Father John R.W. Stott

This week I have longed for something about which to opine that did not involve Democrats, Republicans, bond ratings or arcane arguments about the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.

As I write, I find that the addage "be careful what you pray for" is true.

At 815 AM local time in London this past Wednesday, Rev. John R.W. Stott passed away.

If you are not familiar with him, Father Stott was a Biblical scholar in the truest sense of the word. He loved the Bible, passionately loved it. He loved it because he loved Christ, and had a profound sense of precious value of salvation by grace through faith in Christ.

Father Stott knew he had nothing to bring to the table, that it was all God.

As a result, he was compelled to lovingly write, speak, teach, tell others about his Truest Friend.

In 1974 at the International Congress on World Evangelization, John Stott substantially framed the document now known as the Lausanne Covenant, a call to the Church and a framework for proclaiming the Gospel - in a true, unapologetically Biblical, and ECUMENICAL context.

That is why I so loved him. John Stott could embrace the denominational differerences within the church, not decry them, but see them as part and parcel of the way God works.

He could do this because he knew what the essentials of the Gospel were - things that were predicate to, warp and woof of, the Good News. He could and did give sway on the lesser points.

John R.W. Stott was - to the surprise of many on this side of the pond - an ordained, faithful Anglican priest - not a hardshell Baptist or a Pentacostal. Yet, a Baptist or Pentacostal reading his works would find much to love.

To a Calvinist and closet Anglican like myself - he was and is permission to love God's word, desire for others to know Him, and find encouragement and sheer joy at Scripture filled, prayerbook worship.

His commentaries on various books of the Bible, especially his work on the Acts of the Apostles, served to encourage me when my own fallen nature has shown not to be fully submitted to the love of Christ.

Part of me is hugely grieved at the loss of this giant of a man.

The rest of me says - "Thanks for all you did for me Father Stott. See you soon."