WISDOM and CHILDISH BEHAVIOUR in EVANGELISM
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WISDOM and CHILDISH BEHAVIOUR in EVANGELISM A Study in the Life and Ministry of Jedediah Burchard. “How can I describe the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the market-place and shouting at each other. For John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He is possessed.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!’ And yet God’s wisdom is proved right by all who are her children.” (Luke 7: 32-35.) by Robert Evans 2016 1 This book is published by the Author. The documents quoted in this book are all in the public domain. It is a project of Research in Evangelical Revivals. Printed copies may be obtained from the Author, and from co- operating bookstores. It can also be downloaded from www.revivals.arkangles.com Rev. Robert Evans. OAM. MA. P.O. Box 131. Hazelbrook. N.S.W. 2779. Australia. [email protected] Copyright 2016. I.S.B.N. 978-0-9945203-0-2 2 TABLE of CONTENTS PART ONE Introduction. 7 1. Introducing Jedediah Burchard. 11 2. George Gale’s Autobiography. 23 Finney’s Letter. 34 PART TWO Published Reports about Burchard in New York State. 3. The 1831 Revival. Jefferson and Oneida Ctys. 37 4. Later in 1832. Lewis and Broome Counties. 49 5. Monroe County. Rochester and Brockport. 57 6. Cortland County – Homer. 72 7. Monroe County again. Review. 106 PART THREE (1834 – 1835) Vermont’s “Burned – Over District.” 8. Before Burchard. 112 9. Rev. Dr. Joshua Bates. 114 10. First Reports about Burchard in Vermont. 121 11. Positive Reports of His Missions. 130 3 Windsor 131 Springfield 133 Weathersfield 149 Grafton 159 Woodstock 162 Norwich 173 Montpelier 176 Royalton 181 Shoreham 185 Hinesburgh 192 Williston 195 PART FOUR Attacks by Eastman and Streeter. 1. Eastman’s copies of Burchard’s Sermons. 202 2. Streeter’s Version of Events. 251 A local editor gives open support to Burchard. 256 PART FIVE 13. Withington’s “Review” of Eastman. 257 14 Joshua Leavitt’s “Reply.” 268 4 PART SIX The Destruction of Burchard’s Evangelism in Vermont. 15 James Marsh and the Local and General Associations. 273 James Marsh 279 Documents from Vermont 292 Documents from Connecticut. 323 Documents from Massachusetts. 337 Joshua Leavitt’s Criticism. Reply to Leavitt. 17. Edward N. Kirk’s Attempt at Wisdom. 350 Some Conclusions. 355 Bibliography. 367 Index. 373 5 6 PART ONE INTRODUCTION It is not only the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and Lawyers, who were able to behave in a childish manner, as described by the Lord. It has been practiced, and is practiced today, by a great many ordinary Christians, as well as by many members of the clergy, by academics, and by apparent experts in the field of evangelism and missionary work. This book serves several purposes. It studies some interesting details in the history and practice of evangelism, such as some of the difficulties which arise when Christian leaders must deal with an evangelist with difficult aspects to his or her personality; the dangers of “party spirit” in Christian work, and sad results which can flow when Christians do not possess the patience and wisdom which they really need to achieve the best results in evangelism. This book also studies a neglected chapter in the history of American revivals – the life and ministry of Jedediah Burchard; his role in the revivals in upstate New York around the time of the great revival of 1831, and in the “burned-over” period in Vermont. 1. The impact of “strange personalities” upon Christian work is an interesting subject to explore. People with strange personality features in Christian work, or in any other situation, can produce results which are difficult for the rest of us to cope with. Naturally we all think of ourselves as “normal,” and that 7 everyone else is peculiar, more or less. And this is what prompts the famous old saying that “All the world is queer except me and thee, and even thee is a little queer.” However, in some notable cases, it is clear that some Christian workers and ministers do have some aspects of their personalities which are widely considered to be “odd,” or difficult. For example, many years ago I greatly enjoyed reading a biography about a famous Chinese evangelist - Dr. John Sung. 1 There was no doubt that the Lord chose to use him in a most wonderful way, and as a result Dr. Sung saw marvellous movements of the Holy Spirit in his meetings, and as a result of his work. He was a very successful evangelist, and many conversions occurred. At one stage he developed a healing ministry, also, as an aspect of his work, and some astonishing healing miracles occurred in his meetings in answer to prayer. And lest people should think too much of the man, rather than of God who gave the miracles, John Sung developed cancer and died at the early age of 42 years. But there were certain aspects of his character which many people found were difficult to cope with. He could be very abrasive at times, and be unaware of the feelings of those who worked with him. And these factors produced some sad results. It would have been much better if everyone was perfect – but, of course, they are not. On the other hand, it is also most probably true in many of these cases that the peculiar features we have mentioned as negative also played a powerful positive role in many other aspects of the person’s life and ministry, glorifying God in other ways, which tended not to be recognized or thought of by the 1 Leslie T. Lyall, John Sung . a Biography of Dr John Sung: Flame for God in the Far East. London. China Inland Mission. 1956. Revised edition. About the healing ministry see Bertha Smith. Go Home and Tell . A Missionary in China during and after the time of Dr John Sung. Nashville. Broadman Press. 1965 8 people who suffered in a negative way from that person’s personality, and who felt the negative impacts. 2. Almost anyone who is active in the public square will have supporters, and critics, who either disagree largely or entirely with what this person did. Or else they think that distortion or lack of balance is being practiced in some way. This applies in many ways in missionary and evangelistic work which is being done in the name of Jesus Christ. However, this kind of “party spirit” is almost always a second best thing. It does not allow the practice of God’s wisdom by human leaders. So it is important for Christians to learn a better level of wisdom, in order to achieve what is best for the kingdom of God. There are many aspects to this problem area. The Lord Himself stated the problem quite directly. “How can I describe the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the market-place and shouting at each other. For John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He is possessed.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!’ And yet God’s wisdom is proved right by all who are her children” 2 God’s wisdom is proved right by its results. Lack of wisdom is always a point where lessons can be learned. 3. Decisions by leaders in any sphere often may intend well, but the results which follow can damage or destroy the very good thing which the leader was aiming at when the decision was being made. 2 Luke 7: 31 – 35. (New English Bible.) 9 This can happen easily when Christian leaders have to decide how they are going to cope with a new thing which has arisen, and which is different from what they are used to, or from what is normal. This book is a study of a particular example of an evangelist, talented in certain ways, greatly used by God, but who had personality issues, which created difficulties for himself, and for many people. In the work of God, this kind of thing can have devastating results upon the evangelistic and missionary work of the reviving of the Church, and the spreading of the Gospel around the world. In the case of Jedediah Burchard, lack of wisdom in the way he himself behaved, and lack of wisdom in other church leaders caused antagonisms which produced long-term destructive effects on the evangelistic work of the churches, and bringing evangelism in many of these churches into a state of decline. It is not correct to blame this evangelist for all of the bad effects, because many other people were also involved, who made bad decisions which affected the future of their churches in a negative way. But his own personality factors were strongly involved, and were the initial trigger of problems. In the end, however, God worked to glorify His name, and part of that glory is seen in how God is able to use imperfect people. 4. In an important sense, the whole of our understanding of the history of evangelism and revivals in New England and upstate New York between 1830 and 1860 needs to be re-written, because American history has been viewed up until today on the basis of a very lop-sided understanding of the life and work of this man.