Charles Spurgeon lived during the enlightened times of the 19th century, where many challenged church traditions. Upon his arrival in London, Spurgeon himself was at the forefront of this trend, as he rejected the traditional emphasis on oratory and rhetoric in preaching, and instead preached gospel-rich sermons in the language of the common person. When his building became too full, Spurgeon moved his worship services into secular venues like the Royal Surrey Gardens Music Hall, where non-religious types felt comfortable attending. Even among his fellow Baptists, Spurgeon adopted some unique practices, like appointing elders to serve alongside him.
In all these practices, however, Spurgeon was not guided by a contrarian spirit or prideful enlightenment. Rather, he was committed to the teaching of Scripture. This commitment meant that in areas where Scripture was silent, Spurgeon had the freedom to use wisdom and every available means to get the gospel out to the lost. But this commitment also meant that in areas where Scripture was clear, Spurgeon dared not trespass, no matter where his enlightened culture was going. In his sermon, “The Head of the Church,” Spurgeon declared,
When we meet together in church-meeting we cannot make laws for the Lord’s kingdom; we
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