I love Charles Spurgeon!  Those who know me know how much I love his writings and sermons.  He’s so witty, funny, intelligent, and inspirational.  I almost never fail to walk away feeling encouraged each time I read his writings.  His sermons are often sprinkled with witty remarks that make me laugh because they’re both poignant and funny at the same time.  His force and delivery enhance the beauty of his message.  Oh, that there’s a dozen preachers like him today!  After reading more of his biography, I came to love not only his  great preaching ability, but also of the character and personality that Charles Spurgeon was.  He must’ve been such a colorful personality.  (You can read about his courtship story with his wife, Susannah, from one of my previous entries if you like.)  Here are some funny quotes I found memorable from Spurgeon…

On Controversies

Charles Spurgeon was frequently embroiled in religious controversies.  “I hear you are in hot water again,” a friend declared one day.  “I’m not the one in hot water,” Spurgeon retorted.  “The other fellows are.  I’m the man who makes the water boil.”

On Criticism

Spurgeon was well-known as a cigar smoker.  In his days they didn’t know about the harmful effects of excessive smoking, and for him it was mostly for medicinal reasons.  He said he didn’t see anything wrong with smoking cigars as long as it wasn’t in excess.  He said, “I’ll quit if I find myself smoking too much.”  When asked what “too much” was, he replied, “Two at a time, of course.”

“I’m going home, and smoking a cigar to the glory of God”. 

On agnosticism

A gentleman said to Spurgeon one day, “Ah! Mr. Spurgeon, I don’t agree with you about religion; I am an agnostic.”   “Yes!” Spurgeon replied, “that is a Greek word, and the exact equivalent is ignoramus; if you like to claim that title, you are quite welcome to.”

On His Age

Spurgeon had the gift of preaching even as a teenager at the age of 15 or 16.  This is an account of his very first effort at preaching in the pulpit.  The moment he finished preaching an elderly woman cried out, “Bless your heart, how old are you?”  Spurgeon replied that there should be no interruptions in the service.  But as soon as the last hymn was sung she burst forth again with her question, and this time he replied, “I am under sixty.”  “Yes, and under sixteen!” the lady replied.  Her enthusiasm was felt to the rest of the congregation, and they demanded that Spurgeon comes back and preach to them again as soon as possible. 

Ha ha ha… :)  That’s similar to what I’d say when someone asks for my age:  “I am under sixty.” :D  Mmm, well… okay, I am under thirty, but that’s as specific as I’m willing to reveal.

On Punctuality

Everyone who was acquainted with Spurgeon knows how scrupulously punctual he was at all services and meetings.  Unless something very unusual had detained him, he was ready to commerce either the worship or the business proceedings at the exact minute fixed.  In the New Park Street days, he was unavoidably late on one occasion when he was to meet the venerable deacons.  One of them, the most pompous of the whole company, who was himself noted for his punctuality, pulled out his watch, and held it up reproachfully before the young minister.  Looking at it in a critical fashion, Mr. Spurgeon said, “Yes; it’s a very good watch, I have no doubt, but it is rather old fashioned, isn’t it?”

On the Ministers’ Wives 

Today I just read some good quotes by Spurgeon regarding pastor’s wives.  I thought I’ll throw them in here as well because they’re so true.  Growing up, I’ve always gathered that people have the notion a pastor’s wife is supposed to do certain things at church; they’re expected to teach Sunday school, or lead the choir, or be the church’s organist or pianist, etc. (even though these may not necessarily correspond to their giftings).  But why this non-verbal expectation?  When in reality, a pastor’s wife’s primary role, first and foremost, just like any other married Christian ladies, is to be a helpmeet to her husband.  Not as the church’s worker, or the church’s pianist, or choir leader.  It’s nice if they do these things according to their gifts, but I don’t think we must take it for granted that they should be involved in that if they choose not to.  I have a lot of respect for pastor’s wives.  I think it’s a very special and honorable position.  I’m sure it’s not an easy position because regrettably people often subject them to unreasonable scrutiny.  Spurgeon gave good insights of the minister’s wives:

Churches do not give a married minister two salaries, one for the husband and the other for the wife; but, in many cases, they look for the services of the wife, whether they pay for them or not.  The Pastor’s wife is expected to know everything about the church, and in another sense she is to know nothing of it; and she is equally blamed by some people whether she knows everything or nothing.  Her duties consist in being always at home to attend to her husband and her family, and being always out, visiting other people, and doing all sorts of things for the whole church!  Well, of course, that is impossible; she cannot be at everybody’s beck and call, and she cannot expect to please everybody. Her husband cannot do that, and I think he is very foolish if he tries to do it; and I am certain that, as the husband cannot please everybody, neither can the wife.  There will be sure to be somebody or other who will be displeased, especially if that somebody had herself half hoped to be the minister’s wife!  Difficulties arise continually in the best-regulated churches; and the position of the minister’s wife is always a very trying one. Still, I think that: if I was a Christian young woman, I would marry a Christian minister if I could, because there is an opportunity of doing so much good in helping him in his service for Christ.

And here is a beautiful description of the minister’s wife:

It is a great assistance to the cause of God to keep the minister himself in good order for his work.  It is his wife’s duty to see that he is not uncomfortable at home; for, if everything there is happy, and free from care, he can give all his thoughts to his preparation for the pulpit; and the godly woman, who thus helps her husband to preach better, is herself a preacher though she never speaks in public, and she becomes to the highest degree useful to that portion of the Church of Christ which is committed to her husband’s charge.

Posted: Tuesday, May 1st, 2007 at 6:22 pm. Category: Humor, Quotes.
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