The “fruit” of televangelism, 1988 style? Could be. But what Calvin College professor Quentin Schultze has in mind in this month’s cover story is evangelism by another medium: radio.
“It just so happens,” Schultze told us at an editorial planning breakfast, “that the ‘wireless gospel’ of the twenties, thirties, and forties had as much personality—and occasional controversy—as its video offspring.”
For personality, take Paul Rader, one-time pastor of Moody Church in Chicago. The verve of this man’s radio serve (depicted on our cover) influenced an assortment of significant others, including Charles E. Fuller and Oswald J. Smith. At the same time, M. R. DeHaan’s “Radio Bible Class” presented the no-nonsense listener with a steady diet of dispassionate Bible studies.
But for controversy, there was rabble rouser “Fighting Bob” Shuler. Fully understanding the medium’s power to manipulate, Shuler made money, wrought havoc (especially on the Los Angeles Police Department), and became a precursor of other personalities who would later embarrass the electronic church.
So, as Schultze says: “The gospel went out, and the salvos came back.” Or as an earlier critic put it: “There is nothing new under the sun.”
HAROLD SMITH, Managing Editor
Cover illustration photo from the Billy Graham Center. Artwork by Paul Turnbaugh.
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