In this book, Charles Spurgeon (one of the greatest preachers of history) defends eccentric preachers from the charge that they are unfit for ministry.

“From the earliest period it has been found impossible for the messengers whom God has sent to suit their style of utterance to the tastes of all. In all generations useful preachers of the gospel have been objected to by a portion of the community… He who hopes to preach so as to please everybody must be newlycome into the ministry; and he who aims at such an object would do well speedily to leave its ranks. Men must and will cavil and object: it is their nature to do so.”

“The men of this world still depreciate the ministers whom God sends them and profess that they would gladly listen if different preachers could be found. Nothing can please them, their cavils are dealt out with heedless universality. Cephas is too blunt, Apollos is too flowery, Paul is too argumentative, Timothy is too young, James is too severe, John is too gentle. Nevertheless, wisdom is justified of all her Children. At this time, when God raises up a man of original mind who strikes out a course for himself and follows it with success, it is usual to charge him with being eccentric. If his honesty may not be suspected, nor his zeal questioned, nor his power denied, sneer at him and call him eccentric, and it may be the arrow will wound.”

In defending eccentricity Spurgeon uses Dr Samuel Johnsons definition, “Eccentricity signifies deviating from the center, or not having the same center as another circle.” Spurgeon continues: “Now I am free to admit that the word has come to mean singular, odd, whimsical, and so forth; but by going a little deeper into its etymology, we discover that it simply means that the circle in which an eccentric man moves is not quite coincident with that which is followed by the majority: he does not tread the regular ring, but deviates more or less as he sees fit.” Therefore, says Spurgeon, “It does not seem so very horrible after all that a man should be eccentric… God grant that we may not be eccentric towards God, either as to holiness or truth, for that were fatal: but when fashion and custom mark out illproportioned imitations of the circle of perfection, or even dare to impose curves of their own, it may be grandly right to be eccentric, for an eccentric path all the saints have trodden as they have tracked the narrow way in the teeth of the many who pursue the downward road. From such consecrated eccentricity come martyrs, reformers, and the leaders of the advance guard of freedom and progress. Breaking loose from the shackles of evil customs, such men first stand alone and defy the world… The slavery of custom is as hard and crushing as any other form of human bondage, and blessed is he who for the truth's sake disdains to wear the galling chain, preferring rather to be charged with singularity and held up to ridicule. It is clear, then, that eccentricity may in certain cases be a virtue. When it touches the moral and the spiritual it may be worthy of all honor.”

Spurgeon continues by critiquing the slavery to custom and lack of eccentricity or so many ministers who never say anything jarring or out of proportion to the acceptable cultural mores.

Having answered “what is eccentricity” (ch 1), “who have been called eccentric” (ch 2), and what the “causes of eccentricity” are (ch 3), Spurgeon then spends 11 of the 12 remaining chapters providing historical sketches of eccentric preachers of the past and how despite (or even because of) their eccentricity they were men anointed by the Holy Spirit and effective gospel preachers.

In his final chapter, Spurgeon restates his aim in writing: “This little book is not written to inculcate eccentricity, or even to excuse all its displays; but, if possible, to take the edge from the scalping knife of slanderous misrepresentation and carping censure.”

May all God’s preachers not cave in to unjust criticism and keep preaching boldly and eccentrically the life giving message of the gospel. ( )