Bye-Bye Babylon

Ezra is alive and well and living in Wayland, Massachusetts—and in Mount Holly, New Jersey, and Sierra Madre, California, and numerous other cities and towns across the country. In all these locations, congregations have been led back from spiritual captivity. The foundations have been recovered, and the temple of Christian truth is being rebuilt.

Christians who have lamented the drift of so many churches away from the faith centered in Jesus Christ and founded on Scripture should take joyful note of the list of congregations now returning to that faith. This list is increasing at a rate that may indicate a trend, and perhaps the beginning of a general movement. Throughout the country there is a growing network of pastors who have given themselves to leading churches back to the only solid foundation for Christian faith.

The Trinitarian Congregational Church in Wayland is a good example. Early in its history it was known as the Evangelical Trinitarian Church. Later, “evangelical” was dropped from its name, and in more subtle ways from its theology. Fifteen years ago, when the church was at a low ebb, there was a suggestion that Trinitarian should consider merger with the Unitarian church across the street. This suggestion was itself a commentary on the drift that had taken place since the struggle with unitarianism more than 150 years ago.

When the Reverend Donald S. Ewing became pastor of Trinitarian in 1955, the church was struggling to maintain its existence. Many of the 175 members were inactive. The church had a debt of more than $80,000 with an annual budget of only $12,000. Under Dr. Ewing’s ministry it has grown to a membership of more than 1,200 with an annual budget of more than $160,000.

But these statistics are only a reflection of the really significant developments, those that took place in individual lives. Commitment to Jesus Christ, interest in Scripture, and concern for people throughout the community are now common characteristics of the members of Trinitarian. Along with this increased personal commitment has come church growth and a general rise in the level of interest in the many activities of the church. Clearly the turnaround at Trinitarian is based upon a general turning to personal faith on the part of leaders and members.

How did all this come about? Not all at once, as Ewing will readily tell you. It has taken patience, courage, and sheer hard work, along with a keen sensitivity to people and to the timing of the Holy Spirit. From his own standpoint, says Ewing, it depended on a recognition of the sovereignty of God, and the resultant realization that he is bringing his will to pass through every event, however good or bad it may seem at the time.

Among the means that have helped bring the Trinitarian congregation to this level of commitment are Bible-study groups, direct pastoral counseling, teaching ministries, conferences, and careful planning of basic sermon content. Each of these is related to certain strengths of Dr. Ewing and other staff members.

Trinitarian is only one among many congregations that are at various stages of a renewal experience. Although the pastor usually takes the lead in a church’s return to the faith, occasionally laymen have played the key role. A trend is developing, and it may be helpful to try to discover why.

Reasons For Return

First, the percentage of evangelical ministers seems to be growing, and with this change comes an increase in the number of men willing to take on the challenge of helping whole congregations back to faith in Christ. Meanwhile it seems that fewer men coming out of liberal seminaries are entering the parish ministry. Consequently, many liberal churches are hard pressed to find ministerial candidates from their usual sources. There are also indications that an increasing number of liberal ministers may be leaving the ministry. Conservative seminaries, on the other hand, are more successful in the proportion of graduates who choose to serve in parish ministries. Gordon-Conwell Seminary estimates that although only about 40 per cent of its incoming freshmen anticipate a parish ministry, by graduation time the percentage has risen to about 70. In large measure this reflects the concern of evangelical faculties to prepare men to lead the local congregation and to help meet the spiritual needs of the community.

Another factor is that evangelical churches are likely to be the growing churches. In Sierra Madre, California, a congregation affiliated with the United Church of Christ was without a pastor three years ago. The pulpit committee began to examine the growth records of churches in surrounding communities. Although some of the church leaders were unitarian, they soon became convinced that evangelical churches showed a better growth rate. Accordingly, they asked an evangelical minister in a nearby community to recommend candidates. Soon after that they called the Reverend Richard Anderson, and the congregation was soon satisfied that it had moved in the right direction. Formerly it had 60 to 90 people attending on a Sunday morning; now the average has risen to 250, and the church holds two morning services.

In the past two years the membership at Sierra Madre Congregational Church has risen from about 300 to 360, even though the names of many inactive members were cleared from the rolls. But here again the figures are only a reflection of the more significant developments in personal lives. Scores of people, both young and adult, have experienced conversion in remarkably different ways. It is not uncommon for people to arrive at the pastor’s office saying, “Something has happened to me.” Then they fill in the details of how the truth of God in Jesus Christ has suddenly struck them as being real. Some have made their commitment to Christ while walking along the street, others in the middle of the Sunday-morning service long before the conclusion of the message, others in response to an invitation at youth services, others in their own homes.

Still another reason for this sort of movement today is the simple fact that most liberally oriented churches have within them at least a few members who long for, and perhaps pray for, a return to faith founded upon Jesus Christ. Many laymen are vaguely dissatisfied with theologies not grounded in Scripture or centered in the person of Jesus Christ. After the first sermon that Richard Anderson preached in Sierra Madre, an elderly man met him at the door to shake his hand. With tears welling up in his eyes the man said: “Nineteen years of prayer have been answered here today.” Many faithful, quiet prayers through the years may now be ready to bear fruit in churches across the country.

Perhaps the most significant reason for the trend is the simple fact that more people have faith that it can happen. They see that it is happening. They see congregations developing a strong commitment to Jesus Christ and taking a firm stand for the authority of the Word of God. Many ministers and church leaders, especially younger men, believe that this is the strategy of the Holy Spirit for these times.

Evangelicals have often found it easier to decry the movement away from “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” than to build roads back to that faith. Now it seems that this is changing.

Requisites For Return

What qualifications are needed by those who desire to lead congregations back to basic Christian faith? The following list emerged from discussions with ministers involved in this pattern of church development.

1. Know where to stand. Without a firm biblical faith, one cannot expect to help others recover that faith. “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). This needs emphasis. The popular tendency to degrade theology makes no sense, especially for men who hope to lead others to Christian faith. Many of the congregations most in need of renewal are practically without a theology; a solid base of belief is precisely what they need. But this faith must be demonstrated in a living relationship to Jesus Christ, not just intoned in a creed.

In Mount Holly, New Jersey, where the Reverend Robert Rovell became pastor of the Presbyterian church six years ago, the parishioners were struck both by his high regard for Scripture and by his life style, which was deeply rooted in his biblical convictions. As a result of his ministry, profound changes have taken place in many lives. Here too increased involvement in the life of the church resulted. Attendance now runs 400 to 500 on a typical Sunday morning, and the church budget has risen from around $50,000 to $104,000. But that congregation would very likely still be a “sleepy liberal” group, as one of the members put it, if it were not for the strong biblical faith of its pastor.

2. Know where you are going. Clear goals are essential. If leaders do not have a definite idea of what should be happening at each stage of development, they are likely to be overwhelmed by the status quo. Planning is a particularly important part of the task of the pastor who is involved in a turnaround situation. If disciplined planning and the ability to execute plans are not among his strengths, these elements must be supplied by leaders of the congregation, for progress will prove difficult or impossible without them. The most promising situation is one in which both the pastor and lay leaders have ability in goal-oriented planning.

The goals should encompass both the spiritual gains to be expected and the other elements of church life, such as facilities, budgeting, and program development.

3. Know how to work with people. Building confidence and positive attitudes is another essential part of the task. This requires a sensitivity to people and good judgment. As one pastor put it, “Today the undershepherd must be able to follow the flock one step ahead of them.” This kind of leadership is needed in many churches.

Timothy was given this advice: “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient; in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:24, 25).

This includes the sort of judgment that refuses to be drawn into minor issues. One pastor went to a church that was in the habit of raising part of its budget through a church fair. Although he was not really in favor of the practice, he did not consider it as something worth fighting about. And so he rolled up his sleeves, took over the candy booth, and sold more than anyone else. A year or two later, when the church budget was no longer dependent on the fair, he proposed another plan, and the congregation gladly joined in.

AGAINST DARK ANGELS

Man-made is refuge; creaturely is light.

Against dark angels build your sheltering wall

between the unknown and night—against the Night—

and close your door securely against call.

Let parallax of stars repeat their song

in measured beat and chartered scale,

nor ask what lost immensities may throng

beyond; the whippoorwill but once need wail.

And if some stranger angel beat the air,

one dusk, to alien music, nighting the skies

blind-hushed before his shattering tonics there

like blood-wild singing armor, and heart cries—

caught up in leaps of warring turn and sound—

deliverance to inhuman ecstasy,

why risk, poor wingless flesh, his Other ground?

By what star fly to peril, risen, free?

HOWARD G. HANSON

“The real issue is Jesus Christ,” says the Rev. Christopher Lyons, who over the past thirteen years led his congregation in Peabody, Massachusetts, from an average Sunday-morning attendance of about 30 to an average of 475. Lyons made it a point to steer clear of lesser issues.

The basis of church membership is likely to be one of the stickier problems. In churches with little or no theological concern, anyone can get in. This may not be the ideal, but according to most of the men who have served under these conditions, a change cannot be expected within the first month or even the first year. The pastor most likely to succeed is the one who can keep his eye on the ultimate goal, and who can work with his peope to bring about a genuine change, not just a submission to his way of doing it.

4. Know when to make a move. Timing is essential to tact and to tactics. Men who have served successfully in turnaround situations single out patience as one of the most important prerequisites. To make certain changes too early may be to jeopardize the whole cause, but to lag too far behind might be equally dangerous.

Choosing the situation within which to work, and when to leave, is another function of proper timing. Some men find they can succeed in leading the congregation only a few steps in the right direction. These men may leave discouraged, but the next pastor may complete the turnaround. Some groups are at a stage where they can be led quickly to new ground, while others are in a deep rut. Paul sensed this when he said: “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able” (1 Cor. 3:1, 2). Within the congregation, some people may be ready to be led, while others need to have their confidence built up before they can accept suggestions.

5. Know the source of power. Experienced ministers say that nobody has the wisdom and personal traits that can assure a turnaround. The real power is in the Gospel and in the Holy Spirit’s application of the Word to the real needs of men and women. The process of change should never be a case of playing the pastor’s beliefs and opinions against those of the congregation. Rather, it must become a common search for the best means of bringing the greatest possible number of men into relationship with God in Jesus Christ.

Paul recognized this when he expressed the hope “that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:5). If the congregation has its faith founded only on the convictions of the pastor, it stands on very uncertain ground; but if it has a faith rooted in the Word of God, it will not easily be shaken.

Given these indications that many churches are ready to step to firmer ground, the believing Christian community must not fail to seize the opportunity. Thus the challenge comes to prepare more men to become Ezra’s modern counterparts.

Donald H. Gill is executive director of the Evangelistic Association of New England. He formerly served as assistant secretary of public affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals and as manager of the publications department of World Vision International.

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