Many years ago i read the first volume of two on the late great David Martyn Lloyd-Jones written by premier Christian biographer Iain H Murray. This month I decided to try and finish volume two (volume two is 831 pages). The second volume of this bio is aptly titled "the Fight of Faith."
If you want to know what makes MLJ's ministry so enduring check out this series of exceptional articles written by Dr. Steve Lawson http://www.tms.edu/tmsj/msj22e.pdf (TMS Journal- 22/1 Spring 2011)
Over the past ten years Christian biographies have been some of the best disciplers and ministry mentors I have had. Many pastoral lessons can been gleaned from great Christian biographies. For example, I was somewhat shocked to read about the internal opposition MLJ faced when transitioning into the lead pastor position at Westminster Chapel. MLJ had left his ministry in Wales to be an Assistant/Co-Pastor with the famed G Campbell Morgan in the heart of London. Campbell had served as the lead pastor of Westminster Chapel for 39 years (1904-1943). A church member could not ask for a much better successor (Campbell Morgan to Lloyd-Jones). It's sort of like going from Joe Montana to Steve Young (one Hall of Fame QB to another). Yet despite this reality MLJ was not without internal critics.
Iain Murray writes, "There were influential members of the congregation from pre-War years, including men in the leadership of the diaconate, who were by no means enamoured with the prospect of hearing nothing but Dr Lloyd-Jones. Hitherto they had tended to suffer the new preaching while expressing their undisguised preference for Dr. Morgan. Some members even choose to attend only when the older man was preaching, and one of these, mistaking the arrangements for a particular Sunday, was overheard at Sunday lunch to say with indignation, 'I went to Westminster to hear Dr. Morgan but it was that Calvinist.' The same attitude was strongly represented in the diaconate itself.... Murray went on to explain how upon receiving Dr Morgan's resignation letter the deacons met alone (one of those secret meetings). After the meeting the board asked MLJ what his intentions were (knowing all along that the plan was for D MLJ to transition into the Sr Pastor position once Dr Morgan retired).
Later in Chapter 6 Murray writes, "Yet unsupportive men remained on the diaconate for some years to come and by the time that they were finally gone the custom of paying MLJ a comparatively poor salary had become so habitual that it was never properly adjusted."
It was beneficial for me to be reminded of these realities. Godly ministers who attempt to be fully biblical are rarely ever received with unanimous approval. Even if/when they are such unanimity rarely lasts (Luke 6:26). If you do not believe me just wait until you preach your first series of sermons on Mark 10 or John 6 or implement biblical Church discipline on someone who is connected to half the church via blood relations.
If Martyn Lloyd-Jones and John MacArthur experienced internal opposition during the beginning years of their well known pastorates should we experience a ministry of roses? Let us not forget that the way of the Master is the way of the cross (2 Tim 3:12, Luke 9:23). The way of the cross is the path marked by righteous suffering (1 Peter, 2 Corinthians 11-12).
God sends his ministers to all kinds of churches. Some of us are sent by the Holy Spirit to pastor congregations that are more like the congregation at Corinth then the flock at Philippi. No two ministries are exactly the same (note Revelation 2-3 or compare the N.T. Epistles). Every faithful Christian will suffer. Some will obviously suffer more then others. None of us however will suffer more than the only perfect Pastor.
Some Pastors outlive and outlast their ministry critics. Some men have even witnessed the Holy Spirit transform ministry thorns into gospel allies. Many pastors go on to enjoy sweeter days of ministry fruitfulness and peace after early years of turmoil and unrest. Others are eventually driven out (the Apostle Paul was almost 'voted out' at Corinth- note 2 Corinthians 1:23f). Wherever God has you let us remember that ministry success is determined by faithfulness.
1 Corinthians 3:6-11, I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
