Falling Ashes
Flames licked the air while the hard rain of ashes fell on the streets of Southern towns in 1860. The matches were struck; the kindlings were prepped; the bonfires were ready— not for a joyous occasion, for it was neither wood nor tinder bathed in fire, but the sermons of Mr. Charles Hadden Spurgeon. Threats filled the air with smoke as clergymen and laymen alike breathed words of hate and intimidation, crying out: “If the Pharisaical author should ever show himself in these parts, we trust that a stout cord may speedily find its way around his eloquent throat.”
What warranted such behavior? Of what crime did the Prince of Preachers commit to receive this backlash? The answer was, quite simply, his faithfulness to preach the whole Bible -- yea, even against racism.
So bound was Spurgeon’s conscience to Scripture, so captivated by the Lord’s love for him, and so overwhelmed with compassion for his neighbor that Spurgeon would plainly, yet boldly, say:
“I do from my inmost soul detest slavery . . . and although I commune at the Lord’s table with men of all creeds, yet with a slave-holder I have no fellowship of any sort or kind. Whenever one has called upon me, I have considered it my duty to express my detestation of his wickedness, and I would as soon think of receiving a murderer into my church . . . as a man stealer.”
It was this conviction within Spurgeon that, consequently, birthed rage in the hearts of the Southern Slaveholders he was addressing, infuriating them to the point of book burnings, murderous utterances, and slanderous statements— all of which could be succinctly summarized as hearts devoid of charity and love.
Contemporary readers, perhaps, may read this and be astonished at such actions. “How could they do this? Surely, Spurgeon was a prophet in his age! Why would they attack this man and not receive his words with an open mind and heart?” That is the question, dear friend, for both Spurgeon’s day and ours, for history so quickly repeats itself. As faithful servants open the Word of God and seek to preach prophetically into the culture whilst simultaneously calling Christians to repentance and action, uncharitable attacks are, too, hurled by those who draft statements, speak at conferences, and bear the name of Christ while denying their privileged inheritance, namely, to be enactors of justice like their God. These words have swiftly been repackaged from “Pharisee!” to “Marxist!”, from “Legalist!” to “Liberal!” -- all while cupping hands over their ears and justifying their sins of commission and/or omission. Book burnings in the 21st Century have been replaced with blocked Twitter accounts, podcast rants, and throwing meat to the dogs in a 30 second sound bite, speaking against an uncharitable strawman instead of wrestling with what the preacher actually said.
Book burnings in the 21st Century have been replaced with blocked Twitter accounts, podcast rants, and throwing meat to the dogs in a 30 second sound bite,
What then is the solution? Surely it begins with believers “[putting] on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other.” Otherwise, the ashes will continue to fall as they did in 1860.
“I felt that the White ministers, priests, and rabbis of the South would be among our strongest allies. Instead, some have been outright opponents, refusing to understand the freedom movement and misrepresenting its leaders; all too many others have been more cautious than courageous and have remained silent behind the anesthetizing security of stained glass windows.”
