Walter Scott migrated to the US in 1818 from Scotland. He was a member of the Church of Scotland. He received his education from the University of Edinburgh. After coming to America, he taught and worshipped with a Scottish Baptist church in Pittsburgh. Scott met and struck up a friendship with Alexander Campbell in 1821. They found that they had common ground and that they were in many ways kindred spirits. Scott contributed articles on evangelism for the initial issue of The Christian Baptist, Campbell’s first Journal. Walter Scott suggested the name Christian Baptist. In 1827, the Mahoning Baptist association was looking for and evangelist for the Western Reserve. The previous year the 17 churches of the association baptized 34 people. Campbell recommended Scott for the position of Evangelist for the association.
In his first year as Evangelist, he baptized nearly a thousand people and averaged a thousand per year for the next 30 years. While 1827 was a banner year for Scott the evangelist of the association had an even better year in 1828, which was often called “year of wonders.”
In the revivals of that time, there were a large number of responses. Scott, however, was dissatisfied with the situation he found. He was dissatisfied with the number respondents but his dissatisfaction was with the common practice of the respondents. While the churches of the association all practiced immersion, they had not come to a decision on what to do about the question, “what must I do to be saved?”
The problem was the religious tradition of Calvinism, which left the people feeling helpless about their salvation and election by God. Those who responded to the invitation came to the mourner’s bench or anxious bench. This practice was one where the respondent kneeled and prayed for a breakthrough. Waiting, crying and shaking seeking a sign from God that they had been accepted. One can imagine the overwhelming majority of respondents never received a word from God, which left them feeling helpless and hopeless. Scott came up with an idea to circumvent this practice of “praying through” at the mourner’s bench or anxious bench and waiting for a sign from God of their election.
In his studies, Scott found what he believed to be the answer, which he called “the ancient gospel” and latter wrote a book on this subject called “The gospel restored.” He summarized the gospel in six points; this gave those independent minded frontier people who responded something that they could do in the salvation process. The three things that humans could do were to believe, repent and be baptized. God made three promises forgiveness of sins, gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life.
He later shortened the six things to five, which led to a five-finger evangelistic method. Here are the five things, believe, repent, be baptized, forgiveness of sins and gift of the Holy Spirit. The problem with this method was that the formula could become legalistic. Scott did not use it in a legalistic way because he kept focus on the central teaching of Christianity, Jesus is the Christ. Even though his formula was being successfully used before the joining of Stone and Campbell in 1832, the evangelist of the movement adopted the formula and used it effectively.
Those who came later changed the formula somewhat and in their hands, it did become legalistic. In fact, those who came along later made it all about what the individual did and not about what God did. I would suggest that when you remove “forgiveness of sins” and replace it with “confession” then take away “the gift of the Holy Spirit” and substitute “walk in newness of life” or “live the Christian life” you have if not removed God from the process then diminished his role in the event. This may appeal to our independent frontier spirit but can potentially lead to a human centered religion rather than one that is Christ centered.
Why do you think that Scott was so successful?
Have you ever heard anything like his five-finger formula before?
Why do you think Scott proposed these changes?
Was Scott someone who was thinking outside the box?
What can we learn from the story that will enable us to be better evangelist?
Just a few things to think about on the way
Bob
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