A Hero Retires

I count it a great blessing that I ever got involved with Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship. While with IVCF as a student and a staff, I got to know John Stott. Not really, of course, but I have been moved by his writings and his talks. My favorite was a series of tapes from an early Urbana on 1 Corinthians 3-6, about the role of the Christian as a witness to Christ.

It turns out that John Stott is retiring from public speaking, at 86. There is a nice tribute to him here. One passage is moving to me:

To those who know and meet him, respect and affection go hand in hand. The world-figure is lost in personal friendship, disarming interest, unfeigned humility—and a dash of mischievous humour and charm. By contrast, he thinks of himself, as all Christians should but few of us achieve, as simply a beloved child of a heavenly Father; an unworthy servant of his friend and master, Jesus Christ; a sinner saved by grace to the glory and praise of God.

I was fortunate to see Dr. Stott preach at First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley several times. I recall vividly one two part lecture: the Biblical Basis for Evangelism, and the Biblical Basis for Social Action. It was a hot button topic in the late 1970's and early 1980's, and he addressed each topic beautifully. He took us on a tour of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and showed God's intentions at each turn.

What I recall mostly was an incident that happened at the end of the second lecture. As the Biblical Basis for Social Action, Dr. Stott stressed that we are all created in the image of God, and that while that image is marred, and disfigured, it is not destroyed.

After the lecture, we took a break, took an offering (it was church, after all!), and Dr. Stott sat down and had a glass of water. After the offering, he took some questions.

A few rows away from me, a woman in a wheelchair, and quadriplegic, motioned to ask a question. Actually, her helper motioned for a question. After noticing and answering several other people, Dr. Stott called upon her and asked for her question. The woman mumbled something I could hardly understand, and I was nearby. I wondered, "Man, what is he going to do? What would I do?"

What I would have done is to motion to the woman's helper and asked, "What did she say?" And of course, this would have totally voided the whole message of the evening, not to treat her as a human being with dignity.

Dr. Stott took off his coat, laid it on the chair, and walked down into the audience. He then huddled with the woman for what seemed to be an eternity. He talked with her as if she were the only one in the room, the rest of the thousand people there just had to wait. After several minutes, he walked back to the pulpit, and said something like, "My sister's question is this." Then, looking over at her, he continued, "Is that a fair summary of your question?"

I do not remember the question, nor the answer. But I do remember there was not a dry eye in the house. Dr. Stott had lived out exactly what he had preached, and it was so powerful!

Another story. One of our students at San Jose State grew up in Ecuador, and his father was a leading evangelical thinker and leader. From time to time, John Stott would travel to Latin America, and stay at Rene's home. Of course, Rene would have to give up his bedroom and bed to the visiting pastor.

Rene told us that after John Stott's visits, he would always send Rene a multi-page personal letter, thanking him for lending his bed and his room, and showing all sorts of concern for this young boy. Imagine, a person as "important" as John Stott, traveling the world, preaching Christ, taking the time to write a long personal letter to a young boy. Rene was deeply touched by that gesture, and in return, we were also deeply touched by it.

Would that I could be that kind of person, who lives out their faith in ways great and small. Thank you, Dr. Stott, for your warmth and compassion, and your fine teaching in word and deed.