SAGE COUNSEL FROM A SEASONED PASTOR

One of the striking marks of an effective pastor is the ability to teach the Scriptures in such a plain and clear way, that profound truth becomes, as it were, "reachable cookies" to those he is ministering (this is implied by the biblical qualifications of an elder: I Tim.3:2, "a skillfull teacher"; II Tim.2:24, "able to teach"). In other words, his own mind and heart have been so saturated in God's Word and fleshed out in personal experience, that he has grown in the wisdom necessary to shepherd the flock of God in their many different seasons.

One such pastor who emulated this quality so beautifully was John Newton (1725-1807). Newton is more remembered today for his great hymn, Amazing Grace - but in his own day, he was more well-known for his wise pastoral letters to inquiring saints. In fact, during the Evangelical Revival of the 18th century, Newton was known as "the letter writer par excellence of the Evangelical Revival." His deep grasp of Scripture, personal experiences (especially in suffering), and an idiomatic style in writing, all combined under Providence to create in John Newton a special gift that was used by God to shepherd His sheep. And though these letters were written over 200 years ago, yet because they are steeped in the wisdom of Scripture, they can speak to saints today with the same power and clarity they had when Newton first penned them.

For me, there have been three of Newton's letters which have served as a great help for my own sanctification. The subject of these letters was the reality of remaining sin in the believer (see Rom.7:14-25). Newton took a statement from Galatians 5:17 as his launching pad: "you cannot do the things that you wish." From this biblical fact of the believer's experience, Newton began by saying:

This is an humbling but a just account of a Christian's attainments in the present life, and is equally applicable to the strongest and to the weakest. The weakest need not say "less", and the strongest need not say "more." The Lord has given his people a desire and will aiming at great things; without this they would be unworthy the name of Christians; but they cannot do as they would: their best desires are weak and ineffectual, not absolutely (for he who works in them to will, enables them with a measure to do likewise), but in comparison with the mark at which they aim. So that while they have great cause to be thankful for the desire he has given them, and for the degree in which it is answered, they have equal reason to be ashamed and abased under a sense of their continual defects, and the evil mixtures which taint and debase their best endeavors.

From this point in the letter, Newton goes on to give four examples of personal experience in every believer, whereby remaining sin continues to hinder their most holiest and God-centered desires. He pulls from our experience in prayer, Scripture reading, thinking always on Christ, and finally, our submission to God's works of providence.

As to prayer, Newton wrote:

He would willingly enjoy God in prayer...[but] how often does he find this privilege a mere task, which he would be glad of a just excuse to omit? and the chief pleasure he derives from the performance is to think that his task is finished: - he has drawn near to God with his lips, while his heart was far from him. Surely this is not doing as he would, when he is dragged before God like a slave, and comes away like a thief.

As to the reading of Scripture, Newton reveals where so many of us have and do live at times:

He believes it to be the Word of God: he admires the wisdom and grace of the doctrines, the beauty of the precepts, the richness and suitableness of the promises...Yet while he thus thinks of it, and desires that it may dwell in him richly, and be his meditation day and night, he cannot do as he would. It will require some resolution to persist in reading a portion of it every day; and even then his heart is often less engaged than when reading a pamphlet. Here again his privilege frequently dwindles into a task.

As to thinking always of Christ, Newton reminds us of how distracted and cold our hearts can be toward our Beloved:

Whatever claims he may have to the excercise of gratitude and sensibility towards his fellow-creatures, he must confess himself mournfully ungrateful and insensible towards his best Friend and Benefactor. Ah! what trifles are capable of shutting him out of our thoughts, of whom we say, He is the Beloved of our souls, who loved us, and gave himself for us, and whom we have deliberately chosen as our chief good and portion. What can make us amends for the loss we suffer here? Yet surely if we could, we would set him always before us; his love should be the delightful theme of our hearts...But though we aim at this good, evil is present with us.

Finally, as to our submission to the works of God's providence, Newton wrote:

He believes that all events are under the direction of infinite wisdom and goodness, and shall surely issue in the glory of God and the good of those who fear him. He doubts not but the hairs of his head are all numbered, that the blessings of every kind which he possesses, were bestowed upon him, and are preserved to him...But often when he aims to apply them in an hour of present distress, he cannot do what he would. He feels a law in his members warring against the law in his mind; so that, in defiance of the clearest convictions, seeing as though he perceived not, he is ready to complain, murmur, and despond. Alas! how vain is man in his best estate! How much weakness and inconsistency even in those whose hearts are right with the Lord! and what reason have we to confess that we are unworthy, unprofitable servants!

Now rather than leave us in despair or at least in a state of depression till we reach glory because of our very imperfect condition, though redeemed - Newton finishes his letter with these encouraging words:

But blessed be God, we are not under the law, but under grace. And even these distressing effects of the remnants of indwelling sin are over-ruled for good. By these experiences the believer is weaned more from self, and taught more highly to prize and more absolutely to rely on him, who is appointed unto us of God, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption.

Praise God for the gift of wise pastors who counsel the saints in every season from the wisdom of God's Word!