Found this gem from George Marsden’s Fundamentalism and American Culture (which I am reading for class). If you happen agree with this tract, you ought to checkout Net Finney.
11 thoughts on “Bad Theology – Exhibit A”
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Found this gem from George Marsden’s Fundamentalism and American Culture (which I am reading for class). If you happen agree with this tract, you ought to checkout Net Finney.
Comments are closed.
I remember actually seeing one of the originals at Moody behind glass. My response to it was not well received. It’s like a Christian form of dualism.
Ah…those were the days…when life was as simple as a decision… 😛
I can’t tell you how much I cringe to think of things like this now, and how much I used to believe in them.
Having studied a little of the history of fundamentalism, I have come to the realization that most everything I read early on was from this tradtion (e.g. Moody, Torrey, Murray, etc). I had heard of and read this illustration and thought it was a compelling evangelistic technique.
Then I read my Bible, and ruined all of that.
Now, I would be amiss to fail to mention how much I was stimulated in my passion for evangelism and soul winning through the example and leadership of men like Moody. When was reading Moody, I was at the same time seeing many of my friends who had a more accurate understanding of the gospel but was doing nothing with it.
Then I was introdued to Spurgeon, Edwards, Puritans, etc., and later William Carey, Adoniram Judson, and Andrew Fuller.
Moody didn’t believe theology was important and ignored it altogether (ironically, he founded Moody Bible Institute), and such a gospel tract reveals how tragic such an apathetic approach to theology rakes the character of God over the coals. On the other hand, there are fellow Reformed brethren who can articulate the finer points of theology but cannot and do not share the love of Christ with the world. My hope is that we can see a revival of both in our day–passion for the truth of the gospel with a hot heart for those who do not know Christ.
Timmy: Ummm… hee hee. Just couldn’t resist. I like the last part of your comment. I apologize and beg your forgiveness, but I really like Moody’s tract. So sorry. SelahV
I grew up hearing this from the pulpit. One time there was a Calvinist present. When he got a chance to preach he said, “There are three things wrong with that. First, God is sovereign, he doesn’t have to vote. Second, Satan’s not registered to vote. And third, you were to young to vote when the election took place.”
JEREMY: That’s really a great argument. Thanks. selahV
Timmy,
I have that book. I had to read it in college. I think I am going to re-read it. I didn’t have any sense back then and just didn’t understand what it was talking about.
I came from a Pre-Trib Dispensationalist church. Now I am reformed and very different.
Jeremy,
I love that quote.
art
Jeremy,
Great way of putting it. 🙂
SelahV,
No need to apologize. I believed the tract at one time as well. Maybe if you hang around I can convince you otherwise.
Art,
Marsden really does a job on the pre and post mil viewpoints on culture, especially how the change they sought moved from public and political (post mil optimism) to private and pietistic (pre mil pessimism). I had a lot of light bulbs turn on when I read this book. I am looking at writing a paper on the relationship of evangelism and social work in the lives of fundamentals. Some were “missional” back then while others focused only on “winning souls” (a la Moody).
You learn to savor every small victory in IFB/KJV world. 🙂