Charles Spurgeon is widely celebrated for his influential preaching and ministry. However, his role as a simple pastor of a local congregation is often overlooked. In The Army of God: Spurgeon’s Vision for the Church, Geoffrey Chang offers readers a closer look at Spurgeon’s pastoral heart and vision for the local church. It also shows how his Reformed and Baptist heritage shaped his ecclesiology.
The book has ten chapters, each examining a specific aspect of Spurgeon’s church polity. It begins by exploring three key movements in the 17th century that contributed to a decline in ecclesiology and how Spurgeon worked to uphold a biblical view of the church amidst these trends.
The following two chapters provide Spurgeon’s brief yet insightful biography, focusing on the influences that shaped his understanding of the church. Chang also delves into how Spurgeon defined the church within the framework of the Reformed Baptist tradition.
The remaining six chapters unpack Spurgeon’s practical vision for the church and how he implemented it at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Topics include the regulative versus normative principles of worship, church membership, the administration of ordinances, and church leadership structures—particularly the differences between congregationalism and Presbyterianism.
The book concludes with Spurgeon’s view of the church as “the army of God,” emphasizing the church’s militant role in contending for truth. To illustrate this, Chang discusses two major controversies Spurgeon faced and his commitment to guarding the faith.
I was eager to read this book for three reasons: my deep admiration for Spurgeon, my curiosity about his role as a pastor, and my interest in his ecclesiology, especially as someone who adheres to Reformed theology and is a member of a Baptist church. This book exceeded my expectations! It deepened my understanding of Spurgeon’s view of the church and broadened my appreciation for ecclesiology.
One aspect that stood out to me was the seriousness with which Spurgeon approached church membership. The thoroughness of his process and the emphasis on fostering a regenerated church body struck me. Additionally, I appreciated the detailed discussion on congregationalism and how it differs from Presbyterianism—something I had never fully understood before.
The book is thoroughly researched and full of references to Spurgeon’s writings and sermons. While this shows Chang’s diligence, the sheer volume of citations occasionally felt overwhelming. However, this minor critique does not detract from the book’s overall value.
I highly recommend The Army of God to anyone interested in Spurgeon, Reformed Baptist ecclesiology, or the church’s role in pursuing truth and holiness. It’s an enlightening read that has motivated me to study ecclesiology more deeply. This book is a must-read to grow your understanding of the church and its mission!
*Christian Focus sent me a copy for an honest review*
