The Struggles of a Leader: Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s Journey in Recovery
The Struggles of a Leader:
Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s Journey in Recovery
Tiffany Poulin
SID#: 12-00007952
Christian Counseling/Addiction Counseling: Dissertation
Newburgh Seminary, IN
March 16, 2014
The Struggles of a Leader: Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s Journey in Recovery
Part One: Introduction to a Leader To many Charles Haddon Spurgeon is a legend. Many believe he was a great leader of the Baptist faith, a servant of the church, a leader. However, fewer realize that he was more than this. Spurgeon was, indeed, a legend and a controversy in his day. To this day he remains among the greatest leaders of the Baptist tradition. Charles Haddon Spurgeon is a very dynamic and memorable historical figure. Spurgeon became a legend because of the power of his presence; if you had been present at one of his sermons or lectures, it would have stuck in your mind. As his teachings and as his life and story have done, Spurgeon is a man who has stood the test of time. He became a controversy when the public opinion swayed towards more liberal beliefs as he stood strong in his conservative convictions; many accused, and continue to accuse, Spurgeon of holding overly dogmatic convictions. Charles Spurgeon was a great leader of his faith and despite the controversy and lack of support demonstrated to him by the church he had served diligently throughout his life, he refused to be swayed and continued to preach, and teach, his beliefs as he understood them without loss of integrity. However, this is not to say that this great teacher was, as so many accuse him, “inflexible” or “overly dogmatic.” One of the greatest accomplishments of this leader was his ability; Spurgeon demonstrated his ability to adapt through his ability to model after Christ-like doings in his daily livings and through his recovery and later ministries.
Having studied his life, struggles, teachings, and ministry at length, I will go further and declare him as a human and, more than a human, a
Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s Journey in Recovery
Tiffany Poulin
SID#: 12-00007952
Christian Counseling/Addiction Counseling: Dissertation
Newburgh Seminary, IN
March 16, 2014
The Struggles of a Leader: Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s Journey in Recovery
Part One: Introduction to a Leader To many Charles Haddon Spurgeon is a legend. Many believe he was a great leader of the Baptist faith, a servant of the church, a leader. However, fewer realize that he was more than this. Spurgeon was, indeed, a legend and a controversy in his day. To this day he remains among the greatest leaders of the Baptist tradition. Charles Haddon Spurgeon is a very dynamic and memorable historical figure. Spurgeon became a legend because of the power of his presence; if you had been present at one of his sermons or lectures, it would have stuck in your mind. As his teachings and as his life and story have done, Spurgeon is a man who has stood the test of time. He became a controversy when the public opinion swayed towards more liberal beliefs as he stood strong in his conservative convictions; many accused, and continue to accuse, Spurgeon of holding overly dogmatic convictions. Charles Spurgeon was a great leader of his faith and despite the controversy and lack of support demonstrated to him by the church he had served diligently throughout his life, he refused to be swayed and continued to preach, and teach, his beliefs as he understood them without loss of integrity. However, this is not to say that this great teacher was, as so many accuse him, “inflexible” or “overly dogmatic.” One of the greatest accomplishments of this leader was his ability; Spurgeon demonstrated his ability to adapt through his ability to model after Christ-like doings in his daily livings and through his recovery and later ministries.
Having studied his life, struggles, teachings, and ministry at length, I will go further and declare him as a human and, more than a human, a