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Questions for Adoniram Judson Gordon This virtual interview with Gordon’s founder was created by matching our questions for A. J. Gordon with passages in several of his many books on the Church, on mission, and life in the Spirit.
STILLPOINT: You are known for many things, including being the pastor of the Clarendon Street Church in Boston and revolutionizing that congregation towards enacting the works of the Holy Spirit. How would you define your work ethic in achieving this outcome, or what would you say drives you to keep up such a high energy level for your church? Adoniram Judson Gordon: I would rather aim at perfection and miss the mark than aim at imperfection and hit the bullseye.
Christ. What can you tell Christians in this century about how this was achieved? A. J.: Regardless of the century, whenever there’s been a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, whether that be in a single heart or in a large group of believers, inevitably what follows is a fresh undertaking to spread the gospel among the people in the world who have not yet heard it. SP: You have written much on the subject of evangelism and inspired many to share the gospel, giving little regard to one’s social or economic background. What’s your secret for crossing these and other boundaries?
“A man was once so holy that the neighbors called him the ‘Godintoxicated man.’ We want a Godintoxicated Church.” SP: This seems like good practical advice to live by. A. J.: Nothing’s really practical except what’s spiritual, and nothing is spiritual unless it’s practical. SP: Certainly from a practical point of view, your teachings were an encouragement and a call to action for many in your congregation, empowering them to live out their lives for
30 STILLPOINT | FALL 2010
A. J.: I don’t care what your occupation is—you may be a carpenter, a blacksmith, a sales associate, a business executive—your first business is to give the gospel to those who have not heard it. My hope is that we consider this our main concern in life. SP: It could certainly be seen as one of your many main concerns. Were you unaware of how your message affected people in your congregation and beyond?