When I write of a “revival” meetings (see past blogs), I am communicating on a subject matter that is, to most blog readers, void of context. What actually took place at a “new measures” meeting? Is it illegitimate to have certain new measure qualities – extended, drawn out endings, anxious seats, inquiry rooms, immediate profession and recording of decisions, etc., in a church meeting? Am I creating a situation? Am I being narrow minded? Have modern invitations to trust in Christ really become warped by old errors? Will questioning how we present the Gospel in a church culture bent on making mega-churches really make a difference? Does it really matter? So many questions…
In order to provide a framework for discussion, I will site an example of how a new measures revival meeting would be drawn to a conclusion in order to secure “decisions.” In addition, in an effort to not steer comments but simply let you make statements/raise questions, I will not add any commentary after the quotation. I will not update this Blog until Monday (Feb. 28) to give the opportunity for readers to comment and extend invitations for other friends to enter the discussion on such an important issue as this. Please reference my past blog entries to set the stage for this entry.
In 1834-35 Jedidiah Burchard, a friend and potential mentor of Charles Finney, conducted “new measure” meetings in central and northern parts of Vermont. Burchard said that he was used of God to raise a “great fire of religious fervor.”
“After repeated prayers and appeals, by which he almost compelled multitudes to repair to the anxious seats, he asked again and again if they loved God. They were silent.
‘Will you not say that you love God? Only say that you love or wish to love God.’ Some confessed; and their names or numbers were written down in a memorandum book, to be reported as so many converts. It was enough to give an affirmative to the question: but many were not readily, and without continual importunity and management, induced to the admission. He would continue – ‘Do you not love God? Will you not say you love God?’
Then taking out his watch, – ‘There now, I give you a quarter of an hour. If not brought in fifteen minutes to love God, there will be no hope for you – you will be lost – you will be damned.’ A pause and no response. ‘Ten minutes have elapsed, five minutes only left for salvation! If you do not love God in five minutes, you are lost forever!’
The terrified candidates confess – the record is made – a hundred converts are reported.”
The Stage is Yours…
Thoughts?
Okay, okay, fine, I confess. May I go home now?
How could anyone doubt the effectiveness? 😉
Actually, it reminds me of a Lyle Lovett song.
I don’t think it’s the idea of an “alter call” that is wrong, but the coercion involved in this particular movement. Every alter call I’ve seen, while resembling the form of the example above, has never had the content or intent. I just think most churchs continue in the “tradition” because it’s all they’ve ever known.
I also think that in a backlash, some churchs have stopped presenting the Gospel all together – get together, have a large Bible study, and go home.
While for the most part I think public invitations are a general waste of time, we should always be open to the option and the Spirit – as it may be the way He wants to work on a particular day.
David or anyone else,
Just for grins, what would you say from the pulpit at the end of a sermon to “present the gospel”?
I’d like to see people’s opinions on this. What is an effective presentation of “the gospel” in a nutshell…in a capsule…in a soundbyte…?
Good question. I think we’re generally trapped in the idea of “presenting the gospel” in church as the “last minute sales pitch.”
Maybe a better word is to “offer” the gospel – anything from a full blown sermon on the topic to “have no clue what we’re talking about and want to know more? Ask me after the service.”
Knowing that the Spirit does the work, we should make the path clear as He works. “I went and wanted to know more but everyone was too busy making lunch plans.”
Maybe we could think more artfully about it. Fellowship’s student ministry used to do this 5-10 minute drama/dance thing called “The Redeemer” that spoke more to the soul than any worded sales pitch could.
On another note, Dan can you post some references for your quotes of Finney. Most articles online are either defending him or out to get him. I found a site documenting his sermons but just don’t have enough time to sift through all of them. Thx!
The lion-share of my cite work comes from Iain Murray’s book, Revival and Revivalism, 1994; The Banner of Truth Trust. A Hallmark of Iain Murray’s work is original-source quotes. I have found that most writers of historical characters live off the fumes of earlier writings. Therefore, only through quoting original sources can you cut through denominational ties and personal favoritism. This is why Murray’s writings are so reliable. There are many writers who speak of Finney who I wonder if they have ever read his works at all.
See here for a fantastic example of someone who was sniffing fumes when commenting on Finney’s life.
Dan
The coercian and manipulation within that quote are laughable. Anyone not emotionally invested in the sales pitch itself can see that it is designed to illicit responses based on fear, nervousness, and resignation. That is not how it should be. As Ray Comfort says, and our preceeding six or seven weeks of messages affirm, the presenter of the gospel, wether from a pulpit, a box on a street corner, or in the office, should point out the need a person has for a saviour through the use of the law. In addition, there is no need to try to close the deal and brow-beat someone into a profession. This goes back to how one views salvation. Is it wrought by God through regeneration in the heart (no closing needed on “the deal”) or is based upon the utterance of some magic prayer that, once said, is a permanent pass into heaven with no thought to repentance and fruit in one’s life? I prefer the former and I think the Bible does too.
Thanks for the discussion gentlemen. Good points and I hope this has been helpful to clarify the message of the Gospel as well as the means by which the Gospel is extended. I will add some parting blogs on this subject over the next week. However, catch the new one I will post today. A friend sent me a list of the worst convenience store food and I must digress and post them – very funny.