Learning from Andrew Fuller
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In 1 Corinthians 1:11, Paul writes, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”[1] Though Paul was sinful, God’s sanctifying work in him made him worthy of imitation. God blesses his Church with men we can follow as they follow Christ. One such man worth imitating is Andrew Fuller. Fuller, a Particular Baptist from the 18th-19th century, had many qualities from which the modern student can learn. In reflecting upon the piety of Andrew Fuller, one learns of the centrality of Christ, the importance of law and gospel, the blessing of ministerial fellowship, and a proper view of responsibility and dependency in the Christian life.
The Centrality of Christ
Fuller demonstrated the centrality of Christ in his thinking when he wrote, “The doctrine we teach must be that of Jesus Christ and him crucified. The person and work of Christ have ever been the cornerstone of the Christian fabric: take away his Divinity and atonement, and all will go to ruins.”[2] He went on by stating, “Christ crucified is the central point, in which all the lines of evangelical truth meet and are united.”[3] The crucified Christ for sinners was central to Andrew Fuller’s thinking and piety. As ministers of the Gospel, we must make the Gospel central. Without a crucified Christ, the whole of Scripture has no foundation to rest upon. Without a crucified Christ, our lives have no foundation upon which to rest.
Faith in a crucified Christ was central to Fuller’s conversion. He writes, “…having found rest for my soul in the cross of Christ, I am now conscious of my being the subject of repentance, faith, and love.”[4] We must bring to bear this crucified Christ to a lost and dying world. How can they be saved if they do not hear the glories of the satisfaction procured by the Savior? Christ and Christ alone is the object of faith for the saving of sinners; as such, we must be men who preach Christ.
A crucified Christ was also central in Fuller’s conversation with others. “Hold Christ and your religion with a close hand, but me and every other creature with a loose one,” said Fuller to the church at Kettering.[5] Fuller was quick to point his brothers and sisters in Christ to Christ. We are prone to forget and downplay the glories of a crucified Christ. We need to remind each other of Christ; we ought to funnel our Christian conversation to Christ. He is the glue that binds us; our union with our fellow Christians is based upon our union with Christ. As such, it is fitting that we should point each other to the source of our Christian fellowship.
Law & Gospel
Fuller was a man whose thoughts were formed by a proper distinction between law and gospel. He does not confuse the two or diminish one for the sake of the other. He does not lessen the sinfulness of sin in light of the law nor the good news of Christ for those who break the law. While considering his own sinfulness, Fuller wrote, “My greatest difficulties arise from within. I am not what a servant of Christ should be… I am the man who am too, too guilty of many of those things which I have cautioned them to avoid.”[6] Fuller recognizes his own sinfulness in light of the truths he proclaimed to his congregation. Though Fuller recognizes his sinfulness, he doesn’t stop there. He goes on to write, “How great a matter is Christian perseverance, to hold out to the end, and be saved! I have sometimes wondered at the grace in that astonishing gradation, Jude 24. What ‘Him’ must that be that is able to keep me from falling….”[7] In light of his sinfulness, Fuller marveled at the gracious power of Christ to accomplish his salvation finally and fully.
As ministers of the Gospel, may God help us to see the depths of our sinfulness. Through our proclamation of God’s law, may we recognize our great wickedness and lack. Then may God help us to turn our attention to the glory of our Savior. Christ died for this sin! Christ is sanctifying me from this sin! Christ will cause me to be fruitful despite my sin! Christ will bring me to glory, overcoming my sin! As we see the depths of our sinfulness in light of the law, may it help us to see the excellencies of Christ in the Gospel.
The Blessing of Ministerial Fellowship
Andrew Fuller was a man powerfully used by God. We must, however, remember that Andrew Fuller was a man powerfully used by God not as a “lone wolf” but as a man who benefited from rich ministerial fellowship. His commitment to ministerial fellowship is seen in his part in the Northamptonshire Baptist Association, his correspondence with a host of other pastors, as well as his close friendship with men such as John Ryland Jr., John Sutcliffe, and William Carey.
Fuller once wrote to Ryland, “We have enjoyed much together, which, I hope, will prove an earnest of greater enjoyment in another world. We have also wrought together in the Lord’s vineyard, and he has given us to reap together in his vintage.”[8] In these lines, we find a warm spirit of camaraderie that existed between these two ministers. On another occasion, Fuller wrote to Carey, “My dear brother, I have often read complaints of this sort in your letters, and I could as often have made similar complaints in return; but let us rather pray for each other and strengthen each other’s hands in the Lord.”[9] Fuller and Carey had a relationship in which Fuller could encourage and exhort him in the truth.
Many pastors do not enjoy the blessing of ministerial fellowship as Fuller did. Such blessing should be sought out to be enjoyed. Ministers need other ministers to strengthen, exhort, and encourage them. It is a blessing to have camaraderie with other like-minded ministers. It is a blessing not just to the individual but to the church at large, because when pastors are blessed in such a way, their churches will be too. As Baptists, we must be careful. The autonomous rule of a local church should not make us think we do not need pastoral relationships with those outside our church.
Responsibility & Dependency
To some, human responsibility and dependency on God seem at odds with one another. To Fuller (and more importantly to Scripture), they are not. In one place, Fuller wrote, “Of all the nations upon earth, I think it is the duty of Britain and North America to disseminate the gospel. We have more commerce with mankind, more gospel knowledge, more liberty, and more wealth, than perhaps any other nations…”[10] Fuller recognized that they were responsible for using the great opportunities afforded to them to spread the Gospel. He was also well acquainted with his lack of faithfulness in the responsibility given him. Throughout his letters, Fuller is quick to point out his faults and lack. Furthermore, Fuller was a man well acquainted with his dependency on God. Fuller noted, “…let us not forget to intermingle prayer with all we do. Our need of God’s Holy Spirit to enable us to do any thing, and everything, truly good, should excite us to this.”[11] Fuller recognized that though we plant and water, God must cause the increase.
As ministers, we should never diminish our responsibility. God has called every Christian to a high and glorious duty. We are to be salt and light; we are to reflect the image of God to all of creation. As we see the high duty to which we have been called, we should recognize our utter lack and sinfulness. We are much less than unprofitable servants; we are rebellious ones. May our recognition of our utter insufficiency cause us to cry out to the all-sufficient one. Our dereliction of duty causes us to depend on the only one who can change us and those around us. God’s Spirit is mighty to work in us good, and he is powerful to take fallible earthen vessels and make them productive for his Kingdom. We are utterly dependent on God, and that is good because he is good.
Conclusion
Thank God that he has given us examples to imitate in our lifetime and the past. Andrew Fuller’s spirituality helps us to understand better and appreciate the centrality of Christ in all of life, the functions of law and gospel, the blessing of pastoral fraternity, and the relationship between human responsibility and dependency. As Christians contemplate their sinfulness and lack, let them look to Christ and him crucified to find a super-sufficient Savior.
[2] Andrew Fuller, The Complete Works of Andrew Fuller, vol. 1, Memoirs, Sermons, Etc. (Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications., 1988), 190.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Andrew Fuller, The Armies of the Lamb: The spirituality of Andrew Fuller, ed. Michael A.G. Haykin (Dundas, Ontario: Joshua Press Inc., 2001), 73.
[5] Ibid., 85
[6] Ibid., 112
[7] Ibid., 113
[8] Ibid., 269
[9] Ibid., 187
[10] Ibid., 211-12
[11] Ibid., 108