In the Year of Our Lord: Reflections on Twenty Centuries of Church History

by Sinclair B. Ferguson

Faithfulness is far more significant than fame when Jesus is building His church.

Some Christians today may be tempted to focus on their theological shortcomings, especially Boniface’s devotion to the pope as his spiritual leader. Doubtless, as Christians of their time, they had their inconsistencies. But how inconsistent of us if we sit in judgment on what we regard as their failures, yet also sit in silence and comfort rather than speak the gospel and go to the ends of the earth to tell others about Christ as they did. These men illustrate two of the characteristics Christ looks for in contemporary Christians: to stand for Christ in a pagan environment—whatever it costs—like Boniface, and the willingness to go wherever God sends us, like A-lo-pen.

Am I, perhaps, the kind of Christian who is quick to be caught up in a controversy (which may indeed have its place) while ignoring the call to world evangelism? Then let me remember Boniface, the Sigan-Fu Stone, and most of all, let me remember Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead that He might be my Lord.