This week Spring teaches us that the pulpit is powerful because of its divine authority: 'But there is superadded to the power of truth, as thus uttered, a circumstance of some importance, which constitutes one of the elements of that influence which is exerted by the Christian pulpit. The truth it communicates is uttered in God's name, and by Gods authority.'
Firstly Spring does admit that 'every man is authorized to utter the truth of God and to urge home its obligations on the consciences of his fellows'.
But then Spring tells us: 'The legitimate occupants of the pulpit claim this as their prerogative ; they are appointed by God himself to this responsible service. God has invested them with this high office ; and they have ever claimed and exercised it in every age of the world.'
He gives proof of this from Scripture and church history.
I liked Spring's initial point that all Christians have authority to share the gospel: 'The agency of judicious and private Christians has ever been appreciated during those seasons when God, in a remarkable manner, has poured out his Spirit ; it is required, it is absolutely necessary. Ministers cannot perform all the work ; a multitude of minds must be moving in concert with theirs, and a multitude of hands employed. No man may refuse to speak a word for Christ, because he is not an ordained minister of the Gospel ; nor fold up his talent in a napkin, and bury it in the earth because it is but one talent. 'The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.' He may not have the gift of prophecy, and be called to the sacred ministry; but if there be given to him, "the word of wisdom," and the " word of knowledge," it is that he may be profitable to others, and employ the gift for the salvation of men.'
If you only have one talent, you have a responsibility to use it - not hide it.
R
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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