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Jonathan Andersen

A young pastor in an old denomination

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testimony

Christians should never say “hopeless”

I once heard someone say that Christians should never use the word “hopeless.”

Years later, this phrase still haunts me.

It haunts me because I’m regularly tempted to look at situations and label them hopeless. And I’m sure you are too, whether it’s in regards to the homeless man who asks you for change every day, a difficult relationship in your life, or that one situation you’ve been praying for.

I’ve been blogging through old notes written generations ago by some of my family members, the Talleys.  And one note I came across led me to imagine that the Talley family dealt with hopelessness as well.

Three out of five of Mr. and Mrs. Talley’s sons became Methodist ministers. Their only daughter was active in the church. This left two adult sons, John Wesley and Elkanah, who did not know Christ as Savior and cared little about the church.

I imagine that hopelessness set in after John and Elkanah’s parents and siblings had prayed and shared God’s love with them for many years with no response. I imagine that they were tempted to think, and at times thought, that their family members would never experience God’s saving grace and the beauty of the church themselves.

But John Wesley Talley’s testimony reveals that such hopelessness would have ultimately been misguided:


“With such surroundings at home and the examples of my three oldest brothers, William, Alexander, and Nicholas, who had embraced religion and entered the Itinerancy, brother Nathan a local minister and brother Caleb a layman, and an only sister in the church, myself and brother Elkanah remained without religion;

Elkanah was the fifth son and I was the seventh.

That we should have resisted so long surrounded with such light is a wonder to me, but that the long sufferings of God should have continued toward us, the two wayward sinners is a miracle of grace, through the importunity of faith by the now sainted ones.

During the vacation of the school I was attending at Salem, Clark County, GA I went with the family to a camp meeting at Liberty Chapel, Green County. I had been much impressed and brought by the Spirit’s power and influence to see that I was a sinner. The light of the Bible, the godly lives of Stepfather, Mr. John Walker, & Mother, the prayers of a family resisted, overwhelmed me with deep dawning in gratitude toward Jesus Christ and God’s forbearance still to bear with me. I, by grace, resolved to give myself to God and seek his pardon and be reconciled to Jesus Christ my Saviour.”

Salem Camp Meeting
Campmeetings, which began in 18th century America, continue to be held today. 

Nothing is hopeless with God in view.

The disciples thought things were hopeless when Jesus was crucified. But three days later he showed them that he had conquered death. The outcasts in Israel thought they would never have any friends, until Jesus showed them that a new Kingdom on earth was being established that put them at the center. Sinners who thought they had no hope of ever being in a relationship with God found their situation transformed when Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven.”

And this transforming power of God is still available to us today through the Holy Spirit.

What situation or person in your life have you been tempted to give up on?  Where have you seen God transform your hopelessness into hope in the past?

 

This is the third post in a series that highlights the writings of my 19th century ancestors.

1. Christians are made not born
2. The power of a testimony

August 7, 2012 by Jonathan Leave a Comment

The power of a testimony

I grew up listening to people’s Christian testimonies whenever I could.

Whether it was hearing from a man freed from a life of addiction at a youth retreat, listening to a sweaty preacher tell how God transformed their life, reading books like The Cross and the Switchblade, or hearing about people who met Christ in dreams, I held on to every word. The more extreme the better.

And I still love hearing or seeing accounts of God radically changing people’s lives. Testimonies remind me of the power of God’s grace. They comfort me as I see again that where one finds themselves in a single moment is not where they have to end up. They narrate the Christian story of repentance, faith, and discipleship with concrete people in history.

As I’ve grown older, I no longer find only extreme testimonies compelling. Hearing from someone who was raised in the church and, like myself, never did lines of cocaine off of a bathroom sink also helps reveal God’s grace to me. In these stories, God seems quieter — almost like a still small voice rather than a consuming fire.  Yet, God seems just as powerful. Various testimonies help paint a more full picture of how God may operate in the world. 

When I came across the testimony below of my great, great, great, great uncle, Rev. Nicholas Talley, I couldn’t help but be encouraged by a hard lesson that I’m slowly learning in ministry: We are all co-workers in God’s service.  Some plant seeds.  Some water them. And God makes them all grow (1 Corinthians 3).

At times in ministry I’m tempted to want to see immediate fruit from my efforts. But the number of Christians who touched Nicholas’ life before he became a Christian reminds me that God employs all of our efforts for the sake of the Kingdom, whether we can see it or not.

I’ve made some grammar changes, spelling changes, and emphases in the text below to the document that Rev. Talley wrote in 1857.

His testimony begins in 1803 when he was eleven years old.


A bright moonlight night [February 15, 1803], my Father was very ill, hope of surviving gone, he communicated to Mother his peaceful state of mind in view of Eternity just before him.

They were both of the Methodist Episcopal Church where I had heard preaching for years, such men as Hope Hull, Britton Capel, Benjamin Blanton, Isaiah Randel & Bishop Whatcoat, Stith Meed.

The ground was covered with snow.

Cade's Cove Methodist Church
Cade’s Cove Methodist Church – Cade’s Cove, TN

I retired to the field or garden to meditate alone and to pray about 10:00.  I kneeled down in the snow and prayed the best I could that God would spare my Father as a guide and protector in this wicked world, but if He saw most for glory to take him then, that God would be my Father and care for me, Mother & Brothers.

And while I thus prayed my soul seemed melted in ecstasy, though deeply impressed with a voice from heaven – your Father will die but I will be a Father, a God, and guide unto you.

The moon, the stars, and the Heavens all seemed glorious to me.  Here was my first knowledge of the answer of my prayers.

I was happy but suppressed my feelings all in sorrow and tears.  I feared to divulge my feelings lest I should be thought an enthusiast.

…

In 1806, my fifteenth year, I entered as a clerk in D. & B. Sanford’s store with my Brother Alexander, who embraced religion two years after, much persecuted as the Methodists were for everything vile.

A change of heart by the power of the Holy Ghost was unphilosophical.  He soon entered the Ministry where he lived until death called him above.  I remained for near four years in the store, became worldly like other young men and great danger of bad habits.  My Mother would have me to return home, quitting the store.

I became attached to a young man who was a Methodist, and worked at his trade as a Coach Maker near my Mother, where I spent most of my time, and being ambitious and fond of the young men of the shop who sung well and often when at work, joining in the different parts of music, I could soon work as well as they could.

Lovick Pierce had married Col. Foster’s daughter, he would visit us.  I was very fond of him and the Rev. Joseph Tarpley, James Russell, Osburn Rogers and others of that day, but oh, my soul was not happy.

In the 5th of August 1810 I went with my Mother to Camp Meeting where she tented, called Burks camp ground, when under a persuasive exhortation of the Rev. Hope Hull, who had preached my father’s funeral years before I went in Sanford’s store, my heart became deeply affected.

I tried to pray but oh, the condemnation I felt I had sinned so against light and knowledge.  I feared my case was a hopeless case.

At a late hour Sabbath night after Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, penitents were invited to come into that rural altar for prayer and there I felt a peace and comfort of soul such as I had felt on that beautiful moonlight night spoken of in childhood.  I was happy in my Saviour’s love.


Rev. Nicholas Talley, 1791-1873, had four brothers who were also Methodist ministers.  He was made an Elder in the SC Conference in 1816 where he spent his entire career.  In those days, it included GA.  In 62 years of ministry Nicholas served 22 as a Presiding Elder, 12 at a station church, 9 itinerating on circuits, 14 on missions, and 5 retired.  He was a delegate to General Conference multiple times.

His testimony comes in a series of others.

 

July 30, 2012 by Jonathan 3 Comments

I am Second

I just completed a research project looking at Web 2.o for political purposes, but until now I had never given much thought about Web 2.0 for the church.

I come in contact with hundreds of websites daily, but every once in a while one really stands out. If possible, take a few minutes during lunch and check out some of the videos from the site below.

http://www.iamsecond.com/

During exams and the busyness of this season, I must always remember I am Second.

December 11, 2008 by Jonathan 3 Comments

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