Floating the Mainstream
Posted by Chris on May 25, 2008 under Sermons
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Strengths and Weaknesses
- A people of the Book.
- More concerned about what the Bible said than those around us.
- Not pursuing the American dream but seeking the kingdom.
- Evangelistic and growing numerically.
- Cared for the poor and hungry.
- Race relations – still too much a part of Southern culture.
- The reputation that: “They think they’re the only ones going to heaven.”
- Many disputed more, prayed less, and forced conformity to a narrow view of doctrinal correctness.
The Impact of World War 2
- Post-WW2 decades push church into the mainstream
- Three factors:
– Education
– World Missions
– Middle-class acculturation
Missions
- In 1946 the Broadway church called a national meeting to discuss missions cooperation.
- The “Sponsoring Congregation” Plan
– Broadway in Lubbock, Texas, for Germany
– Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, for Japan
– Crescent Hill in Brownfield, Texas, for Italy
Women in Missions
- Sarah Andrews, Japan, 1916 – 1961
- Hettie Lee Ewing, Japan, 1926
- Elizabeth Bernard, China, Hong Kong, 1933-1971
- Irene Johnson-Gatewood, Germany, post-WW2
Education
- Impact of G.I. Bill
– Abilene Christian College, Harding College, David Lipscomb College, Freed-Hardeman College, and Pepperdine College attendance increased. - Between 1942-1964 eleven new Christian colleges are formed in the U.S.
- Funding came from churches, members, and business leaders.
If You Build it …
- Attractive buildings are tools for evangelism
- Special programs for all members of the family
– Responded to “Baby Boom” - New ministries
– Multi-staff
– Education, youth, campus
Madison Church of Christ
- “You Can March for the Master,” Ira North, 1959
- Madison’s explosive growth made it the model for church growth techniques in many congregations in the U.S.
- North emphasized one-to-one evangelism
Jule Miller Filmstrips
- A recorded narrative with pictures
- Provided ordinary church members with an attractively-packaged “plan of salvation”
Christian Broadcasting
- Herald of Truth began national broadcasting on radio in 1952. Television in 1954.
- Batsell Barrett Baxter joined in 1959 as the speaker.
- Rise of new journalism
– 20th Century Christian
– Power for Today
– Christian Chronicle (1943)
In the Mainstream
- Periodicals, broadcasts, lectureships and workshops created a mainstream identity.
- National recognition and influenced accepted
– Celebrities (such as Pat Boone)
– 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair Exhibit
Innovation and Change
- Growth meant innovative methods
- Financial cooperation to support
– missions
– colleges
– media evangelism
– para-church institutions (children’s homes, etc.) - Suspicion: new methods are based on a desire for worldly prestige or attempt to control.
- Individuals might support innovations but not churches.
The Gospel Guardian
- Fanning Yater Tant, editor of The Gospel Guardian:
- Opposed “sponsoring congregations”
- Used the argument from silence
- Threatened autonomy and non-denominational Christianity
Advocate vs. Guardian
- The debate rhetoric was so strong on both sides that a split took place.
- In 1954, B.C. Goodpasture, editor of the Gospel Advocate, called for a “quarantine” of the “anti-cooperation” faction.
- 2,000 congregations (120,000 members) maintained the non-institutional position.
The Winds of Change
- The Church was no longer culturally alienated – it was now “mainstream.”
– Members were generally more educated and affluent. - Innovation generated amazing growth and opposition
– A tension for the Restoration movement
– Innovations of an earlier age forgotten
– Innovation to come questioned - Ambiguous relationship with politics
– Opposed Catholic President (1960)
– Uninvolved in Civil Rights (1964) - Theology remained rational and issue-oriented (for both groups in split)
– The ancient order of things
– Three-part hermeneutic
– Argument from silence
What do we do when the mainstream goes the wrong way?