Basic HTML Version
34
teaching m a seminary consists of les–
sons (usual!y bad) on how to write ser–
moas and baptize babies" (p. xii).
A survey by
Dr.
Robert
E.
Mitchell
at Columbia University's Bureau of
Applied Social Research revealed that a
minister uses his specialized training
much less than most professionals such
as doctors or lawyers.
One study,
tn
fact, shows that
clergymen spend only
1/10
of their
time dealing with theology and rituaL
The average minister spends 40 percent
of his time in administration and an
additional
15
percent in organization or
parish education. Yet the concentration
of courses in seminary is on the aca–
demic subjects rather than on the skills
most often called upon by the parish
minister.
Many theological training schools
and seminaries fail to prepare the young
clergy candidatc for what actually
awaits him in a local church. As onc
clergyman, who left the ministry, put it:
"The realization of how things
really are in a church, and how different
they are from what we have been led to
believe, shocks almost every minister.
One disheartening discovery comes after
another, like a series of blows for which
the classical seminary currículum cannot
prepare one."
No wonder one Protestant minister in
eight and one Catholic priest out of
four are cootemplating resignation!
Admitted Loss of Influence
Most of the causes of problems in the
churches fall into one of three broad
categories:
l.
The affltmJce and prosperity of
W estern society.
The rise of affiuence
and the decline of religious fervency
seem to be almost directly proportiooal.
Down through history, the more opu–
lent and prosperous a people or nation,
the more of a sham and show became
its religion. "God" is for the poor, the
destitute and affiicted, it seems. For
those who have "outgrown" it - the
well-to-do, wealthy, and well-fed
there is the "God concept."
Instead of a supernatural God in
heaven, all sorts of "false gods" are the
object of worship today. Dr. Reinhold
Niebuhr of Union Theological Semi-
The
PLAlN TRUTH
nary stated: "The false gods are
obvious. The primary one is physícal
power and comfort." Professor
W.
S.
Reíd of McGíll University paraph rased
today's primary one as America's "stan–
dard of living."
Even Moses is reported to have told
the Children of Israel before they were
to enter the Promised Land: "When
thou hast eaten and art full ... beware
that thou forgct not the Lord thy God"
(Deut.
8: 10-11 ) .
The Western wor!d is
no longer really conscious of that God.
2 .
Lack of a renlral religio!IJ allthor–
ity.
Traditionally, Protestants and Jews
have appealed to the Bible for their
authority. But this has been more in
theory than in fact, since there is no
agreement about what the Bible means
or how to understand
it.
Catholics have appealed to Council
and Pope for authority. But the admit–
ted schisms and cracks inside the
Roman Catholic Church show this no
longer holds true for many modero
Catholics. The issue of birth control has
demonstrated the lack of dominion the
church exercises for many Catholics.
The majority of Protestant churches
are founded on the principie of democ–
racy. This often leaves the clergy sub–
servient to the wishes of the laymeo.
But as has been pointed out, the uncon–
cern and ignorance of the congregation
often hamstrings the minister who tries
to apply his sincere conviction of
right and wrong. Dr. Mitchell's study,
reported in
Redbook,
found that "the
successful minister is therefore the one
who adapts to his parishioners' prej–
udices and wishes."
(Redbook,
January
l964.)
3.
The irrelevance of the chmch to
lhe modem wodd mzd tife in gene1·al.
One religion editor of a newspaper gave
a list of words by which many people
described their churches. These included
"simpering, servile, unctuous and
mummified."
In
1969
thc
National Observer,
a
weekly newspaper, conducted a dis–
cussion on religion with eight high
school leaders from a "typical" high
school. Their comments centered on the
fact that they found little connection
between services on Sunday morning
and real everyday life.
J une
1971
Is T bere a Solution ?
Whi le there are other problems and
considerations, most would fall under
these three main headings. Until these
basic problems are solved, churches will
continue to be in a state of crisis.
The problems in the churches led a
major news magazine to entitle an
article: "U. S. Protestantism: Time for a
Second Reformation."
More than one minister and theo–
logian has voiced the conviction that the
nations need another "Jeremiah" - a
modern-day prophet who will really
stand up and "tell it like it is."
Today's typical minister has been
described as "no prophet but rather a
skilled politician." Dr. John Thompson,
chaplain of Hiram College, explains
it: "He is leading his people back
to the flesh pots of Egypt rather
than forward to the Promised Land."
(
Christianity Today,
June
24, 1966.)
People recognize the need for a
leader. But do they want a
real leader?
Syndicated columnist Sydney J. Harris
described a
/me leader
as one who
"tells people hard truths, gives them a
difficult path to follow, calls upon
their highest qualities, not their basest
instincts. A true leader does not tell us
what we want to hear, but what we
ought to hear."
But would people accept such lead–
ership? Would the people have the
sense to distinguish genuine leadership
and truth from the false?
The original Jeremiah was labelled a
traitor because, his detractors said, he
"bad mouthed" his country. At least
one of his colleagues was murdered
in
cold blood for standing up for the
truth. Would a contemporary "Jere–
miah" receive anything less from
today's society? Time will
te!
l.
For further reading you are welcome
to write for these additional free reprint
articles: "Why God is Not Real to
Most People," and "What Is a Real
Christian?"
Also, you may have an already–
pai~
subscription to the ToMORRow's
WORLO magazine, edited and published
by the Ambassador College Graduate
School of Theology. These are all given
FREE
as a public service by Ambassador
College to those who request them
personally. O