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Speaking personally . . . (Bulldog for April)

Speaking personally to individuals about our Christian lives

Jesus did it. Paul did it. So did Priscilla and Aquila. Are things now so different that we don't need to?
Evangelist David Watson thought it was crucial: 'Giving a talk, it is said, is like throwing water from a bucket over a row of bottles; a few drops may enter into some. Speaking to individuals . . . is like pouring water from the jug into the narrow neck of each bottle.'(1) Watson rather underestimates the impact of preaching in this quotation and, of course, we do usually concentrate on the individual bottles when they're new. But what about pouring water into the bottles on an ongoing basis - particularly those bottles that have been sitting around a bit?
It's not hard to understand why working with individuals slips down, or off, the priority list. The minister is busy; the church member is busy. A leader who makes the time to 'explain the word of God more adequately'(2) to one person and consequently not to another may risk accusations of favouritism. His 'intrusion' may be met with suspicion and resentment. On top of this, spending time with more mature Christians - the home group leaders, church council members - can seem an unnecessary and unrealistic luxury. Is It really worth carving out time for individuals - not just in their crises - but to speak to them proactively and personally about their spiritual health?
It seems to me there are least four good biblical reasons for helping individuals at every stage of the Christian life to apply the word of God to themselves - what some call 'personal work'.

1 Concern for individuals

Jesus died so that individuals could be forgiven. This is not to minimise the importance of corporate aspects of the Christian life. But, in Colossians, for example, we see how Paul longs for maturity for each Christian: 'We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.'(3) Personal work can be geared precisely to the specific needs and challenges facing one particular individual.

2 Jesus's example

No-one would accuse Jesus of favouritism, yet it is striking how he left the crowds to spend time with individuals - notably the 12 and, within the 12, he seemed to focus particularly on Peter, James and John.(4) We see him dealing personally with a Samaritan woman(5), with Thomas's specific doubts(6), with Peter following his threefold denial(7). We see his desire that individuals, not just crowds, should know him and his ways and learn to please him.

3 The apostolic strategy

Paul worked with individuals to safeguard the spread of the gospel. His pattern was to entrust the gospel to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.(8) Again, this is not favouritism because Paul wanted everyone to be perfect in Christ. He worked with some individuals so that many might be reached with the gospel and the whole church might be built up.(9) (Paul himself provides a model for personal work: proclaiming Christ, rejecting self-importance and teaching dependence on Jesus; with love and commitment, but no hint of heavy shepherding; relying on God's means - his Word, prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit.)

4 The importance of depth

Colossians 1.28 also shows us God's concern for a depth of maturity. Until we are all thoroughly Christ-like, there is work to be done. The man or woman who has been a Christian for 20 years is not yet 'perfect in Christ'. He or she still needs to hear about Christ, to be admonished and taught with all wisdom. Their ungodly attitudes are probably better hidden than the obvious failings of a young Christian - but they're still there and they're probably more deeply en-trenched. Personal work is crucial in ensuring that God's Word is understood and applied more than superficially - and it's not just the youth group who need that. Older Christians may well stagnate or drift without it.
Personal work is too important to slip off the minister's agenda. If he doesn't set the example by teaching individuals, it is unlikely to be a high priority for the rest of the church. And it is too important not to be on the agenda of every Christian. How easy it is to have a superficial conversation with another Christian! How difficult it can be to speak personally about our Christian lives! The devil must be delighted.

Mary Davis
Round Church, Cambridge

1. Quoted in David Watson, a biography by Teddy Saunders and Hugh Sansom.
2. As Priscilla and Aquila did with Apollos in Acts 18.26.
3. Colossians 1.28.
4. See, for ex-ample, Mark 9.2ff, Mark 14.33ff, Luke 8.51ff.
5. John 4.7-26.
6. John 20.24-29.
7. John 21.15-19.
8. 2 Timothy 2.2.
9. Ephesians 4.12-13.