John Stott

In the last couple of days I've read through 'John Stott - A portrait by his friends',  edited by Chris Wright and published by IVP. There are some fascinating insights into the man and it's an excellent read.

I profoundly disagree with Stott's ecclesiology. Unlike my friend and Anglican sympathiser Carl Trueman I think he was out of order in 1966 (Stott that is) with Dr Lloyd Jones but I can just about forgive him that.

His policy of ''in it to win it'' in the Church of England hasn't led to the reformation he so desired. In fact, I would argue it is leading to disaster. The reform video by Lorna Ashworth on  'the marginalisation of faithful anglicans' is indicative of  a conservative evangelical Anglicanism which has resorted to basically begging the rest of the church of England not to be mean to them. It's difficult not to imagine, if Dr Lloyd Jones were alive today, him saying 'I told you so' and yet there is so much to admire in John Stott. The sheer self discipline of the man. Here is someone who has beat his body that he may attain the prize. (1 Cor 9:27)

The more I read of John Stott the more his Ornithology drives me round the bend. As much as I appreciate him, when are the people who write about him going to realise that most of the folk reading couldn't care less about the birds? 

There are many things about John Stott I struggle with. I was saddened when he wrote on women teachers and his view of hell, whatever it is, is not as clear as it needs to be. From a reformed, confessional perspective it's hard not to think he became somewhat unbalanced on women in ministry and social isues. The whole issue of whether Lausanne really was the cataclysmic, world changing event that is often claimed for is open to debate but there is no question he has had a remarkable world wide influence.

His personal secretary of 60 years, Frances Whitehead, wrote this ''...my earliest impressions of John as a man of the utmost integrity have proved abundantly true.  He was not only a brilliant Bible expositor, but also one who sought constantly to live out what he believed and taught. He was a man of deep convictions and total commitment, and there was no dichotomy between faith and practice. He lived to serve and please God, to bring glory to his name, and to boast in nothing but the cross of Jesus Christ. He rarely, if ever, talked about himself.'' (p59)

His successors at All Souls speak warmly of his influence. He loved the Gospel so much he wanted others, particularly those who followed him, to flourish. There seems to have been no sense in which he undermined. If you compare what happened at Westminster Chapel in the aftermath of the Dr to the transitions of All Souls from John Stott to Michael Baughen to Richard Bewes to Hugh Palmer, you have to say there is much to learn from the Anglicans in this.

Other highlights:

An issue close to Carl's heart will be the chapter on John Stott's influence on the arts and media!!!!!! 

There is a moving chapter by John Wyatt on how John Stott has coped with old age. It'll come to us all.

There may be much I disagree with John Stott about but what came across to me was the overwhelming godliness of the man and  that here is someone who embodies 2 Timothy 2 - he has been the hard working farmer, the disciplined athlete and the focused soldier. The astonishing self discipline that God has used in John Stott is something to give thanks for.