The Anxious Bench

by John Williamson Nevin

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Genres: Theology, Church History, Christian

154 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2010

Reviews

[Mark Jr. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for a lot more. Nevin was—I now know this is possible—excessively prolix. He wrote with an air of supercilious denunciation at nearly all times, not with a careful and loving desire to help fellow believers.

However, he made some criticisms of the "anxious bench" which are certainly worth hearing today—and, I'm sure, are still heard (or at least made!).

Perhaps the one that stuck with me the most was this: if you invite a convicted sinner down the aisle, you are introducing a new battle into his or her heart that will at best confuse and at worst replace the spiritual battle that is or should be going on. People are nervous about stepping forward and being seen by others, and preachers can make it seem as if this nervousness is itself a battle over conviction of sin.

Nevin doesn't deny that real conversions can and do happen in these situations. I don't think anyone denies that. But Nevin also helped me ask a question I hadn't thought of quite like this before: where are the results? People like me (rightfully) point to studies of Benny Hinn's "healings" and (rightfully) dismiss Hinn as a charlatan when it proves impossible to locate anyone who was actually healed. Has anyone looked into how many converts who came down the aisle in any given evangelist's meetings actually stick? How many of them give evidence of true regeneration one year down the road, let alone twenty?

I simply don't know, and I very much hope that the number is high! But this book raises a few important questions about the overall system of which the "anxious bench" is only a part, and perhaps someone will undertake to study this question Nevin raised for me. Numerical success can neither prove nor disprove any ecclesiastical practice, but it seems like a valid part of the overall picture.

[Will Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In light of the pragmatism and worldliness in modern day evangelicalism, this short book ought to be read by every man desiring to be a minister of the Gospel. He and the Church stand to benefit immensely from it.

The Anxious Bench (forerunner to the Altar Call) and the theological system it represents are dangerous to the souls of men, and bring much harm on the Kingdom of God. In a nutshell, most of what is wrong with modern missions and evangelism can be found summarized in this book. Many things written in this book are nothing short of prophetic. At times I wondered if it was possible that such a work was written almost 200 years ago as opposed to last year. I'll end with this beautiful quote from near the end of the book:

"'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.' It is in the kingdom of grace, as in the kingdom of nature; the greatest, deepest, most comprehensive and lasting changes, are effected constantly, not by special, sudden, vast explosions of power, but by processes that are gentle, and silent, and so minute and common as hardly to attract the notice of the world, which is so deeply affected by their action. God is not with so much effect in the whirlwind, earthquake and tempest, as in the "still small voice" of the falling dew or growing grass. And so in the Church, the common and the constant are of vastly more account, than the special and transient; the noiseless and the unseen of immensely greater force, than that "which cometh with observation," and fills the world with the sound of its presence. Such, in a general view, is the action generated by the system of the Catechism, for the great purposes of the gospel, as compared with that which flows legitimately from the system of the Bench," (136).

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, but powerful, critique of the anxious bench (and the methods of revivalists in the 19th Century). Not only does much of this apply to today's innovations, but the positive encouragement of faithful preaching, catechizing, and administering of the sacraments is very much something our generation needs to hear.

For those interested, D G Hart wrote a wonderful biography of Nevin that enlarges on all of these things and more. There is also a great single lecture available online by Nick Needham on Nevin and the Anxious Bench.

Loved it.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short work highlighting the serious problems with both the methodology and effects of revivalism. Nevin also contrasts the spirit and characteristics of revivalistic faith with the sacramental faith of the protestant fathers. Perhaps the best, short critique of the Great Awakenings.

Loved it, though want to read it again with greater attention.

Favourite part: the few hints at the shape of an older, sacramental (or churchly) faith.

[Frederick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gripping polemic against the excesses of revivalism is worth reading, if very carefully. The author offers something in place of what he calls fanaticism which is the exact opposite and equally useless; dry formality and barren exposition.

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a severely dated book as even the concept of the anxious bench has fallen by the wayside, but the author still makes some very poignant points concerning gimmicks being used as a means of conversion.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think contemporary evangelicalism has been influenced in part by some of the theologically flawed ideas of the Second Great Awakening more than we would care to admit. Try reading this and substituting “altar call” or “the sinners prayer” for “anxious bench” and see how it preaches.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this after reading Chapter 3 ("New Measures" Revivals, 1820-1850) in John Wolffe's The Expansion of Evangelicalism. Having grown up where altar calls were the standard practice, though more recently among those with whom they have fallen out of favor, this was a development of that era of American Evangelicalism that has long interested me. Perhaps a decade ago, a guest speaker--an evangelist--at the seminary I attended addressed the ministerial class: "Charles Finney did not invent the altar call; he *perfected* [his word and emphasis] what was done by Christ and all the apostles and prophets."

Now in such environs, the altar call is hardly an innovation, nor is it often attended with the same fervor as Nevin describes of those early years. As such, now it may have against it two charges Nevin could not have imagined at the time--that it is at times a practice in boredom, and that it is often a meaningless tradition.

Beyond that, the rationale for its use still resonates with Nevin's analysis, and it would be an open question whether his judgment is fair. I will not decide that. I believe though that there is value in allowing ourselves to be examined by those who are sincerely committed to the faith who differ in practice. For instance, we are often unaware of our own minor idols in worship for having turned away from the wisdom or insight of those who for several centuries of the reformed tradition rejected the use of musical instruments. When read, it is discovered that quite often, we live unwittingly in the very condition they warned against. So here: I do not think I would agree with Nevin's stance--his proposed alternative. I do not reject or fear all the things he fears (or at least not to that same extent). While I *prefer* not to have an invitation, I see it as inferior rather than wholly dangerous. I also have seen a world in which the practice of the Altar Call (the descendant of the anxious bench) has been adopted into the church without all the excesses he believes must thereafter attend. He was wrong to assume that it's adoption could never be maintained without opening the door to every other excess of the New Measures.

However, nearly every particular criticism he brought has some merit, and is worthy of our attention. Though dressed in a rhetoric that has not worn well--a rhetoric familiar to those who read much religious controversy literature of the period--, if read for its heart, with humility and honesty (and not too quick a reflex to defend ourselves or our friends), I think we will find a needful and helpful rebuke. His criticisms are perhaps not as black and white as he states them; they are things to be judiciously weighed.

It's been a long time since I read the chapter in MacArthur's Fool's Gold on the altar call, and that might be a better place to start for the average reader looking for a challenge to the altar call. But for those with a grasp of this history of the Second Great Awakening, who can read Nevin within a fair judgment of his own historical context (for if modern practice is the reader's only reference, Nevin will too often miss the mark), I would very much recommend this short book.

[Miles Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest jeremiads in the history of United States religious history. Nevin denounced the systematized emotionalism that overtook catechesis and sacramentalism of historic orthodox Protestantism.

[Matthew Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great critique of revivalism

[Randy Davy · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting history and thoughtful review

Author provides insight and critique of early revivalist practices. There is a clear path from the 19th century practices to today.