Charles Kingsley lived from 1819 to 1875 in England. I had read some of his children's fantasy but this is the first I've read of his sermons. For whatever reason, I prefer writing of the 19th century and before. Today's journalists are full of clichés in their writing and in their speaking, and that is sometimes all that I hear of what they're trying to say. Today's novelists, without the journalistic background, are little better. Our language is watered down. Writers are afraid to use big words or difficult concepts. They're afraid to use long sentences, but sometimes long sentences are effective. I didn't count the words in all of the long sentences of this book of sermons. But when one stuck out to me, I did count it. I found sentences of 151, 179 and 147 words. No reason exists for writers today not to use sentences of this length. The fact is that so few today know how to use semicolons, and that's a tool that helps to make long sentences effective and easy to follow. I had a man in his mid-twenties recently admit that he didn't know how to use a semicolon. I tried to explain. It's sad that we've lost so much of the tools of our writing.
Charles Kingsley wrote with a passion and conviction that is rare in today's writing and sermons. He also wrote with bluntness. Today's preachers are too often afraid to be honest with their congregations for fear of offending them. I would personally love to hear more sermons like this today. Throughout the book I was given things to reflect on and to pray about in my own life, things that I'd scarcely thought of before.
He often makes statements that cause you to wonder what he would think about our present time. Although he wrote specifically of England and it serves to give the reader the historical perspective of his time, much of the conditions in his day can easily be compared with those of various cultures and places today. He refers to âthese religious, ungodly days.â
The sermons are in sequence, following week after week for nearly half a year. He often refers to a previous or upcoming sermon. Often they are occasional, sermons on Easter or addressed to confirmands.
In the sermon âLife and Deathâ, Kingsley talks of how âGod's Spirit is always bringing life out of death.â The very soil that we plough is made up of the decayed stone ruins of ancient hills. The land in the valleys of mountainous country is made up of washings from the hills above. When the river bed and the sea bed become dry, it leaves a rich soil from which new plant life begins. Some of these plants get eaten and help to build the bodies of men and animals. God is in the business of recycling; he was the original Recycler.
Kingsley describes how Satan convinces us that we are honest, good-tempered and industrious by nature, and not by any gift of God. Even though James tells us that âevery good gift and every perfect gift is from above,â Satan tells us that only the spiritual gifts come from God, that we don't need God for those gifts which we have by nature.
He reminds of the phrase coined by Tyndale, âin him we live and move and have our being.â God allows us to do what we do and to say what we say. Although we may pretend to act without God's permission or help, it is impossible for us to do so. We cannot draw a breath of air without his permission. Doesn't the lack of understanding of this concept today account for the rampant lack of interest in things spiritual, and for many people claiming that it's impossible to know whether or not God exists?
At least twice Kingsley downplays his own use of words. He says, âthese are but few words, and poor wordsâ and in a different sermon, âmay the Blessed One bring home my weak words to all your hearts!â In my thinking, it is today's preachers and writers who have âweak words.â Yet, with these statements, Kingsley is showing his humility, and that is sorely needed by anyone who wishes to communicate effectively.
Kingsley's insight on the book of Proverbs would have taken me multiple readings of the book to have figured out myself. He says that the entire book was written to prove that our good and bad deeds are repaid us with interest in this life, and that throughout the book, there is little or no mention of heaven, hell or of any world to come. He refers to Proverbs as one sermon on the righteous being compensated in this world much more than the wicked and the sinner.
He asked us to consider that Jesus taught us to pray âLead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evilâ to show us that we can resist the evil spirits that tempt us. God will bring us through temptation and not lead us into it.
Kingsley captures the character and greatness of Noah in an excellent way in his sermon, âNoah's Justice.â People in Noah's day had no laws or Constitution, and no Bible to show them how to live. Noah stood apart from everyone else. He understood that God had given him his family and every good thing he had, and he understood his duty to God. When he loved his family, he was loving God. Noah had no righteous example to follow. When God spoke to him about a coming flood and that he needed to build an ark, Noah could have easily thought it was an evil spirit talking to him. Then for the next 120 years when he was building the ark and telling people what God had said to him, he was ridiculed. But he endured it and kept on. His wife and children were ridiculed as well because of Noah, yet remained faithful.
Moving on to Abraham, Kingsley captures the essence of what might have been Abraham's thoughts when asked to sacrifice Isaac. He too might have questioned whether the command came from a good or bad spirit. He already knew that God had forbidden murder, and yet was asking him to murder his own son. God had told him that in Isaac all the nations of the earth would be blessed. How would this happen if Isaac were killed? Abraham's obedience to God heretofore had provided him many blessings. He ultimately decided that this really was God speaking to him and that it was in his best interest to again obey Him.
When Jesus said that there were 12 hours in a day and that the night would come when no man could work, He was referring to our short lives. We need to keep taking care of the things of God while we still have breath, and not pause, even though sickness and old age infirmities may come. God has prepared good works for us to do that we must keep in mind and strive to accomplish.
A sermon on âHeaven on Earthâ tells us that we can by faith experience Heaven right here. If we open our eyes, we can see that Heaven is where Christ is, and where God is. If we don't learn to experience Heaven in this life, how will we learn to experience it in the next life? We hear similar things today, such as, if we don't learn how to praise God and enjoy it here among fellow believers, how can we enjoy praising Him when we get to Heaven?
One sermon laments how his nation has turned its back on God when so many of their practices and rituals have a Christian origin. They are christened in the name of Christ. In the Church of England they are confirmed in the name of Christ. They are married in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. And at death, Biblical words are spoken. Between these times, it was rare to find people willing to live as God wanted them to. How much more so today?
Preaching during Lent, Kingsley reminded us that if we allow it, our busy lives would keep us from remembering the things we ought to pray for.
I don't see how any serious Christian in today's world would be unable to find some good things to think about in these 19th century sermons, either for instruction, conviction, better understanding of things Biblical or clarification. The writing is indeed different from today, but it's not difficult. It merely lacks the clichés, the repetitions, and the over-simplifications. It doesn't insult the intelligence of the reader or listener and assume that he can only grasp the simplest of ideas.
Charles Kingsley wrote with a passion and conviction that is rare in today's writing and sermons. He also wrote with bluntness. Today's preachers are too often afraid to be honest with their congregations for fear of offending them. I would personally love to hear more sermons like this today. Throughout the book I was given things to reflect on and to pray about in my own life, things that I'd scarcely thought of before.
He often makes statements that cause you to wonder what he would think about our present time. Although he wrote specifically of England and it serves to give the reader the historical perspective of his time, much of the conditions in his day can easily be compared with those of various cultures and places today. He refers to âthese religious, ungodly days.â
The sermons are in sequence, following week after week for nearly half a year. He often refers to a previous or upcoming sermon. Often they are occasional, sermons on Easter or addressed to confirmands.
In the sermon âLife and Deathâ, Kingsley talks of how âGod's Spirit is always bringing life out of death.â The very soil that we plough is made up of the decayed stone ruins of ancient hills. The land in the valleys of mountainous country is made up of washings from the hills above. When the river bed and the sea bed become dry, it leaves a rich soil from which new plant life begins. Some of these plants get eaten and help to build the bodies of men and animals. God is in the business of recycling; he was the original Recycler.
Kingsley describes how Satan convinces us that we are honest, good-tempered and industrious by nature, and not by any gift of God. Even though James tells us that âevery good gift and every perfect gift is from above,â Satan tells us that only the spiritual gifts come from God, that we don't need God for those gifts which we have by nature.
He reminds of the phrase coined by Tyndale, âin him we live and move and have our being.â God allows us to do what we do and to say what we say. Although we may pretend to act without God's permission or help, it is impossible for us to do so. We cannot draw a breath of air without his permission. Doesn't the lack of understanding of this concept today account for the rampant lack of interest in things spiritual, and for many people claiming that it's impossible to know whether or not God exists?
At least twice Kingsley downplays his own use of words. He says, âthese are but few words, and poor wordsâ and in a different sermon, âmay the Blessed One bring home my weak words to all your hearts!â In my thinking, it is today's preachers and writers who have âweak words.â Yet, with these statements, Kingsley is showing his humility, and that is sorely needed by anyone who wishes to communicate effectively.
Kingsley's insight on the book of Proverbs would have taken me multiple readings of the book to have figured out myself. He says that the entire book was written to prove that our good and bad deeds are repaid us with interest in this life, and that throughout the book, there is little or no mention of heaven, hell or of any world to come. He refers to Proverbs as one sermon on the righteous being compensated in this world much more than the wicked and the sinner.
He asked us to consider that Jesus taught us to pray âLead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evilâ to show us that we can resist the evil spirits that tempt us. God will bring us through temptation and not lead us into it.
Kingsley captures the character and greatness of Noah in an excellent way in his sermon, âNoah's Justice.â People in Noah's day had no laws or Constitution, and no Bible to show them how to live. Noah stood apart from everyone else. He understood that God had given him his family and every good thing he had, and he understood his duty to God. When he loved his family, he was loving God. Noah had no righteous example to follow. When God spoke to him about a coming flood and that he needed to build an ark, Noah could have easily thought it was an evil spirit talking to him. Then for the next 120 years when he was building the ark and telling people what God had said to him, he was ridiculed. But he endured it and kept on. His wife and children were ridiculed as well because of Noah, yet remained faithful.
Moving on to Abraham, Kingsley captures the essence of what might have been Abraham's thoughts when asked to sacrifice Isaac. He too might have questioned whether the command came from a good or bad spirit. He already knew that God had forbidden murder, and yet was asking him to murder his own son. God had told him that in Isaac all the nations of the earth would be blessed. How would this happen if Isaac were killed? Abraham's obedience to God heretofore had provided him many blessings. He ultimately decided that this really was God speaking to him and that it was in his best interest to again obey Him.
When Jesus said that there were 12 hours in a day and that the night would come when no man could work, He was referring to our short lives. We need to keep taking care of the things of God while we still have breath, and not pause, even though sickness and old age infirmities may come. God has prepared good works for us to do that we must keep in mind and strive to accomplish.
A sermon on âHeaven on Earthâ tells us that we can by faith experience Heaven right here. If we open our eyes, we can see that Heaven is where Christ is, and where God is. If we don't learn to experience Heaven in this life, how will we learn to experience it in the next life? We hear similar things today, such as, if we don't learn how to praise God and enjoy it here among fellow believers, how can we enjoy praising Him when we get to Heaven?
One sermon laments how his nation has turned its back on God when so many of their practices and rituals have a Christian origin. They are christened in the name of Christ. In the Church of England they are confirmed in the name of Christ. They are married in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. And at death, Biblical words are spoken. Between these times, it was rare to find people willing to live as God wanted them to. How much more so today?
Preaching during Lent, Kingsley reminded us that if we allow it, our busy lives would keep us from remembering the things we ought to pray for.
I don't see how any serious Christian in today's world would be unable to find some good things to think about in these 19th century sermons, either for instruction, conviction, better understanding of things Biblical or clarification. The writing is indeed different from today, but it's not difficult. It merely lacks the clichés, the repetitions, and the over-simplifications. It doesn't insult the intelligence of the reader or listener and assume that he can only grasp the simplest of ideas.
