by Stephen Rodgers

Last week, on July 27, John Stott went home to be with the Lord.  His life as an author, theologian, de facto evangelical elder statesman, and Anglican cleric spanned nine-tenths of a century.

For those of you unfamiliar with “Uncle John” (as he was affectionately known), he was a towering figure in conservative Christian circles, and his death has drawn the attention of both the secular and Christian media.  Justin Taylor has done a good job at giving a synopsis of his life, but very briefly I would offer a few of my own thoughts on the man, before I simply provide you with links to articles by far worthier contributors than myself.

• John Stott was a model of faithfulness.  He converted to Christianity as a teenager, and lived a life of being quietly sold-out for Christ for the next 70+ years. I’ve only recently arrived in my 30’s and I already regret the time spent wasted earlier in my life.
• He wrote 50 books, most notably Basic Christianity (a stellar introduction to the Christian faith), and The Cross of Christ (one of the seminal works on the doctrine of substitutionary atonement, which J.I. Packer called “a masterpiece” and D.A. Carson referred to as “a must-have book for every pastor.”). If you haven’t read either of those works, you really are missing out.  At the very least, run out and pick up The Cross of Christ since Tim Challies will be using it as the text for his next “Reading Classics Together” series. Kevin DeYoung also points out the importance of this book in a recent article.
• He served for 60+ years in the same church preaching several times a quarter until well into his 80s. In an age where church-hopping is widely-practiced and openly encouraged, his steadfastness and loyalty serve as an example to us.
• His preaching was noted for being unfashionably expositional for the time, which served as an example to a then-young John Piper.
• He never married.  He would wryly comment that it didn’t seem like “a gift” to him (as many referred to it), but would quickly remark that God always provided the strength necessary for any and all circumstances.
• Even in his disagreements with other prominent evangelical notables (Martyn Lloyd-Jones) or his flirting with unorthodox doctrine (annihilationism) he remained winsome and retained his dignity.  The differences he had with others were sometimes fundamental, but in those disagreements he remained charitable.

These may seem like such simple things…after all, while he was a renowned author, he never seemed to acquire the celebrity-status that some in our corner of Christendom do.  But his life is a tribute to what God can accomplish even through seemingly simple and humble accomplishments, as his death was commented on by the New York Times, the Telegraph, and even drew some shockingly kind words from the secular media. What may have seemed to be a rather simple life had a rather profound impact on a great many people.

All in all, “Uncle John” lived a life that was very much in keeping with the apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1:12: For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

May we take note, and strive to do the same.