Grosey's Messages

I am particularly moved tonight by this piece from Geoff Pound   I was one who followed Rev Gomm to the pulpit of the Newcastle Baptist Tabernacle which he served during WW2, his own son a fatality of that war. I have three copies of Gomms written radio broadcasts. 

The Minister's Responsibility and Privilege

Address by Dr F W Boreham

The charge delivered to the Rev L J Gomm on his induction to the ministry of the Kew Baptist Church, (Victoria), by Dr F W Boreham.

"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the Gospel."

-(Romans 1:1)

The most striking feature about this verse consists in its four commas.

Paul (comma), a servant of Jesus Christ (comma), called to be an apostle (comma), separated unto the Gospel of God (comma). These four commas mark off the Four Dimensions of a Christian Ministry.

The Dimension of Individuality

The FIRST of these four dimensions is the Dimension of individuality. Paul felt no shame in emphasising his own personality at the outset. As the very first word in his historic letter, he sets down his own name, Paul! Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the Gospel!

The Kingdom of God demands of each man the dedication of his own individuality. Paul always felt that he was a late arrival. Overshadowed by men who had daily heard the voice and seen the face of the Lord Jesus. What was there left for him to say that John had not already said? What qualifications had he for the apostleship that were not beggared by those of Peter? John had leaned upon the Master's breast, whilst Peter had received from his risen Lord a special and thrice repeated commission. In comparison with ministries so divinely sanctioned, what would Paul hope to be, or to say, or to do?

But there was this redeeming consolation. It was grand to be John, and to have occupied, meal by meal the seat of honour by the Saviour's side; it was great to be Peter and to have received his charge directly from the Master's hands but after all John was John; and Peter was Peter and neither the one nor the other was Paul. Paul felt that in his own individuality he was vested with potentialities that he and he alone possessed. "Here I am," he says, "I am not John and I shall not attempt to say what John could say or do what John could do! I am not Peter; and I shall make no effort to model the style of my ministry on that of Peter. But I am Paul and as Paul I shall give myself for all that I am worth to the work that lures me."

That is a great secret. If you possess wealth you possess it in common with all the wealthy. If you possess strength you possess it in common with all the strong. But you possess individuality and in possessing individuality you possess something that is absolutely unique. When God makes a man, He breaks the mould. There are no duplicates and it is in our folly that we attempt to create them. Here you are! You never were before, will never be again. You have come because the world has need of you. Paul is not ashamed of himself. He sets his own name on the title page of his work. The stamp of his own virile personality is upon all his activities. Everything that he did was characteristic. It was Paul all over. No man need be ashamed of himself.

The Dimension of Utility

The SECOND of these Four Dimensions is the Dimension of Utility. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ! The minister is not for ornament; he is for use. "Paul, a servant." It is a lovely word. "Only a servant," you say; but what more could you wish to be?

When the Archbishop of Canterbury preached at the coronation of the King, he chose as his text the words, "I am among you as he that serveth." It is the supreme dignity of the King to be of service to his people. On the crest of the Prince of Wales stand the striking words, "I serve." When the Prime Minister calls together the members of the Imperial Cabinet, the official summons reads that "the servants of the King are commanded to meet." The King—a servant; the Prime Minister—a servant; Paul—a servant! Life holds no truer luxury than to be of service to somebody.

Have you ever been to Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespeare's little town in the Midlands? If you have ever visited the Church at Stratford, you will have said to yourself: "I would love to stand beside Shakespeare's tomb; I would love to worship where Shakespeare worshipped!" You would naturally expect that the most imposing tomb and monument would be those of Shakespeare but it is not so. You have to search for Shakespeare. All that there is of Shakespeare is a small bust; the tomb is quite inconspicuous and as you stand viewing it the inscription is upside-down to you. You could almost miss Shakespeare in the Church at Stratford-on-Avon; but you could not possibly miss one most beautiful monument there. It is a monument erected by Lady Totnes to her dear servant, Amy Smith. Just a servant, but she was all the world to Lady Totnes and Lady Totnes determined that the finest tomb in Stratford should be the tomb of her beloved Amy.

"A Servant of Jesus Christ." You can scarcely conceive a lovelier phrase. I go to a house and the servant answers the door. She does not engage me in conversation or introduce business of her own. She only says as much as is necessary to intelligently introduce me to her master. As I enter His presence she silently vanishes and I see her no more.

To be a servant is the height of a true minister's ambition. He must needs show himself. His personality must be felt but he must only show himself in such a way and his personality must only be felt to such an extent that he leads them into the presence of His Lord. And, having led them into that Divine presence, he may well be content to vanish and be seen no more.

The Dimension of Specialisation

The THIRD of these four dimensions is the Dimension of specialisation. Paul, called to be an apostle! He is the wisest of servants who clearly apprehends the purpose of his engagement. He thoroughly understands what it is he has been employed to do. He sees his work and applies himself without restraint to its prosecution. "Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle."

Paul knew that his Master was too wise to call men to His service and then leave them in perplexity as to what was expected of them. "Go thy way" said the Divine Voice to Ananias at the time of that first wondrous vision on the Damascus Road. "Go thy way; for this Paul is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear my name before the Gentiles." The Master's programme was unmistakable; his instructions were perfectly explicit. Those who have mastered the thrilling and adventurous story of Paul's daring conquest of the great capitals know with what intrepid and dauntless persistence the apostle of the Gentiles fulfilled his distinguishing commission.

"It is a great pity," remarked Sir Thomas Smith, Queen Elizabeth's secretary, "that so few of us discuss for what purpose we were sent into the world until the time comes to go out of it." That seems to me to be one of the saddest reflections ever made. But Paul had no such mournful experience. He knew himself—"Paul." He knew his position—"a servant of Jesus Christ." He knew his Master's will—"called to be an apostle," and he knew that the only way to attain to the highest success was to devote himself without dissipation of energy to the business committed to his trust.

The Dimension of Separation

And the LAST of these four dimensions is the Dimension of separation. "Paul, separated unto the Gospel!" No man ever yet made a success of anything except by separating himself unto it. The man who tries everything fails all along the line. The man who sees his task and deliberately detaches himself from all that will imperil its accomplishment, is alone likely to succeed. The good will become the enemy of the best, unless, upon the best we concentrate our effort. Paul is no monk; he does not talk of separating himself from things. He is a minister; he speaks of separating himself unto the Gospel. And between that "separation from," and that "separation unto," there is all the difference in the world.

Mr Gomm will covet for himself a ministry displaying to the full these four dimensions. Like Paul, that model of all ministers, he will be himself and will endeavour to develop the peculiar qualities that have been committed to his keeping. He will preach, not himself but Christ Jesus the Lord, and himself your servant for Christ's sake. He will do all that, in him lies to compass the high ends to which he has been called. He will endeavour jealously to separate himself to the solemn and sacred charge which has now been committed to his care. He deserves your sympathy, your cooperation, and your prayers.

We preachers do business in deep waters, and a tremendous business it is. I myself was preaching at Scots Church on Wednesday. I noticed in my congregation an eminent city doctor. I took as my text "Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow!" After the service I caught myself wondering as to whether such a message could mean much to such a man.

On Thursday morning, to my surprise I received a letter from him saying that it was only with the greatest difficulty that he had torn himself from his practice to attend the service, "But," he added, "I would not have missed it for anything!" Then, whilst I was reading this letter a message came over the air to say that he had suddenly passed away.

Let us all "Preach as though we ne'er should preach again; preach as a dying man to dying men."

In conclusion, Dr Boreham quoted the words of the American poet, Walt Whitman;

"Away, O Soul, hoist instantly the anchor.

Shake out every sail; steer for deep water only!"

"I pass that word on to Mr Gomm," he said, "Preach as though your very life depends on it. Preach on tremendous themes—The Sin of Man—The Love of God—The Cross of Christ—Repentance—Faith—Heaven—Hell—Eternity! Steer for deep waters! Steer for deep waters only!"

Source: New Life, Thursday, December 14, 1944.