A. T. Pierson, the American Presbyterian evangelist, had the responsibility of preaching at the Metropolitan Tabernacle during the fall and winter of 1891-1892, while C. H. Spurgeon recovered from his illness.[1] During those months, Pierson had a front-row seat to the ministry at the largest church in evangelicalism with a membership of over 5,300. As he preached and assisted the elders in day-to-day pastoral work, two things stood out to him about the Tabernacle’s philosophy of ministry: prayer and simplicity.
Writing in his magazine in January 1892, The Missionary Review of the World, Pierson shared these observations:
Prayer
This Metropolitan Tabernacle is a house of prayer most emphatically. Here are numerous rooms, under and around the great audience-room, where for almost forty years, this one servant of God has held forth the Word of Life; and in these rooms prayer is almost ceaselessly going up. When one meeting is not in progress, another is. This is a hive of bees, where there are comparatively few drones. There are prayer-meetings before preaching, and others after preaching; Evangelistic Associations, Zenana Societies, and all sorts of work for God find hero a centre, and all are consecrated by prayer. Before I go upon the platform to address these thousands, the officers of this great church meet me and each other for prayer as to the service; and one feels upborne on these strong arms of prayer while preaching. No marvel that Mr. Spurgeon’s ministry has been so blessed. He himself attributes it mainly to the prevailing prayers of his people. Why may not the whole Church of God learn something from the Metropolitan Tabernacle of London as to the power of simple gospel preaching backed by believing supplication?
Simplicity
Referring to this great church, one cannot forget also its divine mission as a standing protest against the secularizing of the house of God by the attractions of worldly art and aestheticism. Here is nothing to divert the mind from the simplicity of worship and the gospel; no attempt at elaborate architecture, furniture, garniture. A precentor leads congregational song without even the help of a comet; prayer, and praise, and the reading of the Word of God, with plain putting of gospel truth—these have been Mr. Spurgeon’s lifelong ‘means of grace’, and weapons of war. And yet this remains to-day the largest congregation in the world, even when a stranger attempts to fill the place left vacant by the pastor’s withdrawal to a place of rest and recuperation.
Exhortation
This lesson has, in my opinion, a bearing on all work for Christ, at home and abroad. Our reliance is too much on the charms of this world, in drawing souls to the gospel and to the Saviour. The Holy Spirit will not tolerate our idols. If we will have artistic and secular type of music, substituting unsanctified art for simple praise; if we will have elaborate ritual in place of simple, believing prayer; if we will have eloquent lectures in place of simple, earnest, gospel preaching, we must not wonder if no shekinah fires burn in our sanctuaries. If Ahaz is allowed to displace God’s plain altar by the carved, idolatrous altar from Damascus, we need not be surprised if God withdraws his power. Perhaps the reason why the work of God abroad shows more signs of his presence and power than our sanctuary services at home is in part this, that our foreign mission work has never been embarrassed as yet by those elaborate attempts at aesthetic attraction which turn many of our home churches into concert-halls and lecture saloons and costly club-houses. May God grant us to learn, once for all, that nothing in our mission work can make up for Holy Spirit power, and that Holy Spirit power itself makes up for the lack of all else! If the angel troubles the pool, there is healing in the waters; but if God’s angel comes not down, all the doctors in Jerusalem, with all the drugs in creation, cannot impart healing virtue.
Let us pray! Oh, for a new spirit of prayer to God! Oh, for a whole Church on its face before the throne, with mighty pleading for a blessing as widespread as the race of man, and as deep-reaching as man’s depravity and degradation, guilt and need! Let the year now opening be—whatever else it may not be—a year of prayer; so shall it be a year of praise also, a new year of missions, introducing a new century of mission triumph and glory to God!
[1] The plan was for Spurgeon to return to London by February 1892 but this never happened. He died in Menton, France on January 31, 1892.