Saturday 29 October 2011

DR LLOYD-JONES AND THE CHRISTIAN CALLENDER


Whilst being greatly influenced by Puritan thinking, DMLJ did not embrace the Puritan idea that it was wrong to recognise the various times and seasons that came around during the year.  He did not accept that these should be honoured above other times, but he did believe and practice a policy in which the Christian calendar was recognised, but only insofar that it provided an evangelistic opportunity to preach the everlasting gospel to his congregation.  Thus, at Christmas time, he would make mention of the Babe of Bethlehem as he weaved this into his Gospel preaching.  He believed that most people in the congregation, and those who would attend church at that particular time, would have thoughts of Christmas in their minds, being reminded about it in the high streets and through Christmas cards being sent and received, so it would be a lost opportunity not to present the Gospel to them, using this ‘hook.’  It wasn’t a big thing for the Doctor, but he used it wisely as an evangelistic opportunity. 

I followed the same pattern.  Christmas and Easter and Whit Sunday were relatively unimportant to me, but they were useful in Gospel ministry.

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