Letters From Alistair Begg

Dear Friend,

In the 1980s, I had the privilege of meeting and becoming a friend of the late Alec Motyer. (You may find this link helpful in learning about him: www.ivpress.com/j-alec-motyer.) Alec was a biblical scholar and pastor known widely for his commentaries on the Old Testament. Born in Dublin, Ireland, he was ordained in the Church of England in 1947 and later was Principal at Trinity College, Bristol, UK. In 1986, we were speaking at the Portstewart Convention in Northern Ireland. During the week, we took walks together after lunch. I have the fondest memories of those conversations. When we parted at the end of the week, he said, “My dear boy, I will pray for you.”

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Dear Friend,

Although thirty-five years have passed since leaving my homeland, I’m still keenly interested in the politics of the UK today. You’ll not be surprised to learn that I’ve been following the discussions and debates about Brexit. (You may need to Google that!) On March 29, Great Britain is to formally withdraw from membership in the European Union. I will not disclose my personal views for fear that some of my Dutch or German friends may disown me. Suffice to say that this has been the hottest political potato faced by the British parliament in the last 50 years.

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Dear Friend,

If you aren’t familiar with the Scottish preacher Robert Murray M’Cheyne, his life story and his written works are well worth exploring. Born in Edinburgh in 1813, M’Cheyne was the youngest of five children and the son of a prosperous lawyer. He attended university, studying the arts, writing poetry, and, according to his father, living “a lively turn.” When M’Cheyne was only eighteen, his older brother David died—and in his passing, he played a part in Robert enrolling in Divinity Hall at the university. M’Cheyne went on to study theology with great zeal.

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Dear Friend,

“Do you miss Scotland?” is a question routinely posed to me, even though America has now been my home for the greater part of my life. My usual reply is “Yes,” and when pressed for an explanation, I mention that at certain times of the year I’m tempted to succumb to a wee dose of nostalgia. It usually lasts for all of 20 minutes! The transition period between Christmas and New Year’s is one of those times. New Year’s Eve (known as Hogmanay in Scotland) was the one day in the year when, as a boy, I was allowed to stay up late so that I could attend the ‘watchnight service’ with my father. It was always timed to end on the stroke of midnight as the church bells around the city heralded the beginning of the new year. Throughout the night, we visited friends and family in their homes and toasted the new beginning with shortbread and some kind of ginger cordial reserved for the occasion.

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While most see Christmas as a time for giving, the story of Christ’s birth also encourages us to recognize our need—not for a process or a program, but for a person. As Alistair Begg points out, our plight is that of rebels in need of rescue. Confronted with a clear view of what we truly are and what we truly need, we face an important choice: will we receive Jesus as our Savior?

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Dear Friend,

It can be easy to complain about the harsh Cleveland winters, but sometimes on a bitter cold night when the sky is clear and star-filled, I stand outside, look up in wonder, and join with the psalmist in thinking, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

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Dear Friend,

In less than a week, those of us in the US will exercise our right to vote. I thought it would be timely to consider what the Bible has to say about the privileges and obligations of citizenship.

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Dear Friend,

The phrase “shepherds and teachers” in Ephesians 4:11 denotes one office. For the local pastor, this wording paints a helpful picture. Shepherding requires that we encourage, comfort, and at times, even warn, the members of our flock. Teaching requires us to provide a nourishing pasture—the pasture of God’s Word explained clearly and relevantly—so that all are fed and mature in their commitment to Christ.

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Dear Friend,

I’ve been thinking about a couple that Susan and I met on the California coast. They were throwing a Frisbee and clearly enjoying themselves immensely. There is nothing unusual about such a scene, but what surprised us as we stopped to talk with them was their age: they were both in their 80s, and very much in love.

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On Sunday morning, August 5, 1855, 21-year-old Charles Haddon Spurgeon stepped behind the pulpit of New Park Street Chapel to challenge his congregation to follow the example of one of the saints who had inspired his ministry, the apostle Paul. “As a preacher of the word,” Spurgeon said of Paul, “he stands out pre-eminently as the prince of preachers and a preacher to kings.”

Topics: Letters From Alistair Begg, Ministry Updates