David C. Potter, Director of Cause for Concern is this month's Bulldog.
It is in the nature of movements that they have a tendency to stop moving. When that happens they find themselves overtaken by their times.
Some are of the view that this has happened to the Reformed Movement in Britain. Could it be that this has unwittingly exchanged relationship for dogma, dynamism for doctrinal correctness? To continue to be relevant and useful movements need often to review critically the position they have reached.
The last decade has seen significant decline among Christians who accept (or boast) the epithet 'Reformed'. Not so much a drop in numbers, more a 'downgrade' of spiritual vitality. Evangelistic zeal, Biblical holiness, longing for revival and a passion for God are not what they were 20 years ago, when this was the most vigorous sector in evangelicalism. Instead there has developed a tendency to make faith less personal and the Saviour more distant - less warmth and fervour, less evident love for God's person. How are we to explain this regrettable trend and find courage to deal with it?
Traditional not radical
I was there in the early 1960s when Dr Lloyd-Jones drew the crowds to Westminster Chapel and the Banner of Truth Trust (BTT) burgeoned in Chiltern Street. Evangelical pastors caught the exciting mood as a wave of radical Biblical thinking penetrated their churches. Every tenet of faith was reviewed in the light of Biblical and Calvinistic principles. We talked of carrying forward the reformation in our own day expecting that revival would follow in the wake of our refining measures. Nor was this arid and intellectual. There was a strong sense of rediscovered love for God and of his grace to us as individuals.
If that seems strange territory for reformed churches in today's climate it is because traditions so recently formed fossilised the upspringing life. The forms of worship, the method of expository preaching, even the style of preaching, stultified that freshness. 'Radical' has become a term of abuse rather than a compliment! Yet biblical radicalism was once the air we breathed.
Cultural not spiritual
The longing for God to work in power in revival was strong in those heady days. The BTT stoked the fire of aspiration and prayer by publishing histories of revival and biographies of revival leaders. These encouraged a longing after God and a dynamic spirituality.
Our Christian culture, however, was still that of the 1950s and 60s. As the 70s slipped into the 80s this culture solidified into one that was identifiably 'reformed'. Characterised by predictability it reacted strongly against another which was spontaneous and vibrant. 'Charismatic' took the force of an expletive! Chorus singing was derided for its repetition and triviality, its lack of theological content. It was debated sonorously by pastors who imagined the issue was theological and missed the fact that it was a different culture, a different way of expressing spiritual life. We are in danger of retaining the form but losing the heart of a dynamic discipleship which is spiritually alive.
Negative not positive
Strongly-held beliefs tend towards criticism of those who differ, undermining acceptance. Positive and encouraging ministry is in decline. Paranoia is prevalent in pulpits as pastors protect their flocks from imagined (as well as real) wolves which ravage other continents. The latest big bad wolf is Toronto. Before that it was John Wimber. Once it was Billy Graham.
Have we forgotten that there is a world out there that is going to hell? Controversies about minor eruptions are distracting us from our real task. We have a wonderful Saviour to proclaim to a world which is increasingly hostile to him and his Word. We believe in a sovereign God who can actually change things as his people work, serve and pray. We need to help one another to be as effective as possible in this primary task.
These characteristics have become a sad part of the warp and woof of our churches. They send believers limping into the world, vulnerable to its temptation to pride and materialism. They poison support for compassionate ministries like Tear Fund and A Cause for Concern. They force missionary societies to struggle with declining incomes, and smaller numbers of applicants for overseas service. And they seem to blind us to the fact that we see so few conversions, so little enthusiasm, such weak holiness, and so little love.
Dare we be honest with ourselves about these things? Can we talk about them in our fraternals or elders' meetings? Can we also hear a call from God to radical, positive, God-centred spirituality that will refresh tired hearts heavy with truths that should be liberating?
