6
January, 1936
T H E
K I N G ' S
B U S I N E S S
'eyas a PREACHER B y W. B. RILEY
R .
This denunciation is as irrational as public opinion is superficial. Truth is the most uncompromising thing in the world, and the man who ministers in it is never in necessity of the slightest trimming, much less o f hesitancy. John Tauler used to be called “ Dr. Illuminatus” or the “ enlightened man.” Charles H. Spurgeon had occasion to say, “ God uses the faith o f His ministers to bring faith in their people. You may depend upon it that souls are not saved by the ministers who doubt. W e must have faith in the Word o f God if we are to be winners o f our fellows.” But Dr. Torrey was as tender in spirit as he was bold in speech. On a few occasions, I counseled him on matters that involved controversy between brethren,' and he always amazed and delighted me. This man who seemed to preach with a doubled-up fist was as gentle as a woman when giving advice. He was not only anxious to be just, but ready to be generous always, toward even those with whom he did not agree. This side o f Torrey’s nature was known only to those who enjoyed some intimate fellowship with him, but it was a prime factor in his domestic and fraternal relations. H e W as a S oul -W inning M inister Dr. Torrey believed that the unsaved were doomed. He accepted without question John’s.statement: “ H e that be- lieveth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that be- lieveth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath o f God abideth on him” (John 3 :36). His logical mind, his education at Yale, and his post graduate work at Leipzig and Erlangen did not lead to that highbrow thinking that rejects Christ’s word about hell. His theology was not the lavendar-water sort; it was Biblically based instead, and was always backed up with “ Thus saith the Lord.” This conviction created a soul passion. In America, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Franace, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, China, Japan, and India he went in quest o f souls! Few men, if any others, have ever been able to fill Royal Albert Hall for five months with such eager auditors as came to hear Torrey preach. Torrey’s ministry was more acceptable to the staid Englishmen than it was to the flippant Americans. “ A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country . . . , ” and Torrey was never appreciated, at his full value, until the rest o f the world communicated its estimate o f him to his homeland. Then America did as she always does— she got up a hip-hip- hurrah for the homecoming hero. Dr. Torrey was a successful soul-winner. His method was utterly destitute o f that sensationalism in which too many evangelists indulge. Scarecrow and salacious subjects never stained his announcing cards. Mirth-making was not his catch-method, a means of attracting a superficial public. Emotionalism was not his stock in trade. On the contrary, for the great results that he secured, he depended upon two things, namely, the truth o f revelation and the use o f reason. Unlike the modernist minister, he saw no inharmony between these two, but held that the first was
Himself a militant evangelical, Dr. Riley is well qualified to analyse thé greatness of Torrey as a preacher. With headquarters in Minneapolis, Minn., where he ' is pastor o f the First Baptist Church, Dr. Riley serves as President o f the Northwestern Bible School and as Executive Secretary of the World’s Christian Fun damentals Association. I n the last week in May, 1919, fifteen men gathered in Philadelphia, Pa., at my call, to put over the program o f the first World’s Christian Fundamentals Convention. Since that time, the following have departed to be with the Lord: Joseph Kyle, James M. Gray, W . H. Griffith Thomas, George A. Guille, I. M. Haldeman, L. W . Mun- hall, John Roach Stratton, and Reuben A . Torrey. O f the fifteen, the following survive: J. C. Massee, P. W . Philpott, A . B. Winchester, Lewis Sperry Chafer, William L. Pettingill, George McNealey, and the writer. In other words, eight of the fifteen have been translated into the heavenlieS.. The passing o f each o f these men has been a personal grief to me, and it has been my privilege to pay some, but inadequate, tribute, to each in turn. I now write,of Reuben A . Torrey as a preacher. H e W as a C hrist -C alled M an Dr. Torrey believed in a divine call. It was his custom to tell how, when he was a student at Yale, his faith was shaken, his attitude was skeptical, and his future was in the balance ; but, as he believed, in answer to his mother’s importunate prayer, he emerged from the fogs of doubt, and, with their clearing, heard the call of God to the min istry. Later, as the superintendent of the Moody Bible Institute, and as its most notable teacher, he was accus tomed to emphasize, in the presence o f the students, the necessity of a divine call if thèse students were to enter the ministry. In respect to his divine commission, Dr. Torrey had a kinship with the Apostle Paul, who never wrote an epistle without reminding his readers o f his divine call. T o Reuben A . Torrey also, his call was sufficient apology for his pro fession. When John the apostle wrote o f John the Baptist, “ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John,” he was no more sure o f his ground than was Reuben A. Torrey when, from time to time, he affirmed that he was in the ministry by divine compulsion. H e W as a S cripture -C onvinced M an Dr. Torrey was convinced o f the Bible’s inspiration. When at Yale, he fought with mankind’s great adversary on that subject; Torrey ended the battle in belief. There after, doubts seldom disturbed him. Those who heard him preach, who read his writings, or who studied his textbooks, were all convinced of the depth o f his convictions. His opinions were not built on shifting sands, but rather upon the solid rock o f revealed truth. That foundation accounted for his dogmatism in thought and delivery. It is quite popular in these days to denounce dogma.
• “ It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict men of sin, and we must depend upon Him to do it.” • — Torrey
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