Erik Raymond:
I am all for communicating sin and the need for Christ. This is biblical. It forms our understanding of the gospel. But sometimes preachers and Christians linger a bit long in the boiler room, inhaling the smoke of the Law without opening the windows of grace. You cannot smile in such a cellar.
Spurgeon saw and spoke of such a trend in his day. His observations and cautions may be surprising but I think right on.
I have one more class of objectors to answer and I am finished. There is a certain breed of Calvinist, whom I do not envy, who are always jeering and sneering as much as ever they can at the full assurance of faith.
I have seen their long faces; I have heard their whining periods, and read their dismal sentences, in which they say something to the effect – “Groan in the Lord always, and again I say, groan! He that mourneth and weepeth, he that doubted and feareth, he that distrusteth and dishonoureth his God, shall be saved.”
That seems to be the sum and substance of their very ungospel-like gospel. But why is it they do this?
I speak now honestly and fearlessly. It is because there is a pride within them – a conceit which is fed on rottenness, and sucks marrow and fatness out of putrid carcasses.
And what, say you, is the object of their pride? Why, the pride of being able to boast of a deep experience – the pride of being a blacker, grosser, and more detestable sinner than other people. “Whose glory is in their shame,” may well apply to them. A more dangerous, because a more deceitful pride than this is not to be found. It has all the elements of self-righteousness in it.” –C. H. Spurgeon “Full Assurance“
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