Tribute to John Stott

Lausanne Global Executive Director/CEO Michael Oh reflects on John Stott’s legacy on the centennial of his birth (20 Apr, 1921). Among his many key contributions to Christian theology, the church and missions, what stands out for me is his role in the birthing of the Lausanne Covenant and Movement in 1974, and his related book Christian Mission in the Modern World (1975), which has since been updated and expanded by Chris Wright on its 40th anniversary.

One of his books on preaching, Between Two Worlds, was required reading for my M.Div homiletics class, and spoke aptly to my own journey towards integrating life and theology. One of his famous catchphrases from the book was to hold the Bible in one hand, and the newspaper in the other. Perhaps nowadays it would be viewing your Bible app on your smartphone, and reading your daily newsfeeds off your tablet. The main idea was that as we prepare our sermons to preach, we are not only to exegete/exposite the biblical text, but also the culture and life realities that we are facing in the real world, here and now. It speaks also to the broader issue of contextualization, where text meets context, when the Holy Spirit illumines our hearts and minds to draw timeless biblical principles, and apply it to relevant contemporary issues in life and society.

Stott also has a TEDS connection. He frequently visited Trinity, preaching numerous times in chapel. TEDS was also the first American school to award Stott with an honorary Doctor of Divinity (DD) degree (1971). And for one term, the Fall semester of 1972, Stott even taught preaching courses at TEDS. Rolfing Library holds his desk, chair, bookshelf, robe, and personal books, in memory and tribute to Stott’s contributions and legacy (read here for more details).