Bouys from History: Charles Simeon - A Lesson in Patience

     I only recently discovered Rev. Charles Simeon. The information I read on him barely covered a full page, but I found myself inspired by his patience and grace under fire.  In subsequent weeks, I've researched him at length and found his fervor for God and his undying consideration for the hearts of men to be of great encouragement. So I share his story with you...... to give you a bouy (a lift) of inspiration today.

Charles Simeon is best known for

• serving Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, and Cambridge University for 54 years
• practicing and popularizing biblical, expository preaching
• pioneering on-campus discipleship among university students
• developing new, church-based ministries for youth and adults
• starting or helping to start at least four missions organizations
• introducing the evangelical revival in Britain to the Church of England
• enduring intense opposition during his early years of ministry
• dying as a beloved community member and revered church leader

     Receiving appointment in 1782 to his church by the bishop, he was opposed by the members of Trinity Church in Cambridge because of his evangelical outlook and his call to holiness for the people of God. They disapproved so much that they did not attend morning services and locked their pews so that no one else could use them! And this state of things did not last for a few weeks..... or even a few months. It continued for 12 long years. During this time Rev. Simeon preached to his congregation as they stood in the aisles. He later commented on how he endured such a long trial of faith:

"In this state of things I saw no remedy but faith and patience. The passage of Scripture which subdued and controlled my mind was this, "the servant of the Lord must not strive." It was painful indeed to see the church, with the exception of the aisles, almost forsaken; but I thought that if God would only give a double blessing to the congregation that did attend, there would on the whole be as much good done as if the congregation were doubled and the blessing limited to only half the amount. This comforted me many, many times,when without such a reflection, I should have sunk under my burden." 

     While Rev. Simeon endured 12 years of opposition from his parishioners, he served that same church for 54 years in all - dying a beloved member of his community. During his lifetime he called for true conversion and an intimate walk with Christ - emphasized by his own zeal for the Lord in both his public and personal life. Rising at 4:00 a.m. every morning, he spent hours in prayer and study of the word. Living in a time where society was self-indulgent and easy-going, he showed a different way of life by embracing self-discipline and holiness.

     Because his beliefs on outreach, evangelism and personal holiness put him at odds with those who would live an 'easy life', within the Church of England he endured harsh criticism, ridicule, social slights, bricks thrown through windows as he preached, and being locked out of his church. His response was to pray "May God bless them with enlightening, sanctifying, and saving grace." Never once did he waver in His convictions on outreach and holiness, and yet at the same time he resolved to work within the church to bring revival from within, instead of breaking unity and bringing disharmony within the church. Archbishop Donald Coggan, in his lecture on Charles Simeon in 1974, stated: "He loved the Church of England. He loved its liturgy and he was content to live and die a son of the Church of England, even though within that Church he suffered so much and saw so much

that was weak and unworthy in its priests and people."

Reverend Charles Simeon (1759-1836)

     May we gain insight and encouragement from the lives of those who have gone before. Not one was perfect. Every one made mistakes. And yet they made Christ their all and lived for Him. May we feel bouyed by their sacrifice and gain insight for our own lives as we seek to follow the Master.

Notes:

Battling Unbelief by John Piper

http://www.charlessimeon.com/

http://archive.churchsociety.org/churchman/documents/Cman_114_2_Carr.pdf

F D Coggan These Were His Gifts (Exeter: University of Exeter Press 1974) p 16

without Him, i have nothing to say

     Over the years, I've always tended to be a somewhat optimistic person. Growing up I often had a what-could-possibly-go-wrong? outlook which led to a careless attitude in areas where I should've exercised some caution.  Looking back, I think a lot of it came from having such a stable, loving home. I had confidence for nearly everything, because my parents invested in me and helped me know that I could accomplish anything I put my mind towards. They provided a safe haven, therefore danger was often far from my mind. I'm so grateful to them for that - especially considering their own homes growing up.
     Being self-assured and confident is a gift. In fact in our country, it is lauded and applauded to the point where many fall into the trap of "making something of themselves" regardless of the cost. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with having vision and a plan for your life, but "Controlling our own Destiny" was never an idea the Lord espoused. On the contrary:

     "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Matt 16:24 & 26) 

Confidence is a gift when used under the power of His guidance and grace. If  we abuse it, self-assurance will easily turn into pride. C.S. Lewis once said:

     "If we have the itch of self-regard, we shall want the pleasure of self-approval; but the happiest moments are those when we forget our precious selves and have neither, but have everything else instead." 

So often it's easy to lose sight of the gift of confidence in the light of our need for acceptance and approval from others. I speak from experience. We all want that feeling of belonging, knowing that others accept us for who we are. The problem is that we often let pride trip us into making ourselves into what others expect, and leaving God out in the process.
         "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."  (Galations 1:10)

       "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe." (Proverbs 29:25)

Pride causes us to fear man - we begin to think highly of ourselves........ and then begin to wonder what others think of us - instead of what God thinks of us. Fear of rejection from others (ultimately the fear of man) causes us to take our eyes off the Lord.

As I prepared for Ecuador last year, I was confident. I knew God had called me to this mission. I was excited. I was prepared. And yet, all my confidence and preparations were of no use to me when I needed them. Pride had crept in. It took a few days for me to realize and refute it.(You can read about it here.) And in that moment I realized (yet again) that I can do nothing on my own. In our times of vulnerability we have a choice: do we yield to our Maker, or hold to what is comfortable? Do we allow Him to mold us, or do we tenaciously cling to what we know? Do we listen, or obstinately stick with our own idea of self?
     He calls us to know Him personally. If He did not exist, neither would I. No matter what this year holds, all is in vain without Him. Going to another country becomes pointless if we cannot tell others of Him, or at least show His love through care and concern. If we did not have Him to share with others, why go? And the same is true here at home: "if not for Him, I would have nothing to say."

I boast not of works, nor tell of good deeds,

for naught have I done to merit His grace.

All glory and praise shall rest upon Him,

so willing to die in my place.



Believing in His Goodness

Holding India @ Galilean Children's Home - she was only a few weeks old in this picture.

     As 2015 begins, I begin with another blog. Something that has long been on my heart...... to share the love of my Lord by recounting His faithfulness: in my own life and from the pages of history. As this year begins, we naturally look forward to all those empty calendar pages with thoughts on what will fill those days, those moments. We wonder if momentous occasions will actually be memorable..... if dreams will become reality..... if reality will meet our expectations. And no matter how much we tell ourselves that life is not like a book, we find ourselves believing in the idea that life will meet - and perhaps succeed - our expectations. And when we find ourselves in the midst of a difficult or painful situation, we lose hope..... we stop believing. In those moments, there is an answer: the only Truth that remains constant, remains true, and can actually hold our belief is He who loved us so much, He gave His life to prove it.
     Last year (2014) held many ups ......but also downs. It began with my heart quite heavy. Pain is never easy to bear. Don't get me wrong here. This year brought so many opportunities and joys, but also held days of despondency and confusion. I found myself digging deeper into His word for answers. How do we handle disappointment and confusion?  As I began to contemplate the coming year (2015) I was reminded of an incident that happened in 2009 while I volunteered at Galilean Children's Home in Kentucky. It was a particularly stressful time - we were short on staff/volunteers and those of us who were there, were stretched thin. I always enjoyed my work there, but the tiredness was beginning to take it's toll. (I'd worked 3 midnight shifts in addition to 3 regular shifts in six days.) I read Psalm 27 in my devotions one evening and verse 13 stood out:
     "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
     Feeling somewhat overwhelmed physically at that point, I could relate. And the implication was clear: if we don't trust..... if we don't believe........ if we don't HOPE in the goodness of the Lord.... that we will SEE the goodness of the Lord, we will despair. Being reminded of this affirmation from years past brought a thrill of joy to my heart. We must hope to see His goodness or we will despair.
     A goal for this year? To hope in...... to believe in...... to gain strength from..... His goodness. And the following verse of Psalms 27 tells us how:
     "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait , I say, on the LORD. "