Listening to the Giants

There is a part of me that wants to run from this topic….slavery. Just saying the word invokes thoughts of anger, indignation and unbelief. To give an example of my inner resentment towards slave-owners (and racism), I watched The Help with my wife (a recent movie about a white woman chronicling the stories of African-American maids) and made this comment to her during the final credits, “I have never wanted to punch so many white women in my life.” By the way, just so the readers are clear…..I HAVE NEVER HIT A WOMAN….EVER (white, black or any other ethnic group)! So why write about it? Two reasons: 1) Charles Hodge wrote about it and 2) he lived through the Civil War era. Charles Hodge grew up in the most volatile time in America’s history. The Civil War claimed thousands of lives and the issue of slavery could not be avoided. As a Christian, a theologian and a churchman, Dr. Hodge knew it was his responsibility to help Presbyterians (and Christians in general) ...

It is probably the desire (and prayer) of every single mom that their son has not only a role model, but a male role model. For Mary Hodge that role model was their pastor, Dr. Ashbel Green. The description below conveys the lifelong impact made on her sons. “Mrs. Hodge did not labor alone in the task of nurturing her children in the Presbyterian faith. The family benefitted from the support of the local church, the same Second Presbyterian Church that Hannah Hodge had joined a century earlier. Their pastor, Dr. Ashbel Green, was known as an Old School Presbyterian and took seriously his calling to train children in the Christian faith. Not only did he catechize Hodge and his brother, but as president of Princeton he also taught Charles the Bible when he matriculated at Princeton and preached frequently in seminary chapel.” It is interesting that Hodge’s biographer only describes the spiritual influence of Dr. Green, but is entirely silent regarding any effort towards gend...

Charles Hodge never knew his father. After entering this world for a brief six months, Hodge’s father finished his earthly journey. Who was Charles’ father? Dr. Hugh Hodge was a surgeon, a patriot and a war hero. Hodges’ biographer explains, “A graduate of the College of New Jersey in 1773, Hugh trained in medicine and served as a surgeon with the Pennsylvania troops in the Revolutionary War. British forces captured him and held him prisoner in November 1776, but he obtained release after several months through the efforts of George Washington.” Details of his death are unknown, but what is known that Charles’ three older siblings also died, which only left him and his older brother, Hugh. Fortunately for these boys, God had ordained Mary Hodge to be their mother. She was a strong, driven and hardworking woman. Hodge’s biographer writes: “(Though she received some money from her husband’s estate)…to supplement her income further, Mrs. Hodge took in boarders, young...

Charles Hodge was born December 28, 1797 in Philadelphia, the last of five children born to Hugh and Mary Hodge. Both parents were of distinguished families; his mother was of Huguenot descent. His father, who descended from Irish roots, died six months after Charles was born, leaving his mother to raise him and his brother (only the two of them survived infancy) on limited means. Speaking of his forebears in America, Charles Hodge wrote in his journal, “I wish...that those who come after me should know that their ancestors and kindred were Presbyterians and patriots.” Of his childhood he wrote, “To our mother, my brother and myself, under God, owe absolutely everything...Our mother was a Christian. She took us regularly to church, and carefully drilled us in the Westminster Catechism, which we recited on stated occasions to Dr. Ashbel Green, our pastor.” At the age of fourteen years he entered the sophomore class of the College of New Jersey. It was h...

Out of all of McCheyne’s entries, these impacted me the most. Nov. 12—“Reading H. Martyn’s Memoirs. Would I imitate him, giving up father, mother, country, house, health, life, all—for Christ. And yet, what hinders/ Lord, purify me and give me strength to dedicate myself, my all to Thee!” It seems a common trend among the “giants” to drink of the springs of those “who have walked before them”. The reason is obvious: Encouragement to finish the race . Encouragement to finish the right way. Dec. 18—“My heart must break off from all these things. What right have I to steal and abuse my Master’s time? Redeem it. He is crying to me.” Nothing grieves my heart more than “wasted time”. Conversely, nothing strengthens the Christian more than the joy of a clear conscience (Acts 23:1). Aug. 18—“Heard of the death of James Somerville by fever, induced by cholera. O God, Thy ways and thoughts are not as ours! I saw him last on Friday, 27 th of July, at the College gate; shook h...

The Bible is clear that a Christian is to “be holy, because I AM holy” (I Peter 1:16). Robert Murray McCheyne not only obeyed this command, but lived before God and others with an “unusual” holiness. A brief account of McCheyne reveals his impact on others: “A cynic was once asserting to a follower of Jesus the hypocrisy of Christians, but when he asked if she had ever met a genuine ‘man of God’ she replied, “Yes, I saw one, a minister in this hotel, who was a man of God. His very look did me good. ” After reading this story, I asked myself a few questions. “How does a look convey such holiness?” “Was McCheyne’s holy behavior unique or is it available to every Christian?” and finally “How did McCheyne become this holy? His biographer explains: “He was never satisfied with his own attainments in holiness; he was ever ready to learn, and quick to apply, any suggestion that might tend to his greater usefulness. About this period he used to sing a psalm or hymn ...

As I get older, my tastes are becoming more refined. I prefer clothes of good quality and clothes that fit well. Though I drink all types of coffee, I am becoming more of a “snob” about it as the years roll on. Even poetry (which in the past seemed about as fun as “watching paint dry”) now has an inherent beauty that I never noticed before. Robert Murray McCheyne was a literary and poetic genius. His biographer paints a promising picture of the young poet: “He might have risen to high eminence in the circles of taste and literature, but denied himself all such hopes, that he might win souls. With such peculiar talents as he possessed, his ministry might have, in any circumstances, attracted many; but these attractions were all made subsidiary to the single desire of awakening the dead in trespasses and sins.” The poem below is actually a hymn. In my opinion, it is McCheyne’s greatest hymn. As you read, please meditate on the obvious theme of “The Righteousness of God”. ...

This is one of my favorite stories about Robert Murray McCheyne.  He left to go to Israel to evangelize the Jews and renew his own heart; walking where Jesus walked, taught, bled and rose again. While he was there, God accomplished a mighty work in his home church.  Here is the account:  “Mr. Burns returned to Mr. McCheyne’s flock on August 8th (McCheyne was deathly sick in Israel, praying for his people under all his own suffering). Two days later, the Spirit began to work in St. Peter’s (McCheyne’s church), at the time of the prayer-meeting in the Church. Day after day the people met for prayer and hearing the word; and the times of the apostles seemed returned, when “the Lord added to the Church daily of such as should be saved.” One night Mr. Burns spoke a few words about what had for some days detained him from them, and invited those to remain who felt the need of an outpouring of the Spirit to convert them. About a hundred remained; and at the concl...

The first time I read The Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray McCheyne this brief entry affected me greatly. Nov. 9—Heard of Edward Irving’s death. I look back upon him with awe, as on the saints and martyrs of old. A holy man in spite of all his delusions and errors. He is now with his God and Saviour, whom he wronged so much, yet, I am persuaded, loved so sincerely. How should we lean for wisdom, not on ourselves, but on the God of all grace! I am sure many of you are thinking, “Who is Edward Irving (1792-1834)?” Well, much controversy comes with this man. First, he is known by some as the “father of the modern tongues movement” . He held to the subsequent filling of the Holy Spirit (i.e. second blessing after conversion). It is important to note that Irving himself never spoke in tongues.  Second, his focus (some would say obsession) was prophecy . Specifically, Irving held to pre-millennialism and to the pre-tribulational view of the rapture. His positi...

Death is an unnatural joy. This is not to say that death is not normal, because it certainly is. Its sting brings fear, and yet, by the mercy of God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the sting of death has been relieved (1 Cor. 15:55-57). For Robert Murray McCheyne, it was the sting of his brother’s death that awakened him to the Divine peace. McCheyne’s brother David was 8 or 9 years older and was the light of Christ in the McCheyne household. It was said of him that he was a man of “sensitive truthfulness”. Just a grieved look from his godly brother often led McCheyne to inner shame and subsequent repentance. The months leading up to David’s death were difficult for McCheyne. His brother had a severe bout of melancholy (i.e. depression —modern use), which ate away at his body, leaving him susceptible to physical illness. Before he died, the clouds of depression lifted, but David’s suffering had great impact on McCheyne, who often spoke of his brother’s death...

Throughout this month, this blog will examine certain “snapshots” of Robert Murray McCheyne, which I hope will bring a deeper appreciation for this servant and a greater love for the God whom he gave his life to. Why should you care about the life and ministry of Robert Murray McCheyne?  --His response to his brother’s death is real and noteworthy.  --He was known by many as a man of “unique holiness”.  --His undivided zeal for the gospel was probably the main reason he never married.  --His response to a great revival in his church is eye-opening.  --He is one of the greatest preachers Scotland has ever produced.  --He was a lover of poetry and music and wrote several hymns still sung today.  --His life was plagued with sickness, which led to his premature death at the age of 29.  EARLY LIFE Robert Murray McCheyne was born in Edinburgh in May 1813, the youngest child of a leading solicitor in Scotland's Supreme...

Here are #13--#24: #13—“But how much greater is the spiritual blessing we receive, both in this life and in the world to come, if constrained by the love of Christ, we act as God’s stewards, respecting that, with which He is pleased to entrust us!” #14—“Our Heavenly Father never takes any earthly thing from His children except He means to give them something better instead ”. Early in my Christian walk I would have read this quote and believed that God would bless me like Job (Job 42:12-17). Now in my 23 rd or 29 th year as a Christian, I understand that the blessing may or may not be material , but it is always spiritual. #15—“We have to guard against practically despising the discipline of the Lord, though we may not do so in word, and against fainting under discipline; since all is intended for blessing to us”. The reader must not have a one-dimensional understanding of “fainting”. “Fainting” can mean wilting under the heat of God’s discipline, which ...