Question 1

What is the "expulsive power of a new affection"?

Accepted Answer

This concept, popularized by Thomas Chalmers, suggests that the human heart cannot simply be emptied of worldly desires through willpower or moral lectures. Because the heart abhors a vacuum, it will cling to its current idols until a more powerful and attractive desire replaces them. The "expulsive power" occurs when a person is presented with the overwhelming beauty and freeness of the Gospel, causing old, inferior attachments to be naturally crowded out by a superior love for Jesus Christ.

Question 2

How does the "Secret Watch" influence a pastor's ministry?

Accepted Answer

The "Secret Watch" refers to the disciplined practice of seeking intimacy with God in private prayer and meditation before engaging with the world. Based on the life of Robert Murray M’Cheyne, this principle holds that a pastor’s public usefulness is entirely dependent on their private holiness. By "seeing the face of God" before the face of man, the pastor ensures they are drinking from the "living water" themselves, allowing their Sunday sermons to be an overflow of a genuine, week-long experience with Christ.

Question 3

Why did Chalmers and M’Cheyne argue against "moralistic" preaching?

Accepted Answer

They believed that preaching which only demands better behavior or points out the vanity of the world is ineffective because it leaves the listener in a "fellowship of despair." If a pastor separates the demands of the Law from the doctrines of Grace, the congregation is left with a "to-do list" they cannot fulfill. Instead, they advocated for "melting and conciliating" the heart by preaching the "peculiar doctrines" of the Atonement, which provide the only adequate motive for a person to actually desire holiness.

Question 4

What is the "aggressive principle" in parish care?

Accepted Answer

The "aggressive principle" is a missionary mindset applied to a local church's surrounding community. Rather than waiting for people to visit the church, the pastor and their leadership team systematically "pursue" the unchurched in their own homes and neighborhoods. This involves breaking down administrative barriers—what Chalmers called "administrative trash"—to focus on visitation, establishing local schools, and meeting the practical and spiritual needs of the "lowest stratum" of society.

Question 5

What does M’Cheyne mean by the rule "for every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ"?

Accepted Answer

This rule is a safeguard against the discouragement that comes from focusing too much on one's own internal sin and failures. M’Cheyne observed that staring at one's own "deceitful heart" often leads to shame and a reluctance to approach God. By taking "ten looks at Christ" for every one look at oneself, a believer focuses on the "Suitable Saviour" who is full of grace and truth, ensuring that their identity is rooted in Christ’s finished work rather than their own fluctuating performance.

Preaching the Expulsive Power of a New Affection

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