Perhaps you have heard the witty aphorism, “Cemeteries are filled with indispensable people,” which makes the point that, in fact, no one is indispensable. This truth was strikingly illustrated on my recent trip to Scotland for the International Pillar Conference.
One evening, a member of the host church (Charlotte Baptist Chapel) organised a two-hour “Reformation Tour” near what is called the Royal Mile in historic Edinburgh. As we walked the streets, she pointed out interesting facts concerning the religious history of Scotland, including the Reformation that occurred under Protestant stalwart John Knox. At one point, we came to St Giles Church, a building first constructed in 1100 and rebuilt after a fire in the 1500s. Most recently, it was in the news as Queen Elizabeth lay in state after her death in nearby Balmoral Castle. As we walked around the building, admiring its architecture, we were informed that John Knox often preached there.
The guide pointed out that the parking lot on which we were standing was once a cemetery but is now a parking lot for the nearby Supreme Court. The parking spots, probably reserved for certain personnel, are numbered. She turned our attention to a parking spot painted with the number 23 and to a worn-out plaque that was embedded in the bitumen. The plaque read, “This is the approximate burial place of John Knox.” I immediately thought of the of truth of dispensability. The grave of a man whom God used in a mighty way is now dismissively driven over day after day, with most having no appreciation for this man of great gospel significance in Scotland and beyond. Later, I sent a note to a family saying how this reminded me of the words of John the Baptist, “[Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). How true. And how necessary to be reminded that, though “God uses his workmen, when they die, his work continues” (John Wesley). The next day, this truth was further solidified to me when one of the speakers made a passing comment that, as pastors, our calling is “to preach, to die, and be forgotten,” while Jesus Christ is to be remembered. Yes, I am dispensable. And so are you.
That might seem rather morbid and even nihilistic, as though life is futile. But that would be a mistaken conclusion. Embracing our dispensability is an encouragement in the promises and the power of Jesus Christ to build his church. Our Lord made the bold claim that he will build his church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). That is good news! This promise assures us that, though we are frail, and though we often fail in our service, Jesus Christ has all power to save his people and to extend his kingdom. The fact that we are dispensable means that, long after we are laid aside, Jesus Christ will continue to receive his full reward, display his lordship, and bring the nations under his rule. And that is freeing.
If we assume that gospel results are up to us, we will carry an unimaginable, and an unmanageable burden. As Paul wrote, “who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:16). Further, and more importantly, if we assume we are indispensable, we will end up robbing the Lord Jesus of the glory that is due only to him. All Christians need to keep this in mind, and in heart, but perhaps especially those who are vocational pastors.
Charlotte Chapel, host church of the conference, was established in 1808 by businessman Christopher Anderson, who pastored the church for the first 43 years. It has had several pastors since then, some very well-known, such as Graham Scroggie, Alan Redpath, and J Sidlow Baxter. Derek Prime pastored the church for many years and for three years mentored Alistair Begg. These men stand out as great leaders with wide ministries. But in addition, there have been several faithful but lesser-known pastors of the church. Yet whether pastored by the famous or by the little-known, the Lord has continued to preserve this gospel-faithful church from generation to generation, with no signs of this diminishing.
The church currently has a weekly attendance of 600–700. If I mentioned the pastor’s name, probably few, if any, reading this would recognise him, even though he is gifted and faithful. My point is that God is not dependent upon an individual to build and preserve his church. Embracing our dispensability is a good practice. Sometimes, pastors remain at the helm too long precisely because they overestimate their importance, to the detriment of the church. Likewise, church members assume indispensability of Pastor So-and-So and freak out, assuming the demise of the church if he retires. Respectfully, I doubt it. John Knox is in his grave (with motor oil leaks marking it) and yet people are still being converted in Scotland and churches are still being planted.
So, while grateful for the giftings of brothers and sisters whom God has used and is using, let us not forget that these gifts come from the triune God, the great giver of the gifts. He is indispensable; we are not. May Jesus increase as we happily decrease.
Learning this lesson,
Doug