Posted on 02/16/2007 8:43:33 AM PST by Alex Murphy
[A correspondent from Canada wrote and asked me - as Canada was in similar spiritual decline to Europe - why this should have occurred. This is my letter of response.]
You ask, "why the decline?", and have waited patiently for my response. I don't know the book you mentioned and would not feel it had much to say to me ... He is an unfamiliar name, an anonymous man, and I have worked to reform the churches in the heat of the day for 42 years and so trust in known men who have done the same, and much better, who are also publicly identified with our big gospel, attending our conferences, and worshipping in our churches, unashamedly abounding in this calling.
There is an interesting summary of the reasons for the decline in Wales at the end of Dr Tudur Jones' article on Wales in the New International Dictionary of the Christian Church. He lists, "the decline of spirtuality, the loss of a dynamic theology, the temptations of power, the intrusion of anti-Christian philosophies, World War I and the social distress that followed."
That would apply to all of Europe. The Netherlands have had a robust theology and piety. They are in the strongest state on the continent with large serious-minded congregations, denominations and seminaries, generous to a fault, but limited by the little influence of their language.
The UK is dominated by the Church of England, and its evangelicalism is basically Amyraldian, as is the best of Australia's. There have been some notable exceptions, and maybe some have been turning to the truth.
The Reformed faith in the UK has been kept alive by a network of little churches, publishing houses, little seminaries and magazines, camps and conferences. We are singularly without leaders today; for example, there is no one who can fill a church building for a mid-week meeting. God has chosen to work through a crowd of anonymous men within the alternative societies of gospel churches. I guess there are 100 plus in Wales. Our Principality has particular problems with the huge linguistic decline in the past 100 years, down from 80% Welsh-speaking to 18%. The rural decline has been especially acute, and the loss of what was labour-intensive farming has emptied the north and country heartland. Socialism has been the religion of Wales all my life. Abandoning God, they have clung to redemption by Caesar, and it has utterly failed. The mentality of state dependence is not a happy one; it creates a grumbling spirit, and the State is increasingly intrusive. The latest circus Caesar offers this very week is a mega gambling casino, and having granted homosexuals civil partnerships (marriages in all but name) and increasing 'rights,' and the drinkers 24-hour drinking, then the licensing of brothels, the legalisation of so-called soft drugs and euthanasia are all creeping remorselessly nearer.
We have no prophet to address the nation. There was no major figure in any denomination at the end of the 19th century to stand up and resist modernism, and so they died in one another's arms, looking into one another's eyes, ghoulishly comforted that they'd all got the right prognosis in embracing Higher Criticism.
So you have those accurate evaluations of Dr Tudur Jones which would apply to any European country and to Canada too, but then you must heed what Hudson Taylor wisely stated, that it is imperative to always refer to the First Cause. Calvinists must especially heed that word. You can list the forces dominating the nation, but you must say, why has God permitted this? Why didn't God raise up another Lloyd-Jones, or many such, in all the denominations? Why did God allow the declension?
You come to the conclusion that God resists the proud; that God spews the lukewarm out of his mouth; that if the Spirit of God is quenched then there can be no life, illumination or santification. God gives sinners up to their indulgences. The wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness of men and this is what we are experiencing in the UK. We live in a Romans chapter one culture. We are under the divine cosh and deservedly so.
So we have the calling to work while it is day, to intercede (I have met for almost ten years every Friday morning at 7 a.m. with ten men and some women in praying for God to revive his work), preach the whole counsel of God and don't let the music deflect that intrusive word getting right inside men and women, be filled with the Spirit, reform the churches, be instant in and out of season, love the Lord with all our might, be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, follow the suffering Servant in his whole lifestyle, work with double usefulness to get the word out, etc. 100 per cent man.
That's us. No secret at all to what we have to do. Our weapons and resources are perfectly sufficient for the task that is ours. No one will blame God in that great day that he had failed us, that our supply of the Spirit was inadequate. Yet 100% God; he must arise and bless us. In his wrath towards our cold hearts he must show mercy and revive his work. He blesses his faithful people. Our calling is to work while it is light, rightly divide the word of truth, hate sin, pluck out the right eye if it offends us, love the brethren, test the spirits, despise everything that panders to the flesh, preach from every part of the Bible, build up holy, loving, evangelistic congregations, and all the time, in this daytime work, beseech him to favour us with his blessing.
Oh my goodness...someone who actually tells it exactly as it is. May God be merciful to us for our hardness of hearts and grant to us a renewed spirit.
America could very well be next.
Barring another Reformation, I think we're in the last days. By my calculations I figure May 2054. :o)
I'll get busy. ;-)
As an aside, I watched "Elizabeth" the other night. That era of the Church fascinates me. I'm currently reading a "summary" of Church History and plan to continue.
I am woefully ignorant in that area.
I agree. Fascinating era!
Perhaps the next church will take place on the Internet. I never had an interest in any of this until I started reading all the various views.
I'll have to check out Elizabeth....er, well, you know what I mean. :O)
Anyone who talks real theology in 21st century British churches are decried "how un-English" (read: "American")
For though the fig tree blossom not nor fruit be on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive fail and the terraces produce no nourishment,
Though the flocks disappear from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,
Yet will I rejoice in the LORD and exult in my saving God.
GOD, my Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet swift as those of hinds and enables me to go upon the heights.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.