READY. SHOOT. AIM.
‘Ready, shoot, aim’: How Assumption Harms
It’s a rare thing that two of the greatest preachers in the history of a city would pastor there at the same time but that’s exactly what happened in 19th century London.
The two giants were the “Prince of Preachers”, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who served as the Pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle and the Rev. Joseph Parker, who led the great City Temple.
While these two passionate pulpiteers were close friends, would preach for one another, and would readily work together on many social causes in the city over the years, there was a terrible and totally avoidable public spat between the two in 1887 that actually made the London papers.
There was an occasion in which Rev. Parker made a comment about the terribly poor condition of the children who were coming into the orphanage in the city that Spurgeon had founded, took great pride in, and was passionate about. It was a well-intentioned, sincerely motivated remark. He even went so far as to say to several members of City Temple that “we should do what we can to help Spurgeon” with this ministry so that the orphans are adequately nourished and clothed.
However, one of the men who heard his comments, reported to Spurgeon that Rev. Parker had been critical the orphanage itself, implying that Spurgeon wasn’t leading that ministry well.
When Spurgeon heard this, not only did he feel as though he’d been betrayed by a trusted friend, he was incensed that Rev. Parker would make such an audacious, slanderous accusation against him and the ministry that he cared so much about.
In response, Spurgeon retaliated in the most public way that he knew how: from the pulpit of the 5,000 seat, filled to capacity Metropolitan Tabernacle on the following Lord’s Day.
Bear in mind that Spurgeon was such a prominent figure in those days that it wasn’t only parishioners who filled the pews each week, but also reporters. The sermons of Spurgeon were published in many newspapers, and they were there to record his messages for print.
Once the fiery response of Spurgeon toward Rev. Parker was printed, London was enthralled by the unfolding drama. It was the talk of the town.
How will Rev. Parker respond? What will he do?
The following Lord’s Day, a massive crowd of people descended upon the City Temple to hear Rev. Parker’s rebuttal.
As the crowd found their seats, no doubt waiting with bated breath for Rev. Parker to strike back, he walked to the pulpit and with a humble and sincere tone, he said, “Brother Spurgeon is sick today and cannot preach. This is the day when he takes up an offering for his orphans. May I suggest that we take up that offering for him in our church, for he’s doing a great work, and I know all of us would like to have a part in it.”
It is said that the congregation was so moved by Rev. Parkers kindness that the ushers who were receiving the offering had to had to empty the offering plates three separate times.
After the money for Spurgeon’s orphanage had been collected and the service had concluded, it was promptly delivered to him.
The following week, Spurgeon knocked on the door of Rev. Parker’s study. As Parker opened the door, he was greeted with a loving embrace from the “Prince of Preachers”, who whispered in his ear, “You have more of the spirit of Jesus Christ than any man I know. You know, Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed.”
This incredible story is quite the cautionary tale, isn’t it? If these two mighty men of God were susceptible to a rift due to a false assumption being made, should we not carefully guard our own hearts concerning this matter?
If you are anything like me, there have been unfortunate occasions over the course of your life in which you have jumped to conclusions, put the cart before the horse, and made less than charitable assumptions which brought unwarranted harm to others and made yourself look foolish.
Maybe, like Spurgeon in this case, you did so because of some erroneous secondhand information that you had received. It could also be that the wrongheaded assumptions that you made were not due to something you heard from someone else but rather to an unhealthy defensive posture that you have taken where every action taken, or word spoken concerning you is taken as a personal attack.
When this happens, and we leap to conclusions, our response is usually sinful and regrettable.
Sometimes, like Spurgeon, when we feel backed into a corner, we lash out in retaliation, determined to at the very least, trade barb for barb. Other times, while we may not verbally or physically respond, we will hold a tangible contempt for that person within. Saints, be very careful here because though that may feel more noble than striking back but it’s every bit as poisonous.
How many friendships have been unnecessarily strained or ended because of uncharitable assumptions that have been made? How many relationships have ruptured because of someone jumping to conclusions based upon incorrect second or third hand information? How many divisions have risen up and disrupted fellowship in the Christian church over the years because of a refusal to find clarity through honest personal conversation?
Brothers and sisters, this does not have to be.
Instead of making assumptions…what if, when offended, we submit ourselves to the Word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to dictate our response.
Let's listen carefully to what King Solomon, who, according to Jesus, was the wisest man who ever lived, said about the folly of assumption in Proverbs 18:13 that “The one who gives an answer before he listens— this is foolishness and disgrace for him.”
May we incline our ears to what the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Spirit of the Living God said in Colossians 4:6 about how we must communicate with one another (regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves), “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person”
Let us humble ourselves under the teaching of the living Lord Jesus who in speaking about how to respond to a brother or sister who has possibly offended us said in Mathew 18:15, “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother”
Assumptions are dangerous, Saints. If any are to be made, let’s determine to only assume the best of our family of faith.
In Christ Alone,
Pastor Kyle
The two giants were the “Prince of Preachers”, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who served as the Pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle and the Rev. Joseph Parker, who led the great City Temple.
While these two passionate pulpiteers were close friends, would preach for one another, and would readily work together on many social causes in the city over the years, there was a terrible and totally avoidable public spat between the two in 1887 that actually made the London papers.
There was an occasion in which Rev. Parker made a comment about the terribly poor condition of the children who were coming into the orphanage in the city that Spurgeon had founded, took great pride in, and was passionate about. It was a well-intentioned, sincerely motivated remark. He even went so far as to say to several members of City Temple that “we should do what we can to help Spurgeon” with this ministry so that the orphans are adequately nourished and clothed.
However, one of the men who heard his comments, reported to Spurgeon that Rev. Parker had been critical the orphanage itself, implying that Spurgeon wasn’t leading that ministry well.
When Spurgeon heard this, not only did he feel as though he’d been betrayed by a trusted friend, he was incensed that Rev. Parker would make such an audacious, slanderous accusation against him and the ministry that he cared so much about.
In response, Spurgeon retaliated in the most public way that he knew how: from the pulpit of the 5,000 seat, filled to capacity Metropolitan Tabernacle on the following Lord’s Day.
Bear in mind that Spurgeon was such a prominent figure in those days that it wasn’t only parishioners who filled the pews each week, but also reporters. The sermons of Spurgeon were published in many newspapers, and they were there to record his messages for print.
Once the fiery response of Spurgeon toward Rev. Parker was printed, London was enthralled by the unfolding drama. It was the talk of the town.
How will Rev. Parker respond? What will he do?
The following Lord’s Day, a massive crowd of people descended upon the City Temple to hear Rev. Parker’s rebuttal.
As the crowd found their seats, no doubt waiting with bated breath for Rev. Parker to strike back, he walked to the pulpit and with a humble and sincere tone, he said, “Brother Spurgeon is sick today and cannot preach. This is the day when he takes up an offering for his orphans. May I suggest that we take up that offering for him in our church, for he’s doing a great work, and I know all of us would like to have a part in it.”
It is said that the congregation was so moved by Rev. Parkers kindness that the ushers who were receiving the offering had to had to empty the offering plates three separate times.
After the money for Spurgeon’s orphanage had been collected and the service had concluded, it was promptly delivered to him.
The following week, Spurgeon knocked on the door of Rev. Parker’s study. As Parker opened the door, he was greeted with a loving embrace from the “Prince of Preachers”, who whispered in his ear, “You have more of the spirit of Jesus Christ than any man I know. You know, Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed.”
This incredible story is quite the cautionary tale, isn’t it? If these two mighty men of God were susceptible to a rift due to a false assumption being made, should we not carefully guard our own hearts concerning this matter?
If you are anything like me, there have been unfortunate occasions over the course of your life in which you have jumped to conclusions, put the cart before the horse, and made less than charitable assumptions which brought unwarranted harm to others and made yourself look foolish.
Maybe, like Spurgeon in this case, you did so because of some erroneous secondhand information that you had received. It could also be that the wrongheaded assumptions that you made were not due to something you heard from someone else but rather to an unhealthy defensive posture that you have taken where every action taken, or word spoken concerning you is taken as a personal attack.
When this happens, and we leap to conclusions, our response is usually sinful and regrettable.
Sometimes, like Spurgeon, when we feel backed into a corner, we lash out in retaliation, determined to at the very least, trade barb for barb. Other times, while we may not verbally or physically respond, we will hold a tangible contempt for that person within. Saints, be very careful here because though that may feel more noble than striking back but it’s every bit as poisonous.
How many friendships have been unnecessarily strained or ended because of uncharitable assumptions that have been made? How many relationships have ruptured because of someone jumping to conclusions based upon incorrect second or third hand information? How many divisions have risen up and disrupted fellowship in the Christian church over the years because of a refusal to find clarity through honest personal conversation?
Brothers and sisters, this does not have to be.
Instead of making assumptions…what if, when offended, we submit ourselves to the Word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to dictate our response.
Let's listen carefully to what King Solomon, who, according to Jesus, was the wisest man who ever lived, said about the folly of assumption in Proverbs 18:13 that “The one who gives an answer before he listens— this is foolishness and disgrace for him.”
May we incline our ears to what the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Spirit of the Living God said in Colossians 4:6 about how we must communicate with one another (regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves), “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person”
Let us humble ourselves under the teaching of the living Lord Jesus who in speaking about how to respond to a brother or sister who has possibly offended us said in Mathew 18:15, “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother”
Assumptions are dangerous, Saints. If any are to be made, let’s determine to only assume the best of our family of faith.
In Christ Alone,
Pastor Kyle
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