Heritage: Spurgeon on Revival and Theology

                                                                                                                                                Vol. XX, No. 3, March 2007

[Spurgeon] would have been appalled at what goes under the name of evangelism and ministry in some circles today. There often seems little doctrine and theology in it. Human, psychological persuasion appears to be the central motif. Like his Puritan models, Spurgeon believed a lasting revival is born only through the power and sovereignty of God accompanied by prayer and the plain declaration of the essential truths of orthodox evangelical theology. That meant for Spurgeon a sound Christology, a clear-cut grasp of the kerygma (gospel proclamation), a theology that emanates in godliness, all based on the infallible Scriptures. Thus he filled his sermons with rich biblical, theological truths that some modern evangelists consider too "heavy" for the light-hearted crowd in today's world.

So through prayer, sound theology, and the preaching of Christ with loving invitation, the revival flamed to life. The spiritual atmosphere of London crackled with excitement as hundreds of thousands thronged to hear the young man of God.

In that general setting, the fires of effective ministry burned in Spurgeon's heart. Moreover, his methods of ministry were used with integrity. For example, there was no superficial taking in of members in the Tabernacle. Everyone of the converts was personally counseled by a team of spiritually perceptive laypersons. Their report was given to the church in business session. The candidates for baptism then at times appeared before the congregation to give a personal testimony to demonstrate "the evidence of a work of grace in their lives," as they expressed it. Then they were approved for baptism and church membership. And if they did not persevere, they were excommunicated. The church enforced redemptive discipline.

[Timothy George and David S. Dockery, Theologians of the Baptist Tradition (Broadman & Holman, Nashville, 2001) p. 129]