Credibility Gap
THE sophisticated cities of today's world pose problems for the minister that are unique and difficult. Evangelizing the cities was never easy, but never before was it more difficult. Nor, may I add, has God ever been more ready to display His power.
If, indeed, these cities are impossible, would an all-wise God commission us to disciple them? To answer Yes is to question heaven's credibility, and I would sooner question ours.
The hard fact is that while some are pompously proclaiming that it can't be done, others are doing it. "The age of tents is past," one sage opines. Another pitches a tent and packs it nightly for eleven weeks. Hundreds are baptized. "The traditional form of evangelism is outdated," gloomily philosophizes another. His fellow pastor, being ignorant of this and knowing no other form, keeps building and filling churches. "People just don't respond to preaching any more," cries another pseudo sage. Another man, another city, another story. My own ears weary of these idle tales. How long, 0 Lord, how long will the experts "spurt"?
It is incredible that, in the light of the evidence, past and present, this quibble can continue. Perhaps there is an explanation. You see, the fearful need a balm to salve their consciences. If a minister can be truly satisfied not confronting the unchurched year after year with the claims of the gospel, he has missed his calling. Responses will vary in quantity and quality with different cities and men. But let there be no unvarying sameness based on pessimistic paralysis. Let our philosophy be: "It can't be done, it has never been done; therefore, I will do it."
E. E. C.
LOFTY PERCH
"MEN may rise on the stepping-stones of their dead selves to higher things." -TENNYSON.
The problem lies in the reaction of the man himself to the failure of a plan, project, or idea. It is in essence a problem of personal resiliency. Have you the courage of a Lincoln or an Edison —to build each failure into the ladder of success as a step? This is the heart of the question.
To be sure, there are no indestructible men. The most shining examples of achieving persons are products of joy and sorrow. And further, they have had moments of doubt, frustration, and discouragement. But they bounce back! Elijah left his cave and Peter his Gethsemane. Moses emerged from Midian and Paul from Arabia. But why could not the whale digest a Jonah or boiling oil blur the vision of the seer of Patmos?
The answer lies in the ability of the individual to recover and proceed. Such a man exudes an air of invincibility, for he cannot be permanently diverted. This kind of courage cannot be transmitted through birth. It is implanted at the new birth. It is a fruit of faith— (1) Faith in the power and truthfulness of the message, (2) faith in one's own calling to proclaim it, and (3) faith that he is where God wants him to be. Such faith summons the brain to its highest duty—that of probing the problem for points of penetration till breakthrough is accomplished. This requires dedicated, single-minded men. Such men view failure as a contribution to their own education. The following parable illustrates this:
The specter of Failure appeared at a minister's door. "May I come in?" he asked.
"Why, of course. I was expecting you," the minister said.
"That is why I came," exclaimed Failure.
"But you misunderstand," replied the minister. "You see, without you I cannot go where I want to nor do what I have to. Standing on you provides just the height needed to reach the shelf where success is perched."
E. E. C.
