Lemuel Haynes on Preaching with Judgment Day in Mind (Anyabwile)

Lemuel Haynes (First recorded African American preacher to all White congregation: 1753-1833) displayed his eschatological (Judgment Day) vision of pastoral ministry most clearly in a 1798 funeral sermon entitled The Important Concerns of Ministers and the People of Their Charge. In this sermon, Haynes anticipated that the pastor and the congregation would have a special relationship to one another in the coming judgment of Christ, where the congregation would be the “hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing … in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming (1 Thess 2:19).” However, the second coming of Christ and the accompanying judgment of ministers and their people was, in Haynes estimation, a proposition filled with both joyous promise and striking terror. At stake, more than merely the souls of pastors and congregants, was the very glory of God himself, whether the character of the Redeemer was properly displayed before His creation through the ministry of which both minister and member were a part. If the pastor was faithful, the congregation and their shepherd would enjoy a special intimacy with one another, an intimacy deepened by their commendation of the pastor and of the pastor’s recommendation of his people before the Lord himself. However, if either the pastor or the congregation were unfaithful, their eternal relationship would be one of accusing and exposing the other before God and His Son. For everlasting good or for eternal ill, the pastor and the congregation were joined in a most solemn union before God. Haynes concluded, “The influence of a faithful or unfaithful minister is such as to effect unborn ages; it will commonly determine the sentiments and characters of their successors, and in this way they may be doing good or evil after they are dead, and even to the second coming of Christ.” The unfaithful minister would be tried for his treasonous neglect of the souls of the people, and the unfaithful congregation would stand to hear the pastor’s denouncement of their spiritual apathy and hard heartedness. Therefore, ministers ought to preach, and people ought to listen, “with death and judgment in view.”

… For those in or contemplating entrance into pastoral ministry, Lemuel Haynes reminds us of the solemn importance of faithfulness in the gospel minister. Haynes warns us of a blithe attitude toward our work as ministers, ambassadors for Jesus Christ. Indifference is deadly – to our people and ourselves. Ours is a life dedicated to caring for another’s children with the anticipation of one day returning them to their Heavenly Father. At that time, we shall give an account of our stewardship – what we have taught His children; what model or example we have provided; whether we have tended to the state of their souls; and most importantly, whether we spoke reproachfully or gloriously of their True Father. If we would be faithful, we must keep the coming of our Lord in full view as we discharge all the duties we have been given by Him who “walks in the midst of the seven lampstands.”

Thabiti Anyabwile

"Grasp Them As Your Own" Spurgeon

After I had preached in this place one morning, there was a sinner convinced of sin, and led to tremble before God. He saw his brother after the service, and he asked him, "What must I do to be saved?" "Believe," said he. "Well, brother," he said, "I always did believe, I always have believed the things that are preached, and the things that are in the Bible. What more am I to do?" His brother answered, "Why, take them! Grasp them as your own." "I never saw that before," said the man, and so he was brought into the light. Now, that is faith. Faith is the hand that grips the Saviour, and holds him fast.