The Living Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor, by John Stott (IVP Books, 2007)
John Stott Ministries
John Stott wrote this book from the perspective of seeking evangelical renewal in the Church of England but the principles are universally applicable in any church. Stott's decades of experience and wisdom come through clearly.
Stott is very perceptive in his approach. He writes, "It is not that the church's calling is to shape the world, for it is called rather to develop a Christian counterculture. At the same time, we must listen to the voices of the world in order to be able to respond to them sensitively, though without compromise." pg. 12 He recognizes that the church must be in the world but not of the world.
He advocates for what he calls, "Radical Conservative Churches". These are churches that are conservative in the sense that they conserve what Scripture plainly requires, but radical in relation to that combination of tradition and convention which we call culture. Scripture is unchangeable, culture is not. pg. 15
Stott asks the question, "What is God's vision for His church?" It includes according to Stott, the following:
1) Worship
"It is often said that the church's preeminent responsibility is evangelism. But this is not so . . . Evangelism comes under the heading of our duty to neighbor, whereas worship is our duty to God, and our duty to God must take precedence over our duty to our neighbor . . . Evangelism is a temporary activity, which will cease when the Lord Jesus comes to consummate His kingdom. But our worship will continue throughout eternity." pg. 34
2) Evangelism
"Worship leads to witness and witness leads to worship." pg. 56
Stott offers a scathing evaluation of many modern churches. "Some zealous churches organize an over full program of church based activities. Our static, inflexible, self centered structures are heretical." pg. 56 According to Stott, all churches should ask the question, "Is the church in reality organized only for itself?" In doing so, we determine our effectiveness in evangelism and how to improve in it.
3) Ministry
Everybody cannot do everything.
- God calls all people to ministry.
- God calls different people to different ministries.
- God expects those called to the ministry of the Word to concentrate on their calling and on no account to allow themselves to be distracted by social administration. pg. 73
4) Fellowship
Small groups are indispensable for our growth in spiritual maturity. Fellowship takes time and involvement with others. pg.88
Stott is concerned with authentic spiritual community that develops through time spent together, living life.
5) Preaching
"Authentic Christian preaching is both biblical and contemporary. One of the major tragedies in the church today is that evangelicals are biblical but not contemporary, while liberals are contemporary but not biblical. Comparatively few are building bridges. But authentic Christian preaching is a bridge building operation." pg. 98
6) Giving
Giving is an expression of the grace of God. pg. 112
In conclusion, Stott writes, "I believe in the power of God's Word and Spirit to reform and renew the church. I also believe in the patience of God. Max Warren wrote that 'the history of the Church is the story of the patience of God.'"
At the 150th Anniversary of All Souls, London, John Stott read the following:
I have a dream of a church that is a biblical church – which is loyal in every particular to the revelation of God in Scripture, whose pastors expound Scripture with integrity and relevance, and so seek to present every member mature in Christ, whose people love the Word of God, and adorn it with an obedient and Christ-like life, which is preserved from all unbiblical emphases, whose life manifests in the health and beauty of biblical balance. I have a dream of a biblical church.
I have a dream of a church that is a worshipping church – whose people come together to meet God and worship him, who know God is always in their midst and who bow down before him in great humility, who regularly frequent the table of the Lord Jesus, to celebrate his mighty act of redemption on the cross, who enrich the worship with their musical skills, who believe in prayer and lay hold of God in prayer, whose worship is expressed not in Sunday services and prayer gatherings but also in their homes, their weekday work and the common things of life. I have a dream of a worshipping church.
I have a dream of a church which is a caring church – whose congregation is drawn from many races, nations, ages, and social backgrounds, and exhibits the unity and diversity of the family of God, whose fellowship is warm and welcoming, and never marred by anger, selfishness, jealousy or pride, whose members love one another with a pure heart fervently, forbearing one another, forgiving one another, and bearing one another’s burdens, which offers friendship to the lonely, support to the weak, and acceptance to those who are despised and rejected by society, whose love spills over to the world outside, attractive, infectious, irresistible, the love of God himself. I have a dream of a caring church.
I have a dream of a church which is a serving church – which has seen Christ as the Servant and has heard his call to be a servant too, which is delivered from self-interest, turned inside out, and giving itself selflessly to the service of others, whose members obey Christ’s command to live in the world, to permeate secular society, to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, whose people share the good news of Jesus simply, naturally and enthusiastically with their friends, which diligently serves its own communities, residents and workers, families and single people, nationals and immigrants, old folk and little children, which is alert to the changing needs of society, sensitive and flexible enough to keep adapting its programme to serve more usefully, which has a global vision and is constantly challenging their young people to give their lives in service, and constantly sending its people out to serve. I have a dream of a serving church.
I have a dream of a church which is an expectant church – whose members can never settle down in material affluence or comfort, because they remember that they are strangers and pilgrims on earth, which is all the more faithful and active because it is waiting and looking for its Lord to return, which keeps the flame of the Christian hope burning brightly in a dark, despairing world, which on the day of Christ will not shrink from him in shame, but rise up joyfully to meet him. I have a dream of an expectant church.
John Stott (pg. 167-169)
In this book Stott is:
* Determinedly biblical in his approach to the Church.
* Fairly balanced.
* Keenly aware of modern culture.
* Faith focused on the power of the Spirit and the Word.
* Encouraging to younger pastors seeking not a model to follow but biblical principles to implement.
* Wise and reflective.
This is a valuable tool for anyone who loves the church and desires to be fathful to biblical principles.
