Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - July/68

Contributor - R.A. Hartmans

Title - Is The Church Unable To Accept The Children The Lord Brings Home?

Topic - Church In The World

When we read the New Testament we may notice how often the Lord calls his children in unusual situations. Simon and Andrew were called away from their fishing nets at the Sea of Galilee. Zaccheus was perched on a tree branch when Jesus called him to come down, and both Paul and the minister of the Queen of the Ethiopians were called while traveling on a highway.

Today, the Church still seeks to present the call in unusual places. This month, for instance, Stan Izon, Leighton Ford's executive associate, will begin with youth evangelism in one of the most beautiful resort areas in Canada, the Jasper National Park. We read in Decision that a number of Christian students will minister to about two thousand students who seek employment in the thriving tourist industry. The students will form a penetration team in the national park. They will approach off-duty workers as well as the vacationers in an informal way while mingling with them in the park. Invitations will be extended to attend the evening gatherings at the D. S. McCready Christian Center in Jasper, and, if possible, at the Jasper Lodge. A group of singers by the name of "New Trend" from the University of Alberta will be providing music. Also, of course, Gospel messages will be given followed by discussion sessions.

As Decision states, "In an atmosphere of mountain trails, lakeside barbecues, and coffee houses, it is expected that many young people will discover for themselves, through honest evaluation and informal encounter, that the meaning of life is Jesus Christ, and will give their lives to his service."

Another of the unusual places where believers seek to present the Good News is the hippie havens in California. Christianity Today of June 7 notes that many of the people in these hippie havens have church backgrounds.

Southern Baptist evangelist. Arthus Blessit operates a coffeehouse by the name of "His Place" on famous Sunset Strip in Hollywood. Each night some 500 "customers" fill the place to benefit from the free coffee and sandwiches, popular Gospel music and midnight sermons. "Five or six receive Christ every night," Blessit states.

The evangelist has found also ,that many of his visitors have come from well-to-do families. An increasing number are ministers' sons. Many have dropped out of the regular society because they are profoundly disturbed with the ways of society. Those with a Christian background frequently complain about the "hypocrisy" and "misery" of Christianity as practiced at home.

As a matter of fact, those who have found the Lord, find it hard to fit into the churches "back home". Another evangelist, Pastor John MacDonald of the "Living Room" coffeehouse, says "hippie converts have native inclinations to reject the institutional, regimented aspects of the Church". While another Christian coffeehouse worker states, "Most of our people want to share Christ with the hippies, but not their pews until the hippies conform to ,straight' appearances."

This leads me to wonder if something might be wrong if on the one hand the Lord uses the Church to reach His people in strange places, while, on the other hand His Church seems to be unable to accept the children whom He brings home.

Please click the "Back" button of your browser to return to previous page.