I have just finished reading A Rising Tide: Evangelical
Christianity in New Zealand 1930–65 by my friend, mentor, and colleague,
Stuart Lange.
Like Destiny by Peter Lineham referred to in the previous blog-post,
it is a fine book. Both Lineham and Lange are great writers. I enjoyed Stuart’s
book greatly. Dr Lange writes as an observer-participant. As one who has worked
with Stuart in Affirm, the evangelical wing of the Presbyterian Church for the
last 20 years or so, I read it with the same bias; although in a more indirect
sense only joining the story in the mid-80s. Certainly my bias led me to find a
lot to love about the book, as I found context for the movement I have participated
in since my conversion in 1985. Indeed, this occurred at one of the evangelical
churches that represents the evangelical stream Lange explores—St Columbas
Presbyterian then under the leadership of Rev Graeme Murray, an important
evangelical leader. It was intriguing seeing familiar names like Roxburgh,
Meadowcroft, Don Elley, Derek Eaton, and so on.
The book certainly describes the period of the rising tide
of Presbyterian and Anglican evangelicalism. It was reaffirmed to me that I am
an heir not to some of the more belligerent American forms of evangelicalism, but the more irenic British evangelicalism
represented by the likes of Stott and Packer. I feel I now understand more
fully the tradition I stand in in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ and Presbyterian
Affirm. I am indebted to the wonderful work done for the evangelicals who went
before. The word “evangelical” is much maligned, but the story woven by Lange
gives me a more positive and optimistic sense of ownership of “my” heritage. I
found myself more motivated than before to live a life faithful to the gospel.
For me, like J.I. Packer, evangelicalism is defined by “faithfulness
to Scripture.” This leads to a range of other core elements of Christian life
like image bearing; gospel; Christ and Christ alone; a life filled with the
Spirit; God in history and creation; the problem of sin and evil; mission with
evangelism at its centre but embracing the transformation of a world; faith,
hope, and love; conversionism; crucicentricism; the second coming; eternal
judgment; and eternal life, among others. Knowing how to read and apply the
Scriptures remains my deepest desire.
I was struck throughout his descriptions of core leaders by
the recurring reference to the importance of biblical preaching and exposition,
prayer, and passion. In this regard, the description of evangelicalism in many
ways reflects Stuart Lange. I know him well and found in the story of his
forebears reasons he is what he is. He knows the story in which he is embedded
and has sought to live the best of it. In my biased view, he is an embodiment
of the positives of the story. He has carried on the work of Miller, Orange,
and others, and the evangelical heritage has been in great hands.
A few things bugged me. I wish there were chapters on the evangelicalism
in the Baptist, Open Brethren, an d Methodist movements. They were not without
mention, but I think a full picture of evangelicalism would include these two
important evangelical traditions more fully. I feel the book is slightly misnamed
and should include specifically evangelicalism as represented in universities,
Anglicanism, and Presbyterianism. The book to me calls for further volumes that
explore other evangelical traditions and
their relationship to those described in this fine book.
I thought there may be more critique of the evangelical
movement. Disputes and limitations were mentioned. However, the tone is very
positive, unsurprising for an author who identifies so strongly with it. I
wondered if more thought could be given to why, despite the rise of
evangelicalism, the two denominations and university ministries mentioned have
declined (including the evangelical wing). Why has it declined? In the PCANZ
evangelicalism has become more dominant, despite some very vibrant parishes
like Stuart Lange’s own church in Massey, overall it is declining like all the
Church. What has gone wrong? Was it avoidable? What did the Westminster Fellowship
and other organisations fail to do that may have contributed? Why did so many
abdicate even evangelical mainline churches for Pentecostalism? What blind
spots led to this? I don’t have the answers myself, or better, I have some
ideas, but I would like to have heard his view. To me the book demands a series
of sequels looking at the charismatic renewal more closely, and the subsequent
history including the decline of the WF and the rise of Affirm. Perhaps Stuart
is not the one to write such stories, as he is so embroiled in the subsequent
period that it may need the hand of someone a little further removed. The good
news is that Stuart Lange is well-positioned to look for able Church History
PhD students to carry on the story and extend it.
All in all, I loved this book. I am excited to read such
wonderful works from Kiwis like Peter L and Stuart L. I recommend these two
books heartily to all who want to understand who we are in NZ.
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