A Vision Of The Lost
By William Booth (1829-1912)
On one of my recent journeys, as I gazed from the
coach window, I was led into a train of thought concerning the condition of the multitudes
around me. They were living carelessly in the most open and shameless rebellion against
God, without a thought for their eternal welfare. As I looked out of the window, I seemed
to see them all . . . millions of people all around me given up to their drink and their
pleasure, their dancing and their music, their business and their anxieties, their
politics and their troubles. Ignorant - willfully ignorant in many cases - and in other
instances knowing all about the truth and not caring at all. But all of them, the whole
mass of them, sweeping on and up in their blasphemies and devilries to the Throne of God. While my mind was thus engaged, I had a vision.
I saw a dark and stormy ocean. Over it the black clouds hung heavily; through them every now and then vivid lightening flashed and loud thunder rolled, while the winds moaned, and the waves rose and foamed, towered and broke, only to rise and foam, tower and break again.
I saw a dark and stormy ocean. Over it the black clouds hung heavily; through them every now and then vivid lightening flashed and loud thunder rolled, while the winds moaned, and the waves rose and foamed, towered and broke, only to rise and foam, tower and break again.
In that ocean I thought I saw myriads of poor human beings plunging and floating, shouting and shrieking, cursing and struggling and drowning; and as they cursed and screamed they rose and shrieked again, and then some sank to rise no more.
And I saw out of this dark angry ocean, a mighty rock that rose up with its summit towering high above the black clouds that overhung the stormy sea. And all around the base of this great rock I saw a vast platform. Onto this platform, I saw with delight a number of the poor struggling, drowning wretches continually climbing out of the angry ocean. And I saw that a few of those who were already safe on the platform were helping the poor creatures still in the angry waters to reach the place of safety.
On looking more closely I found a number of those who had been rescued,industriously working and scheming by ladders, ropes, boats and other means more effective, to deliver the poor strugglers out of the sea. Here and there were some who actually jumped into the water, regardless of the consequences in their passion to "rescue the perishing." And I hardly know which gladdened me the most - the sight of the poor drowning people climbing onto the rocks reaching a place of safety, or the devotion and self-sacrifice of those whose whole being was wrapped up in the effort for their deliverance.
And I saw out of this dark angry ocean, a mighty rock that rose up with its summit towering high above the black clouds that overhung the stormy sea. And all around the base of this great rock I saw a vast platform. Onto this platform, I saw with delight a number of the poor struggling, drowning wretches continually climbing out of the angry ocean. And I saw that a few of those who were already safe on the platform were helping the poor creatures still in the angry waters to reach the place of safety.
On looking more closely I found a number of those who had been rescued,industriously working and scheming by ladders, ropes, boats and other means more effective, to deliver the poor strugglers out of the sea. Here and there were some who actually jumped into the water, regardless of the consequences in their passion to "rescue the perishing." And I hardly know which gladdened me the most - the sight of the poor drowning people climbing onto the rocks reaching a place of safety, or the devotion and self-sacrifice of those whose whole being was wrapped up in the effort for their deliverance.
As I looked on, I saw that the occupants of that platform were quite a mixed company. That is, they were divided into different "sets" or classes, and they occupied themselves with different pleasures and employments. But only a very few of them seemed to make it their business to get the people out of the sea.But what puzzled me most was the fact that though all of them had been rescued at one time or another from the ocean, nearly everyone seemed to have forgotten all about it. Anyway, it seemed the memory of its darkness and danger no longer troubled them at all. And what seemed equally strange and perplexing to me was that these people did not even seem to have any care - that is any agonizing care - about the poor perishing ones who were struggling and drowning right before their very eyes . . . many of whom were their own husbands and wives, brothers and sisters and even their own children.
I have always said that the occupants of this platform were engaged in different pursuits and pastimes. Some of them were absorbed day and night in trading and business in order to make gain, storing up their savings in boxes, safes and the like.
Many spent their time in amusing themselves with growing flowers on the side of the rock, others in painting pieces of cloth or in playing music, or in dressingthemselves up in different styles and walking about to be admired. Some occupied themselves chiefly in eating and drinking, others were taken up with arguing about the poor drowning creatures that had already been rescued.
But the thing to me that seemed the most amazing was that those on the platform to whom He called, who heard His voice and felt that they ought to obey it - at least they said they did - those who confessed to love Him much were in full sympathy with Him in the task He had undertaken - who worshipped Him or who professed to do so - were so
taken up with their trades and professions, their money saving and pleasures, their families and circles, their religions and arguments about it, and their preparation for going to the mainland, that they did not listen to the cry that came to them from this Wonderful Being who had Himself gone down into the sea. Anyway, if they heard it they did not heed it. They did not care. And so the multitude went on right before them struggling and shrieking and drowning in the darkness.
And then I saw something that seemed to me even more strange than anything that had gone on before in this strange vision. I saw that some of these people on the platform whom this Wonderful Being had called to, wanting them to come and help Him in His difficult task of saving these perishing creatures, were always praying and crying out to Him to come to them!
And then I saw something that seemed to me even more strange than anything that had gone on before in this strange vision. I saw that some of these people on the platform whom this Wonderful Being had called to, wanting them to come and help Him in His difficult task of saving these perishing creatures, were always praying and crying out to Him to come to them!
Some wanted Him to come and stay with them, and spend His time and
strength in making them happier. Others wanted Him to come and take away various doubts
and misgivings they had concerning the truth of some letters He had written them. Some
wanted Him to come and make them feel more secure on the rock - so secure that they would
be quite sure that they should never slip off again into the ocean. Numbers of others
wanted Him to make them feel quite certain that they would really get off the rock and
onto the mainland someday: because as a matter of fact, it was well known that some had
walked so carelessly as to loose their footing, and had fallen back again into the stormy
waters.
So these people used to meet and get up as high on the rock as they
could, and looking towards the mainland (where they thought the Great Being was) they
would cry out, "Come to us! Come and help us!" And all the while He was down (by
His Spirit) among the poor struggling, drowning creatures in the angry deep, with His arms
around them trying to drag them out, and looking up - oh! so longingly but all in vain -
to those on the rock, crying to them with His voice all hoarse from calling, "Come to Me! Come, and help Me!
And then I understood it all. It was plain enough. The sea was the
ocean of life - the sea of real, actual human existence. That lightening was the gleaming
of piercing truth coming from Jehovah’s Throne. That thunder was the distant echoing
of the wrath of God. Those multitudes of people shrieking, struggling and agonizing in the
stormy sea, was the thousands and thousands of poor harlots and harlot-makers, of
drunkards and drunkard makers, of thieves, liars, blasphemers and ungodly people of every
kindred, tongue and nation.
Oh what a black sea it was! And oh, what multitudes of rich and poor,
ignorant and educated were there. They were all so unalike in their outward circumstances
and conditions, yet all alike in one thing - all sinners before God - all held by, and
holding onto, some iniquity, fascinated by some idol, the slaves of some devilish lust,
and ruled by the foul fiend from the bottomless pit!
"All alike in one thing?" No, all alike in two things - not only the same in their wickedness but, unless rescued, the same in their sinking, sinking . . . down, down, down . . . to the same terrible doom. That great sheltering rock
represented Calvary, the place where Jesus had died for them. And the people on it were
those who had been rescued. The way they used their energies, gifts and time represented
the occupations and amusements of those who professed to be saved from sin and hell -
followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The handful of fierce, determined ones, who were
risking their own lives in saving the perishing were true soldiers of the cross of Jesus.
That Mighty Being who was calling to them from the midst of the angry waters was the Son of God, "the same yesterday, today and forever" who is still struggling and interceding to save the dying multitudes about us from this terrible doom of damnation, and whose voice can be heard above the music, machinery, and noise of life, calling on the rescued to come and help Him save the world.
My friends in Christ, you are rescued from the waters, you are on the rock, He is in the dark sea calling on you to come to Him and help Him. Will you go? Look for yourselves. The surging sea of life, crowded with perishing multitudes rolls up to the very spot on which you stand. Leaving the vision, I now come to speak of the fact - a fact that is as real as the Bible, as real as the Christ who hung upon the cross, as real as the judgment day will be, and as real as the heaven and hell that will follow it.
That Mighty Being who was calling to them from the midst of the angry waters was the Son of God, "the same yesterday, today and forever" who is still struggling and interceding to save the dying multitudes about us from this terrible doom of damnation, and whose voice can be heard above the music, machinery, and noise of life, calling on the rescued to come and help Him save the world.
My friends in Christ, you are rescued from the waters, you are on the rock, He is in the dark sea calling on you to come to Him and help Him. Will you go? Look for yourselves. The surging sea of life, crowded with perishing multitudes rolls up to the very spot on which you stand. Leaving the vision, I now come to speak of the fact - a fact that is as real as the Bible, as real as the Christ who hung upon the cross, as real as the judgment day will be, and as real as the heaven and hell that will follow it.
Look! Don’t be deceived by appearances - men and things are not
what they seem. All who are not on the rock are in the sea! Look at them from the standpoint of the great White Throne, and what a sight you have! Jesus Christ, the Son of
God is, through His Spirit, in the midst of this dying multitude, struggling to save them. And He is calling on you to jump into the sea - to go right away to His side and help Him in the holy strife. Will you jump? That is, will you go to His feet and place yourself absolutely at His disposal?
A young Christian once came to me, and told me that for some time she
had been giving the Lord her profession and prayers and money, but now she wanted to give
Him her life. She wanted to go right into the fight. In other words, she wanted to go to His assistance in the sea. As when a man from the shore, seeing another struggling in the water, takes off those outer garments that would hinder his efforts and leaps to the rescue, so will you who still linger on the bank, thinking and singing and praying about the poor perishing souls, lay aside your shame, your pride, your cares about other people’s opinions, your love of ease and all the selfish loves that have kept you back for so long, and rush to the rescue of this multitude of dying men and women.
Does the surging sea look dark and dangerous? Unquestionably it is so.
There is no doubt that the leap for you, as for everyone who takes it, means difficulty and scorn and suffering. For you it may mean more than this. It may mean death. He who beckons you from the sea however, knows what it will mean - and knowing, He still calls to you and bids to you to come.
You must do it! You cannot hold back. You have enjoyed yourself in Christianity long enough. You have had pleasant feelings, pleasant songs, pleasant meetings, pleasant prospects. There has been much of human happiness, much clapping of hands and shouting of praises - very much of heaven on earth.
Now then, go to God and tell Him you are prepared as much as necessary
to turn your back upon it all, and that you are willing to spend the rest of your days struggling in the midst of these perishing multitudes, whatever it may cost you.
You must do it. With the light that is now broken in upon your mind and the call that is now sounding in your ears, and the beckoning hands that are now before your eyes, you have no alternative. To go down among the perishing crowds is your duty. Your happiness from now on will consist in sharing their misery, your ease in sharing their pain, your crown in helping them to bear their cross, and your heaven in going into the very jaws of hell to rescue them.
Now what will you do?
But what does this mean for us, a church in 21st Century small-town middle England?
I ended up writing quite a long e-mail in reply and offer a slightly edited version here:-
It's a challenging piece and it's clear that this vision fired Booth's passion for the holistic mission for which the Salvation Army has become renowned. I've also pondered again the discussion we had last night and offer these brief and not particularly well-organised reflections:-
In Booth's vision, there is a whole spectrum of "lost-ness" - which could be descried as arising from:
- Circumstances - poverty, homelessness, ignorance, victims of abuse
- Consequences - the result of personal decisions (including actions which fly in the face of conscience)
- Character - greed, dishonesty, selfishness - though one might argue that all sin is in fact selfishness)
In Booth's dream all have the same disastrous result - "the misery of a Christ-less eternity" as Lee Strobel eloquently describes it; I like Strobel's phrase, because it delicately balances God's gracious love towards us all (i.e. un-bounded, unearned and unearned favour) and the eventual outcome - separation from that same love and fulfilment.
I think where many people have problems is when this appears to be framed primarily in negative terms - eternal damnation and judgement; that's not to say they aren't real, but for some who've "retired hurt" from church and many not-yet Christians and those who are reassessing their life, a first emphasis on the negative consequences of rejecting the offer of God's grace can either paint Jesus as mean and sneaky - like someone secretly watching people fall off a cliff and quite relishing it and/or Christians as a bit self righteous "I found Jesus, you're still lost" or judgemental "you don't meet the standard to associate with us" or even rather cruel, "you're going to hell in a handcart and here's no hope for you".
By comparison, the New Testament portrays the same truths turned on their head; When Jesus meets Zacchaeus (who's "lost" in the world of Tax fiddling and extortion), He answers the grumblers (who are "lost" believing they're too good and religious to need a Saviour) and says, "The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.” (Luke 19:10); The Parable of the Prodigal Son has an image of God ceaselessly loving and eagerly watching for his errant children (BOTH sons are "lost" - one in self-centred immorality, the other in self-centred self-righteous!), Paul reminds Timothy, "God wants everyone to be saved and to fully understand the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4). It's God's love which clearly motivates all this. Yet, in the Parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), at the beginning the Rich man thinks Lazarus is "lost" (after all Lazarus is a diseased bagger and he's a rich religious man) but the twist is that Lazarus ends up at Abraham's side because he had a relationship with God and the "religious" man has the "the misery of a Christ-less eternity" because God is also gracious enough to allow him the consequences of his life-long rejection of that same relationship... Again, in the The sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46) everyone is surprised at the eternal outcome because those who are doing good, discriminating are unaware they they are a poor witness and those who are witnessing well are unaware how well...
And my point(s)?
- There's something important in the way and the tone in which we portray the Good News of the Gospel - and indeed are we as individuals and a Church community an embodiment of that Good News which springs from a relationship with God in Jesus (i.e. are we "lost" in our busy religiousness?)?
- And if we ARE (by God's grace) "found" does the manner of our Christian life - again as individuals and collectively - offer a positive, attractive alternative to people we know and the town at large?
- Sadly, often when Christians and churches appear "different" they're NOT "positive" about their community/network of relationships and when they appear "positive" about their community/relationship network (and its values?) they're not "different" enough to be worth the effort of being part of...
- So, yes, alongside Sunday Worship (and that which enables it), it's great to have the food bank, CAP Money Course, freindship groups and the Coffee Mornings; it's great to have the midweek fellowships, small groups, pastoral team, choir and music group, children's and youth work and prayer meeting. BUT unless there is a sense that they all hold together in one coherent whole, there is the danger that they all run semi autonomously from each other - with their only connection being the Church Council; if so, we're simply running "a federation of sub ministries" as Bill Hybels puts it - suggesting that's NOT positive.
- Instead, we must learn to help each part of the body support and strengthen the rest and feed each other (small group members growing in discipleship learn to serve and share their faith and guests become part of the disciple-making community); if we can address that, then we might be more like the "Disciple-making Movement Shaped for Mission" that Martyn Atkins suggests is what being a Methodist Church is about. Private devotion which leads to social holiness; personal holiness which underpins public witness, individual faith which is expressed in a disciple-making community and changed individuals who change the world, life by life.
I may have accidentally have added to William Booth's challenge, but I'm simply trying to translate his 19th Century vision into a 21st Century context...
