Jesus Cropped from the Picture

The Traditional Method

scriptura,” and suspicion of the Roman Catholic Church, some Traditionals make a wholesale dismissal of the lessons of Church history. For them, Scripture is the only source of ecclesiology, viewing New Testament practices as prescriptive for contemporary church settings. The Glory Days Some Traditionals long for a specific period when their local church was at its height. For example, a church may recall the 1970s (or 1980s) when programs were vital, attendance was high, and the future looked bright. After this period, the church may have maintained its vitality, but never as much as “the glory days.” For this kind of Traditional, this “gold standard” era is used to measure all current church activities. Frontier Revivalism The final sentimental era is Frontier Revivalism , an American phenomenon of the Great Awakenings of 1730-1840, where traveling evangelists preached compelling sermons to large crowds in frontier towns, inviting them to turn to Christ for salvation. For some Traditionals, especially those who frequently mention the need for revival, this was an idyllic time that needs to be recovered. Frontier Revivalists changed the goal of preaching. 75 Historically, the Church had taught that every member should function within a local church that represents Jesus Christ against the principalities and powers of evil. The Revivalists shifted this perspective from a corporate proclamation of the Lordship of Jesus, to an attempt to make individual converts .

119