Giant for a new generation

THE LIFE OF MARTYN LLOYD-JONES
By Iain H. Murray
Banner of Truth. 476 pages. £11.00
ISBN 978 1 848 711 808

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones died in 1981. He was a giant of the evangelical scene.

The lengthy and definitive biography was published in two volumes and appeared in 1982 and 1990 respectively. This book by the original biographer, Iain Murray, is first and foremost a condensed version of the same material. It makes Lloyd-Jones’s life available in a more accessible form to a new generation. However, it also gives the author an opportunity to comment on what has been written about the doctor more recently.

Brave decisions

The story of Lloyd-Jones’s life is both a breath of fresh air and a prophetic voice into the contemporary church. Born the son of a shopkeeper in Langeitho, in mid-Wales, scene of great revivals in the 18th century under Daniel Rowland, Martyn’s enormous intellectual abilities led him to rise in the medical profession to become personal assistant to the famous Harley Street specialist, Lord Horder. But with a glittering career before him, he gave it up to answer the call of God into the Christian ministry. Here is sacrifice and faith in the living God. He went to no fashionable pulpit, but to preach to the working class people of Aberavon during the depression years of the late 1920s and 30s with wonderful success. Here is a challenge to today’s well-heeled churches.

He championed Bible exposition, preaching Reformation doctrines at a time when theological liberalism was rife, and he was attacked by many churchmen for doing so. He went to Westminster Chapel just before the outbreak of WWII and embarked on a marvellous ministry which went on to see the vast building packed for every service. He was instrumental in nurturing the IVF (now UCCF) work among students and the launch of both London Bible College and London Theological Seminary. He was without doubt a mighty servant of God.

1966 and all that

Sadly, some evangelicals came to resent him. This was unfair and has its roots in a number of different issues. First, Lloyd-Jones was a far-sighted man. He saw rightly that, for all the initial success, there was a superficiality and naivety about the Billy Graham Crusades. Secondly, he made people face uncomfortable questions, especially over the errors of the ecumenical movement. Third, though a delightful and humble man in private conversation, perhaps the English temperament found it difficult to cope with the certainty, power and seriousness of his preaching.

The controversy surrounding the Evangelical Alliance meeting in 1966 at which Lloyd-Jones spoke, and which prompted John Stott to intervene in defence of what was to be the Keele strategy, of course surfaces towards the end of the book. Nearly 50 years on from that event, the failure of evangelicals to in any way ‘capture’ the Church of England via the Keele approach is clear. The last thing Lloyd-Jones was calling for was a new evangelical denomination. He knew himself to be a preacher not an organiser. But at that meeting he preached his desire for a solid unity among true evangelicals which would mean they would stand together and act together against threats to the biblical gospel and corruption of the wider church. Failure to heed his voice, it seems to me, is still costing the cause of Christ very dear.

This book highlights lessons that it is vital for a new generation of Christians to think through.

John Benton