Letters From Alistair Begg

Could you write the story of how you came to faith in Jesus in a hundred words or less?

I well remember when I was given that assignment. It was at the University of Aberystwyth in Wales. An American couple, who were in due course to become my in-laws, sponsored my attendance at an institute of biblical studies under the auspices of Campus Crusade for Christ (now CRU). I must confess that my initial response was somewhat negative: Why does there have to be a word count? Ought we not just tell our story without such pressure? But then I realized the purpose of the exercise was to encourage us to be able to share our faith in a form that was easy to understand.

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Twenty-three years ago, encouraged by my colleague Jeff Mills, we began a conference with the goal of helping pastors to keep on in Gospel ministry. Sensing that we needed to give the conference a name, we settled on Basics. Our thinking was both simple and straightforward: rather than setting unrealistic or unattainable goals, we would focus on the fundamentals of being servants of the Word. Around that time, I had read a book which analyzed the success of various companies and was struck by the observation that despite the unique aspects of each company, what was true of them all was their ability to “do the basics well most of the time.” 

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When you listen to music, do you focus on the melody or the lyrics? Certain people are able to carry the tune and remember the words, but my limited research suggests most are either words or music people. Here in Cleveland, we are able to enjoy one of the best orchestras in the world and find our spirits lifted by Vivaldi’s Four Seasons or moved to tears by Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. Music is a powerful gift from God. It is impossible to imagine a world without it. The apostle Paul urges his readers to encourage each other by singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

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"There is no ideal place in which to serve God, save in the place in which He sets you down."

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In Revelation, we are given a vision of a vast crowd too great to count which is made up of people from all nations, provinces, and languages, and together they are crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” This is a picture to keep in mind always, and especially when in our Gospel endeavors it is a “day of small things” (Zech. 4:10). I remind myself as I encourage our congregation to read and watch the news through the lens of Scripture. Graeme Goldsworthy puts it well: “Scripture as God’s word must interpret history and culture, not the other way round.” 

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I have written previously about the way in which the “turn of the year” evokes strong memories of my previous life in Scotland. Why this should be true of this time of year more than any other is hard to say. Perhaps it is because of the song sung around the world, “Auld Lang Syne.” It begins with a rhetorical question: Should old relationships be forgotten? The answer is clearly no.

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Warmest Christmas Greetings!

It is a privilege for me to receive so many letters—even if at the same time, I bemoan the fact that I am able to respond to so few of them. Perhaps one day, when I am no longer in the pulpit, it will be possible for me just to enjoy corresponding with you!

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Dear Friend,

Today, I am reading Paul’s letter to Philemon, and I am challenged by his tone, especially as he is writing from prison! He informs Philemon that he is thankful for him and at the same time prayerful and joyful. It is clear that Paul is practicing what he preaches, having encouraged the Thessalonians to “be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.”

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Dear Friend,

Pastors:

I was recently asked, “Why is the Bible difficult to understand?” In responding, I referenced the part in the Westminster Confession which explains that “not all things in Scripture are equally plain in themselves or equally clear to all,” while the things which are needed to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are clear and may be understood by all. Later on, as I thought about the question, it occurred to me that I might have answered, “So that I have a job!” It is an immense privilege to labor in preaching and teaching. On behalf of the fellow pastors, I say thank you to our congregations for their prayerful encouragement. Perhaps this should be a month of appreciation for pastors’ wives. They play a huge role in keeping us from the perils of conceit or despair.

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Dear Friend,

I recently noticed in a Scottish newspaper a letter from a Free Church minister in which he maintained that an increase in ferry breakdowns is a sign of “God’s displeasure” for sailing between the mainland and the islands on Sundays. The Free Church is calling on the ferry operators to “cease their breaking of the Lord’s Day for the sake of their business and the community as a whole” because it is the desecration of the Sabbath!

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