Let Us Now Praise Faithful Men

Poking Around in my Library: On my book shelves are some volumes which sit neglected for years. Then, by impulse, I grab one and thumb through it looking for a nugget of insight. Take, for example, my biography of Handley Moule who was, more than a hundred years ago, the principal of Ridley Hall in Cambridge, England, then Bishop of Durham, and also a principal speaker at the great 19th century Keswick Conventions. A most Godly man.

In this biography, Moule is quoted as he describes his father. “I can only look back upon him,” Moule says, “thankful that such a personality embodies to me the great word Father; a man so full of energy and capacity, so absolutely simple, so entirely fearless, so free from the seeking of his own glory, so ready both to bear and do, a gentleman so true, a Christian so strong, so spiritual, so deep, such a pastor, such a parent, such a grandfather, such a friend.”

I have long collected cameo descriptions of men and women who encapsulate the highest qualities of the Christian life. Admittedly, Victorian eulogies tend to be embellished. Nonetheless, I love them. They provide, like this one, something of a standard for personal growth as a Christ-follower. “Mark them who so walk so you have an example,” St. Paul wrote to the Philippians.

Moule’s father was a parish priest in mid-19th century England and a faithful one. An example of his leadership? He led his church and his town through at least two cholera plagues. Tough? The man buried 39 people in 30 days. He supervised the burning of the clothing and bedding of those who succumbed to the illness. And that is just one episode in a description of a noble life bereft of complaining, status-seeking, and career-enhancement.

I love all the conferences we have today that are designed to help would-be leaders build great churches. How to preach; how to launch small groups; how to develop the arts; how to connect with post-moderns. Wonderful stuff!

But I wonder if a conference dedicated to helping men and women in leadership become like Moule’s father would sell?

Thoughts?

A Fun Discipline: Every three or four years I reread Pilgrim’s Progress. And I take devotional time to rewrite a bit of it in modern English. In the following, for example, Christian describes to Mr. Pliable what he knows of Heaven’s people:

“Angels, seraphim and cherubim, so dazzling that they will blow your mind, Pliable, when and if you see them. There’s thousands and ten thousands of saints that have gone before us. None of them are harmful; they’re loving, holy people. Everyone will be walking in the sight of God, they will be permanently accepted by Him. Then there are the elders with their golden crowns, holy virgins playing harps. You’ll see the great martyrs—men and women whom the world cut to pieces and burned in the flames. Some were eaten by beasts or drowned in the seas because they loved the Lord. But now—their suffering ended—they are all well and magnificently clothed in immortality.” (Pilgrim’s Progress, the MacDonald translation)

The Mailbag: Several dozen people wrote to me about my musings in June concerning political discourse, the one in which I hinted that there may be a sort of political correctness among Evangelical Christians. A startling number of people wrote to thank me and even compliment me for being “courageous.” A startling few wrote accusing me of being a closet-Democrat (may the thought perish! he said tongue-in-cheek), a shill for John Kerry, a bird-brain, and one of shallow intellect. One or two even called me a liberal. Oh, the humanity of it all. I read every word of every e-mail and appreciate it.

Worth Your Attention: James Emery White’s Serious Times (Intervarsity Press). This man is a preacher, a pastor, and a scholar. When a person like that writes, you can feel confident the material was not developed in an ivory tower. You can be sure it has been tested in a ministry context. The book is thoughtful, “quote-ful,” provocative.

From an Airline Magazine: “We use several different weather services to alert us about weather patterns and storm potential. We carefully study their reports along with those of our own (meteorologists). … Once it looks like a storm will affect us, we act quickly. It is absolutely essential to be fully prepared for a storm or complex weather pattern, winter or summer.” (John Allison, US Airways)

I smell a sermon illustration.

Gordon MacDonald is chair of World Relief and editor at large of Leadership.

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