“We are combating something deep in the soul of the nation, … For this deep malady, we need some deep X-ray therapy that we have not found.” – Rev William Edwin Sangster.

Rev. William Edwin Sangster is remembered as a “herald of holiness” who advocated “perfect love” (a core Wesleyan doctrine) as the remedy for Britain’s and Methodism’s spiritual decline. He complained that ‘agnosticism is flourishing in Britain in place of the great religious revival for which Methodists so fervently hoped. Last year, the number of new Methodist church members (current membership: 739,000) fell to the lowest level in 13 years, and some 100,000 children stopped attending Sunday school. Every year, for the last twelve years, the total number of ministers has declined; it fell by 276 during the past year. There is a shortage of 5,000 preachers in rural areas, where Methodism may soon “expire.” …  We thought that even if our numbers were smaller, we could count on the total conviction of the people who came. But even those in the pews are having their own battle for faith.”

Dr William Edwin Sangster’s prophetic voice is a model and a wakeup call to the public prophetic voice to come alive with a clear vision and not to remain silent. Prophets are called and sent to the church so that the Word of God, the pillars of truth, will not give place to ‘pillows’ of ease, sleeping, and death.

Dr Edwin Sangster, a former head of Methodist Home Missions, provides a model of the voice of prophetic Lent. Some years ago, Sangster prophetically spoke on the state of the church generally, and when we examine our present condition, I believe his words are not far from the truth.

God raised up a prophet like Sangster so that the church would experience true growth and maturity. In response to Sangster’s prophetic voice, the most urgent need of the modern church is for the restoration of the prophetic ministry. Dr Sangster, as a model for prophetic voice, calls for the rediscovery and celebration of the gift of prophecy in the church. Dr Sangster, as a model for prophetic voice, provides an answer to ‘a desperate shortage of prophets,’ and ‘lack of vision and direction in the modern church.’

Some years ago, Sangster, as God’s trumpet, saw the larger picture of God’s purpose and gave a clear warning and call to repentance and renewal in the church and the nation at large, but we were not ready or listening. The Body of Christ is surrounded today by different voices of stones and waterpots, all claiming to have the truth; hence, the church is bored stiff because there is no clear prophetic vision and understanding.

The church needs a clear prophetic message to overcome the increasing secular redefinition of Christianity, including the culture and seductions of stones for bread. Dr Sangster provides guidance to the church so as not to get run over by the events of the world, and to distinguish between the generalisation of truth, preaching, service, and philosophy.

Prayer: O Lord, help us to recognise the voice of ‘the prophet to help us see beyond the obvious and to recognise the hand of God in our providential circumstances’ in Jesus’ name.