The stories coming out of the UK now of violence on the streets of London are too sad to look forward to going there anymore. There is a strong Christian remnant in England but overall most of the people cannot even remember the God who blessed them so at various times over many centuries. Germany is long gone...England is gone....and we are slip-sliding away. The following post is from December of 2014:
I imagine that there are a lot of theories as to when England's collapse began as there are theories as to the beginning of America's spiraling downward. I'll give my theory here on when the die was cast in England....it was in April of 1888.
To read anything written by the great London preacher of the 19th century....Charles Haddon Spurgeon....is to be taken in by his all-consuming love for God and exalting of the Lord Jesus. His sermons were read all over the world at the time and even today his name is revered in many denominations all throughout America. A biography on Charles Spurgeon would be a great place to start if you want to learn more of the Christian church before the modern age began to take its toll. And I'll recommend one book in particular....The Forgotten Spurgeon by Iain Murray published by Banner Of Truth.
I've read a lot on what was known as the Downgrade Controversy but I'll use preacher, author and publisher Errol Hulse as a primary source in this post. Doctrinal Christianity was fading in the late 1800s as what was sometimes called 'new thought' entered the seminaries and pulpits of England. Calvinism remained in the confessions of many churches but those confessions were ignored. As Hulse wrote "The emphasis in the churches was on evangelism, missions and practical social work." He called what ensued a 'theological vacuum.' Without adherence to creeds and rigorous study of their own faith, people simply thought out their own doctrines as to what they thought they should be.
Spurgeon was a Baptist and the main Baptist body of the day, the Baptist Union, was filled with many men who came to faith through the preaching of this great man....and many of those preachers were trained in his school. Spurgeon's church belonged to the Baptist Union. His ministry's magazine, the Sword and Trowel, did not sit back and let this Downgrade continue without a fight; this from its writers, "Germany was made unbelieving by her preachers, and England is following in her track. The consequences of preaching 'another gospel' in the form of 'modern thought' was catastrophic." It then went on to describe the dwindling attendance in the churches.
Spurgeon withdrew his church from the Baptist Union which in turn felt it had to respond in kind. This took place at a general assembly of the Baptist Union. A motion was made to, in effect, censure Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Here is Hulse's description of it from a witness of the event "The chairman called for a show of hands for the motion of censure. A forest of hands went up. "Against", called the chairman. (Oakley) testified that he did not see any hands but history records that there were seven. Without any announcement of numbers the vast assembly broke out into tumultuous cheering, and cheering and cheering yet. From some of the older men their pent-up hostility found vent; from many of the younger men wild resistance to any 'obscurantist trammels', as they said, broke loose. It was a strange seen. I viewed it almost in tears. I stood near a 'Spurgeon's man' whom I knew very well. Mr. Spurgeon had welcomed him from a low position. He went almost wild with delight at the censure of this great and generous master. I say it was a strange scene, that that vast assembly should be so outrageously delighted at the condemnation of the greatest, noblest and the grandest leader of the faith.....It was reported that the vote was 2000 to 7 against CHS"
The Downgrade Controversy took its toll on the man....and Charles Spurgeon died a few years after his censure....fighting the 'Downgrade' to the end. About ten years ago my wife, son and I visited Spurgeon's church in the Elephant and Castle section of London and heard a sermon that Spurgeon himself would have delighted in. I think that there is something to glean from what happened to the 'Prince of Preachers.' whose own brother, a minister himself, voted for the censure! Scripture is clear in that many who profess Christ will react even more vociferously against Christians in the Last Days. Prepare for this if these be those days for it's something that we would not normally envision. Circumstances have a way of arising, that cannot possibly be foreseen, that make possible that which no one would believe possible beforehand. If censure celebrated with clamor could happen to Charles Spurgeon for defending the gospel in a civilized culture where God had not yet been evicted what would the reactions be in an uncivilized culture that mocks God, a culture that we live in right now?
and this from December of 2011:
How are we to explain it? At one moment the people were laying palm branches before the approaching colt that carried Jesus into Jerusalem, shouting "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord," and only a few days later they shouted "Crucify, crucify him!" Or were they the same people? Luke describes the first as his "disciples," and the second as the "chief priests, rulers and the people." Is this not the dichotomy of the people of this world from that day to the present?
I remember watching an awards ceremony (probably the Tonys) on television in the mid-eighties where there were two musical performances, one after the other. The scene effected me enough to recall and relate it many times since. My memory on the specifics is not that clear but I do remember a gospel themed performance from a large choir. Certainly it must have been related to one of the nominees. It was a powerful ensemble performance and the audience was enthusiastic in its response. Then came the second performance. What I remember about it was the very wild theme as if from a Mardi Gras or a Brazilian festival. Again, the power of the music was displayed and the audience responded in kind. I felt that I had witnessed a spiritual battle right before me on the television screen. It astounded me that two themes of such opposite polarity where presented next to each other. Certainly, some cheered only for the gospel ensemble, others cheered only for the wild festival-like performance, while still others cheered for both, oblivious to the clash of messages.
Who may have won that battle...I don't know, but it became etched in my own mind. Not all Christians are consumed with passion for knowing Christ, nor awestruck by the majesty and radiance of the Risen Lord, nor do they cling to His Word as more valuable than gold and more precious than pearls, but many do. Not all of those that are lost and unredeemed grit their teeth in hate at the mere mention of Jesus Christ, but some do, while the lukewarm in the middle are often confused as to what all the fuss is about. The Israel of the Old Testament either sang praises and danced to its God or they killed the prophets sent by Him. Even today, we are conflicted not only between nations, but within nations, even at times within ourselves. There is no safety in trying to avoid the battle between God and those who oppose Him. The only safety is in shouting salvation and glory and power belong to our God!... to the only righteous king... and the only true God!
I imagine that there are a lot of theories as to when England's collapse began as there are theories as to the beginning of America's spiraling downward. I'll give my theory here on when the die was cast in England....it was in April of 1888.
To read anything written by the great London preacher of the 19th century....Charles Haddon Spurgeon....is to be taken in by his all-consuming love for God and exalting of the Lord Jesus. His sermons were read all over the world at the time and even today his name is revered in many denominations all throughout America. A biography on Charles Spurgeon would be a great place to start if you want to learn more of the Christian church before the modern age began to take its toll. And I'll recommend one book in particular....The Forgotten Spurgeon by Iain Murray published by Banner Of Truth.
I've read a lot on what was known as the Downgrade Controversy but I'll use preacher, author and publisher Errol Hulse as a primary source in this post. Doctrinal Christianity was fading in the late 1800s as what was sometimes called 'new thought' entered the seminaries and pulpits of England. Calvinism remained in the confessions of many churches but those confessions were ignored. As Hulse wrote "The emphasis in the churches was on evangelism, missions and practical social work." He called what ensued a 'theological vacuum.' Without adherence to creeds and rigorous study of their own faith, people simply thought out their own doctrines as to what they thought they should be.
Spurgeon was a Baptist and the main Baptist body of the day, the Baptist Union, was filled with many men who came to faith through the preaching of this great man....and many of those preachers were trained in his school. Spurgeon's church belonged to the Baptist Union. His ministry's magazine, the Sword and Trowel, did not sit back and let this Downgrade continue without a fight; this from its writers, "Germany was made unbelieving by her preachers, and England is following in her track. The consequences of preaching 'another gospel' in the form of 'modern thought' was catastrophic." It then went on to describe the dwindling attendance in the churches.
Spurgeon withdrew his church from the Baptist Union which in turn felt it had to respond in kind. This took place at a general assembly of the Baptist Union. A motion was made to, in effect, censure Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Here is Hulse's description of it from a witness of the event "The chairman called for a show of hands for the motion of censure. A forest of hands went up. "Against", called the chairman. (Oakley) testified that he did not see any hands but history records that there were seven. Without any announcement of numbers the vast assembly broke out into tumultuous cheering, and cheering and cheering yet. From some of the older men their pent-up hostility found vent; from many of the younger men wild resistance to any 'obscurantist trammels', as they said, broke loose. It was a strange seen. I viewed it almost in tears. I stood near a 'Spurgeon's man' whom I knew very well. Mr. Spurgeon had welcomed him from a low position. He went almost wild with delight at the censure of this great and generous master. I say it was a strange scene, that that vast assembly should be so outrageously delighted at the condemnation of the greatest, noblest and the grandest leader of the faith.....It was reported that the vote was 2000 to 7 against CHS"
The Downgrade Controversy took its toll on the man....and Charles Spurgeon died a few years after his censure....fighting the 'Downgrade' to the end. About ten years ago my wife, son and I visited Spurgeon's church in the Elephant and Castle section of London and heard a sermon that Spurgeon himself would have delighted in. I think that there is something to glean from what happened to the 'Prince of Preachers.' whose own brother, a minister himself, voted for the censure! Scripture is clear in that many who profess Christ will react even more vociferously against Christians in the Last Days. Prepare for this if these be those days for it's something that we would not normally envision. Circumstances have a way of arising, that cannot possibly be foreseen, that make possible that which no one would believe possible beforehand. If censure celebrated with clamor could happen to Charles Spurgeon for defending the gospel in a civilized culture where God had not yet been evicted what would the reactions be in an uncivilized culture that mocks God, a culture that we live in right now?
and this from December of 2011:
How are we to explain it? At one moment the people were laying palm branches before the approaching colt that carried Jesus into Jerusalem, shouting "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord," and only a few days later they shouted "Crucify, crucify him!" Or were they the same people? Luke describes the first as his "disciples," and the second as the "chief priests, rulers and the people." Is this not the dichotomy of the people of this world from that day to the present?
I remember watching an awards ceremony (probably the Tonys) on television in the mid-eighties where there were two musical performances, one after the other. The scene effected me enough to recall and relate it many times since. My memory on the specifics is not that clear but I do remember a gospel themed performance from a large choir. Certainly it must have been related to one of the nominees. It was a powerful ensemble performance and the audience was enthusiastic in its response. Then came the second performance. What I remember about it was the very wild theme as if from a Mardi Gras or a Brazilian festival. Again, the power of the music was displayed and the audience responded in kind. I felt that I had witnessed a spiritual battle right before me on the television screen. It astounded me that two themes of such opposite polarity where presented next to each other. Certainly, some cheered only for the gospel ensemble, others cheered only for the wild festival-like performance, while still others cheered for both, oblivious to the clash of messages.
Who may have won that battle...I don't know, but it became etched in my own mind. Not all Christians are consumed with passion for knowing Christ, nor awestruck by the majesty and radiance of the Risen Lord, nor do they cling to His Word as more valuable than gold and more precious than pearls, but many do. Not all of those that are lost and unredeemed grit their teeth in hate at the mere mention of Jesus Christ, but some do, while the lukewarm in the middle are often confused as to what all the fuss is about. The Israel of the Old Testament either sang praises and danced to its God or they killed the prophets sent by Him. Even today, we are conflicted not only between nations, but within nations, even at times within ourselves. There is no safety in trying to avoid the battle between God and those who oppose Him. The only safety is in shouting salvation and glory and power belong to our God!... to the only righteous king... and the only true God!
