I don’t primary mean poor or false churches – the entire world is a discipleship machine which constantly seeks to mould us all, hence the fight: Rom. 12:1-2).

 

Discouragement and difficulty in the ministry can make plain to us the truth that true ministerial work must be done in dependence upon the Lord – while we constantly bend toward independence.

 

Bridges describes the process by which comes to such knowledge:

 

Perhaps with many of us the conscientious discharge of official duty furnishes the only anticipation of Ministerial difficulties. This want of acquaintance with the real difficulties connected with every part of the function—by failing to realize our entire helplessness—is one main cause of its unfruitfulness. None of us will find this “pleasure of the Lord to prosper in our hands,” except every effort is grounded upon the practical conviction, that no strength but the arm of Omnipotence is sufficient for the work. Many of us also had tasted in the prospect some of the delights and encouragements of the work; and in all the spring and freshness of youth had calculated upon a steady and uninterrupted devotedness rising above all opposing obstacles. But scarcely had we passed the threshold, before the dream of confidence passed away. The chilling influence of the world, and the disheartening effect of unsuccessful pains, soon made us conversant with disappointment, and dispelled our sanguine expectation of a harvest proportioned to our industry.

 

But we must not stop there in the place of discouragement. On one hand, some will forge ahead in their own strength. Others will pull back and think they have left it to God. Both moves dishonour our calling. Like those who built the wall of Jerusalem in the time Nehemiah, we must carry both a sword and a trowel.

 

We must work heartily and must work in complete dependence:

 

Nothing therefore remains but to maintain the posture of resistance in dependence upon our wise Master-builder, and the Captain of our salvation—waiting for our rest, our crown, our home. Not indeed that we can complain of a dispensation, so obviously fraught with important blessings to our own souls, and subservient to the best ends of the Ministry.

The discouragement which we can so easily suffer teaches us to seek the Lord, the pain teaches dependence. Thus, rather than quit, discouragement must become a prod to further and more diligent work – but which in which like Christian on the Mount of Difficulty we surmount on hands and knees, ever moving, ever dependent.  Discouragement can be conquered only by faith and faith opens the way of the Lord.

 

It is the same as all the Christian life. Indeed, if the minister is to lead the congregation, he of all people must be the one most plainly dependent upon the Lord. We cannot teach others to walk by faith when we will only walk by sight.

 

The discipline of the cross is most needful to repress the over-weaning confidence of presumption; to establish an habitual dependence on the Divine promises; to prove the power of faith, the privileges of prayer, and the heavenly support of the word of God; and to furnish us with ” the tongue of the learned ;” that from our own experience of the difficulties and supports of the Christian warfare we “should know how,” after our Master’s example, “to speak a word in season to him that is weary.” Yet in our contact with Ministerial difficulty the enlivening views of faith are most important.

 

How then does one do this? First, we must recognize the true nature of our difficulty. Discouragement does not mean that we are wholly wrong and should quit. If we search our hearts and lives for obvious sin, and if we repent and keep our conscience clear, we must search elsewhere.  If it is not a matter of apparent sin, then let us see the trouble as built into the nature of ministry. The work is greater than our abilities – it is a supernatural task and must be seen as such.

 

Second, we must make use of all the stays which God has provided: We must take care that our own hearts are enlivened and warmed by the work of the Spirit. We must be much in private meditation, study and prayer. We must make use of the exhortation and encouragement of the congregation – too many pastors will isolate themselves and put themselves beyond all encouragement, exhortation, and rebuke. The elder must be the most humble, the most approachable, the most meek and most willing to receive rebuke of all the congregation. The danger of our position must make us most to desire all help of the Lord.

 

Third, we must not flinch or compromise the directives of the Lord. Many pastors have failed miserably in God’s work (even if their numbers or finances have flourished) by compromise to gain the approval of man. Paul speaks much of pleasing God versus pleasing human beings.

 

Fourth, we must seek our reward from our Savoir and be content with any manner of contrary pressure from the world. We must not be foolishly difficult. We cannot blame the effects of bad preaching on the Devil or the world. We must be diligent in all our work and seek to excel more in God’s call. But when we have done all, we must not quit because the work is hard.

 

Fifth, see the discouragement as the blessing it is: it is the good work of God to point us to greater dependence upon him.  If we would seek to be faithful, we must first exercise faith.

 

‘The sacred Ministry is not a state of idleness or of delight; but a holy warfare, in which there are always toils and fatigues to be endured. Whoever is not resolved courageously to maintain the interests of Jesus Christ, and to labour continually to enlarge his kingdom, is not fit for this warfare.’—Quesnel on I Tim. i. 18.

The Difficulty of Christian Ministry.3

27 Friday Jan 2012

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The Difficulty of Ministry

Our own flesh, our creaturely weakness hobbles us for the ministry.  Flesh makes us weak and leads us to flag or fail altogether. The truth of the Gospel, the unflinching demand of holiness (at least as it seems to one’s flesh) may lead us to discouragement, to grow weak and lazy:

Were we angels by nature as well as by office, the difficulty would be of little account. But, while we bear upon us the marks of our apostacy, we cannot advance without a constant and sometimes most painful effort. Many circumstances from this exciting tendency materially increase the difficulty. We must labor when our hearts are in a cold and languid state. Hence the danger, lest the powerful energy of the word should be weakened in its application to ourselves, lest we should gradually lose our relish for our work, excuse ourselves from its self-denying exercises, and sink into heartless despondency.

The best lesson, the most valued sermon comes from first bringing the Word to my own heart. I learn the truth of the text not from mere intellectual exegesis (which must happen) but also from heart application. We must know the text from the inside out if it is to do any good.

The flesh may shrink from a constant course of meat. The flesh may lull us to ease and seek a peace between the Spirit and flesh:  Go more slowly; give me more time to breathe, to rest and regain my strength.  And in false sympathy to our self we ease-up, only to be slaughtered by a rejuvenated flesh. Then, if the cries of our own flesh couple with the displeasure of congregants, we will have even more reason to seek ease.

A note of caution here: Not all opposition from a congregant, not all balking of my heart stem from sin. I may be off track. Holiness is not mere civility or legality. Piling rule upon rule does not increase holiness. Paul’s letter to the Galatians was perhaps his most pointed epistle. Holiness is different than legality: it has a different source, a different purpose and a different end.

Yet, discouragement is not the worst danger to befall the minister:

Popularity is yet more dangerous. The few, who escape its influence unhurt, have been exercised in painful conflicts, such as have shewn their deliverances from this fiery trial to have been nearly miraculous. Symptoms of success, unless tempered with personal abasement and habitual watchfulness, excite to self-confidence.

If our charge is to love God and seek his glory in worship and calling others to worship, making ourselves the end of the worship is a grave, grave sin. It is to make an idol of oneself. Fawning praise is deadly poison.  But this poison is so sweet, we can endlessly drink .[1] 

It is poison, because it endangers our own souls.  To replace anything with God – especially ourselves – is to raise an idol. Idol worship is the worship of death. It is the beautiful woman whose lips drip honey, “but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword” (Prov. 5:4). If the Bible teaches anything, it teaches the danger of idolatry.  When we hear, “The voice of a god and not a man,” we must fear greatly, lest be struck down like Herod, “Because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last” (Acts 12:23).

Jesus warns in another place:

“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. Luke 6:26 (ESV)

Seeking our own popularity is to court the judgment of God.

It is poison because it obscures God:

“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” Luke 11:52 (ESV)

To have the blood of others upon our hands because we made the message about ourselves rather than about the God who saves in Jesus Christ is madness. Our ministry must be as, “Ambassadors of Christ …We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20).  But popularity tempts us to exalt ourselves and gain some of God’s glory for our own.

Bridges notes that those who have been most blessed by popularity have routinely been exercised with trials to “keep [one] from becoming conceited” (2 Cor. 12:7). Can you preach with Calvin and Luther and Polycarp or Spurgeon and have their range and power? Then do not be surprised if God couples the scope of your ministry with the depth of their trials.

[1] “And while primary reinforcers have a diminishing effect once we’re satiated, secondary reinforcers, like money or social status, exist outside our biological needs, and these never hit a satiation point. In other words, we are hardwired to seek approval from our peers, and we can never get enough of it.” Benjamin Jackson, The Zynga Abyss, http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/01/the-zynga-abyss/251920/, accessed January 27, 2012.

Bridges: The Difficulty of Christian Ministry.2

20 Friday Jan 2012

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The ministry may be difficult, because it is utterly contrary to fallen human nature:

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. Romans 1:18–25 (ESV)

Indeed, without some work of God, there cannot even be an expectation that the message will be received:

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.  1 Corinthians 2:14

Since the Christian proclamation is something which is unpalatable to a human being by nature, rejection should be expected:

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ John 15:18-25

Indeed, we should not expect otherwise:

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.  Luke 6:20-26

With that background, we are in a position to evaluation Bridges’s discussion of difficulty:

From the difficulties with the world—unfaithfulness to our Master furnishes the only “way of escape.” [This is an ironic use of the phrase (1 Cor. 10:13); the temptation is to escape from the difficulty with the world – which is in itself no escape, because it would be to run into the displeasure of God.] The subject-matter of our commission is truth, that comes into immediate contact with latent and deep rooted prejudices. The strongest feelings of a proud nature are brought into constant play against our unwelcome tale: so that we “become the enemy,” instead of the friend, of our fellow-sinners, “because we tell them the truth.”  The sacrifices, which in our Master’s name we demand of the cherished objects of misplaced affections; the exhibition of heavenly pleasures, (far nobler in their character, and more permanent in their enjoyment, yet most distasteful to the natural mind) ; the certain endurance of reproach in the service of the Gospel—these component parts of our commission, even from the voice of the most alluring charmer, excite the enmity of the carnal mind to our message, and to the messenger for his work’s sake.

Does this mean that we are any better than others? No. Eph. 2:3, “like the rest of mankind.” Here is where a sturdy understanding of and innate depravity and election make space for humility:  I could not and would have heard this message, but for the grace of God. Therefore, when I am rejected by another, he is doing merely what I would have – and did do – myself. A good doctrinal grounding makes sense of the rejection and creates a ground on which we can love and pity our fellow human being and respond in grace to the rejection we will often receive. It is not for nothing that Jesus continued in Luke 6 as follows:

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Luke 6:27–31 (ESV)

This also makes sense of Paul’s instruction to Timothy: Note that in context, “youthful lusts” is not a reference to sexual lust, but rather to wrangling:

22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:22–26 (ESV)

Charles Bridges, The Difficulty of Christian Ministry.2

16 Monday Jan 2012

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A second difficulty comes from offering what no one (by nature) wants. The temptation will be to make the message more palatable. This may seem to ease the work, but in effect it is deception: either the Gospel is never proclaimed (which is disobedience to the Lord and hatred of our neighbor), or is told so late and in such an apologetic fashion as to make it seem unimportant (which is itself a form of concealment). It is hard to tell which is worse.

The Gospel necessarily contradicts “this present evil age.” It condemns sin and at the same time offers escape. A Christian must not conceal that message in any manner: love requires truth. If the Gospel is true it must be proclaimed in its unpainted truth. To conceal the sting strips its strength.

Cowardice must not control the content. Paul compares the work to a suffering soldier (2 Tim. 2:3). Let us be honest about the difficulty for us the likely unhappiness of those who hear.

However, knowing that the Gospel brings offense does not give us the right to increase that offense. We must loving and inoffensive in ourselves. Love may require rebuke of sin, but it never requires personal rudeness or other such offense. To be personally offensive will act to conceal the message just as surely as sugar coating repentance.

Here are Bridge’s words (it should be noted that the temptation to conceal the sharp edges of the Gospel are not new to the present day):

Difficulties from the world — unfaithfulness to our Master furnishes the only “way of escape.”The subject-matter of our commission is truth, that comes into immediate contact with latent and deeprooted prejudices. The strongest feelings of a proud nature are brought into constant play against our unwelcome tale: so that we “become the enemy,” instead of the friend, of our fellow-sinners, “because we tell them the truth.” The sacrifices, which in our Master’s name we demand of the cherished objects of misplaced affections; the exhibition of heavenly pleasures,(far nobler in their character, and more permanent in their enjoyment, yet most distasteful to the natural mind) ; the certain endurance of reproach in the service of the Gospel—these component parts of our commission, even from the voice of the most alluring charmer, excite the enmity of the carnal mind to our message, and to the messenger for his work’s sake. Does our personal experience furnish no recollections of the mighty influence of this innate indisposition to the Gospel, and of the peculiar wisdom, patience, andfaithfulness needed for its subjugation?

Bridges: The Difficulties of Christian Ministry.1

14 Saturday Jan 2012

Posted by in Charles Bridges, Charles Spurgeon, Ministry, Quotations

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Bridges first discusses the sheer overwhelming difficulty of the ministry. He does this by quoting to another, earlier work – which itself was a biography of an earlier minister.  I, in turning, quoting Bridges’ quotation of another.  That fact is telling: the work is difficult. Indeed, it is overwhelming – when a man realizes truly the extraordinary weight laid upon his shoulders.

The weight comes from the importance of the ministry, for either this work is of supreme importance, or it is a positive evil. This weight has various aspects: (1) Does the minister live up to the majesty of proclaiming the Gospel and explaining the Bible? (2) Does the minister have the ability to care for the people who come to him for help (exegeting the people and ministering to them)?  If one is not certain of God’s call, who would undertake this work:

‘He looked upon the conduct of a church,’ as his biographer (Cotton Mather) informs us, ‘as a thing attended with so many difficulties, temptations, and humiliations, as that nothing but a call from the Son of God could have encouraged him unto the susception of it. He saw that flesh and blood would find it no very pleasant thing to be obliged unto the oversight of a number, that by a solemn covenant should be listed among the volunteers of the Lord Jesus Christ;J that it was no easy thing to feed the souls of such a people, and of the children and the neighbours, which were to be brought into the same sheep-fold with them; to bear their manners with all patience, not being by any of their infirmities discouraged from teaching of them, and from watching and praying over them; to value them highly as the flock which God purchased with his own blood, notwithstanding all their miscarriages; and in all to examine the rule of scripture for the warrant of whatever shall be done; and to remember the day of judgment, wherein an account must be given of all that has been done. It was herewithal his opinion (as the great Owen expresses it) that notwithstanding all the countenance that is given to any church by the public magistracy, yet whilst we are in this world, those who will faithfully discharge their duty as Ministers of the gospel shall have need to be prepared for sufferings; and it was in a sense of these things that he gave himself up to the sacred Ministry.’

This need for certain of God’s call lies behind Spurgeon’s famous quote in Lectures to My Students:

“The first sign of the heavenly calling is an intense, all-absorbing desire for the work. In order to a true call to the ministry there must be an irresistible, overwhelming craving and raging thirst for telling to others what God has done for our own souls; what if I call it a kind of storge, such as birds have for rearing their young when the season is come; when the mother-bird would sooner die than leave her nest . . . ‘Do not enter the ministry if you can help it,’ was the deeply sage advice of a divine to one who sought his judgment”

What Bridges does not emphasize is how hard the congregation is on the pastor.  There is a hint of that in the reference to “patience” and not being discouraged by any of their “infirmities”. However, he does not dwell on that point in this essay.  Rather, he speaks of the difficulty in knowing how fallible ministers are and how easily a minister can be a bane rather than a blessing to the congregation:

Perhaps, however, the heaviest weight of trial consists in the awful apprehension of eventually becoming an occasion of aggravated condemnation to our people.* How affecting is the thought that our Ministry hardens and kills, as well as softens and quickens; that we are set, like our Divine Master, “for the fall and rising again of many in Israel!” To the one we are “the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.” It was the recollection of this fearful responsibility, that forced from the Apostle the exclamation—(and what Christian Minister but sympathizes in the burden ?)—” Who is sufficient for these things ?” Who that has not realized the terrors of hell, and the glories of heaven, can be duly furnished for a work so deeply connected with the eternal world?

David Brainerd’s journal is filled with this question:

“Thursday, Aug. 12. This morning and last night I was exercised with sore inward trials: I had no power to pray; but seemed shut out from God. I had in a great measure lost my hopes of God sending me among the heathen afar off, and of seeing them flock home to Christ. I saw so much of my hellish vileness, that I appeared worse to myself than any devil: I wondered that God would let me live, and wondered that people did not stone me, much more that they would ever hear me preach! It seemed as though I never could nor should preach any more; yet about nine or ten o’clock, the people came over, and I was forced to preach. And blessed be God, he gave me his presence and Spirit in prayer and preaching: so that I was much assisted and spake with power from Job xiv. 14. Some Indians cried out in great distress, [8] and all appeared greatly concerned. After we had prayed and exhorted them to seek the Lord with constancy, and hired an Englishwoman to keep a kind of school among them, we came away about one o’clock, and came to Judea, about fifteen or sixteen miles. There God was pleased to visit my soul with much comfort. Blessed be the Lord for all things I meet with.”

When one sees truly the weight of Christian ministry and obligation laid upon one by the work, it should frighten one. However, Bridges notes that God has provided a means to preserve us from sinking into despondency:

We need scarcely remark, what dexterity of application, diligence of labour, “discerning of spirit,” how large a portion of “the meekness and gentleness of Christ,” of his yearning compassion, and persevering self-devotedness, is here required! Except we realize a high estimation of the Church, the constraining influence of the Saviour’s love, and the upholding prop of Almighty grace, what is there to preserve us from sinking in despondency?

This is a good thing. Without the sense of the weight, we could easily be arrogant and think the power in us. But God, in his goodness, saddles us with a weight we could never bear – then, when we are meek and seek his help – he bears the greatest weight in our place. Blessed be  God for his mercy in Christ Jesus.

Bridges, The Honor and Humility of Christian Ministry

14 Saturday Jan 2012

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Here is the honor and the humility of the Christian ministry: The honor is that God uses it to bring about his ends for his glory. The humility is that God does not need human help.

It is not our province to prescribe what he might havedone, but to mark the consummatewisdom of what he has done, and to exercise the humility of faith, when we cannot discern the reasons of his dispensations. Doubtless he might have instructed as well as converted Paul by a miracle; but it was his pleasure to direct him to a fellow-sinner for the explicit revelation of his will. The angel also might have been an instructor to Cornelius; but, in order to maintain the order of the divine ceconomy, the Ministry of the word was made the medium of conveying evangelical light to his soul. This, therefore, is the ordained means of conversion, and of subsequent establishment in every stage of the Christian life; and its necessity must continue, while there is a single sinner to be brought into the family of God, or a single grace in the heart of the saint to advance to perfection.

The Christian Ministry is Beyond Us

01 Thursday Dec 2011

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It has been well remarked to be ‘the highest dignity ,if notthe greatest happiness,that human natureis capableof hereinthis valebelow,to havethe soul so far enlightened as to become the mirror, or conduit, or conveyer of God’s truth to others.’ The right consideration, however, together with a chastised sense, of this high elevation,so farfrom fosteringa vain-glorious spirit, has a direct tendency to deepen self-abasement andreverence. Can can we help recoiling from so exalted an office—from handling such high and holy things? What! We to convey life, who ourselves are dead! Weso defiled, to administer a serviceso pure, so purifying !” Woe is me”—said one of old, in contrasting this honour with his personalmeanness—”for I am undone;for I am a man of unclean lips ” How can we think of this vast commission—this momentous trust, but as an act of most undeserved favour.

The Christian Ministry: How Not to be Overwhelmed

01 Thursday Dec 2011

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Bridges magnifies the dignity and demands of ministry until it seems the burden cannot be met. Any man who truly understood this weight would begin to quail at the burden. This presses the question, How will this work be done?

It is the Lord’s work.

One can try to square the circle by diminishing the task-I can make light of the duty or importance; yet, God will have neither. God will overwhelm our little hearts and then grant us grace: But let the weight of this dignity be relieved by Evangelical encouragement. The ministration of the Spirit and of righteousness constitutes the chief glory of the evangelical economy.

Bridges then quotes 2 Cor. 4:1 to the effect that in this ministry we do not lose heart. When we read the entire passage through verse 5 we see the reason why: We do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus.

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or a to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what k we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with l ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, m “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give o the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.