What about evangelism crusades at large stadiums?

One of the awkward parts of seeking to follow the regulative principle of worship, that Puritan notion that we are free in worship only to do what the Bible expressly commands, is determining what falls under the category of the “elements” of worship and what falls under the “circumstances.” Typically elements describe what- prayer, preaching, while circumstances describe how- indoors, on pews. But the lines are not so easily drawn. Is a kneeling bench for prayer an element or a circumstance?

Applied to this question we ought, of course, affirm that preaching to large numbers, calling for repentance, is perfectly wonderful. Peter, at Pentecost, could be described as preaching a crusade. The gospel was preached and 3000 saints were added to the fold. Why then would anyone have a concern about crusades in stadiums? The issue isn’t the preaching, or the stadium. What raises eyebrows are some of the associated “circumstances.”

Perhaps the center of the objection lies in the charge of manipulation. Some crusades have been known to “prime the pump.” Here people are coached to come forward who already believe, as a goad to those who are considering going forward. Sometimes the music, even the preaching is said to be manipulative, more intent on garnering the circumstance of coming forward than the element of trusting in Christ. Some even grumble that all this is in principle an attempt to manipulate the Holy Spirit.

We who are Reformed are experts at grumbling about the evangelistic methods of others, not quite so good at evangelism ourselves, sadly having to reach back Whitefield and Edwards as proof of our zeal for evangelism. Those two saints, however, haven’t won souls in quite some time. I fear this is often driven by jealousy for our reputations. Because non-Reformed people are succeeding and we are not, we tear down rather than build up. We are cynics.

To be sure there are things to be cynical about. There is the manipulation problem. There is some weak preaching. There is, perhaps worst of all, weak follow up. And sadly, long term, the numbers that are often touted don’t hold true. But, God is an expert at making straight lines out of crooked sticks. Who knows how many souls behold his glory even now because of the crusades of Billy Graham? Who knows how many hands Louis Palau will shake in eternity? We need to fight off the temptation of smug dismissal.

On the other hand, with humility and recognizing our own crookedness, there is nothing wrong with noting the crookedness of the sticks that are crooked. To challenge the propriety of this method or that isn’t to deny the glory of the souls saved or to deny that God is at work. Let the wood, hay and stubble be burned away, and let us strengthen the things that remain. Finally, we need also to be careful of seeing these events as the principle way in which the lost are brought in, to cover our own failure to seek the lost either by depending on such methods or despising them. I can’t imagine a worthy goal that is rightly served by error and manipulation. On the other hand I can’t imagine a circumstance where the gospel is faithfully preached that we should oppose.