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 Have you read the
little paper back called, “The Gospel Blimp,” by Joseph Bayley? (Zondervan Publ.) It is a satire on institutionalism
as found in denominationalisrn, but it is not out of place among “us.”
Some “brethren” think
“something should be done” about converting the beer-drinking, non-church-going neighbor; but no one considers
getting personally acquainted, and making a direct, personal approach with the gospel of Christ. Instead, they
form a company, raise thousands of dollars to buy a “Gospel Blimp,” hire some one to fly it; and the blimp trails
“JESUS SAVES” banners, and drops gobs of literature on his house (and into his gutters). Before the story is finished
the usual problems of institutionalism are met — including the inner politics, preservation of “public image” at
the expense of personal integrity, “tie-ins” with commercial interests (to raise more money), and the withdrawal
of those who are finally disgusted with the whole mess.
Finally one man visits
his neighbor, earns his confidence, and “leads him to Christ,” despite the Blimp. The author interprets his book
in a closing chapter, saying: “and the blimp? Why the wonderful Gospel Blimp is every impersonal, external means
by which we try to fulfill our responsibility to witness to our neighbors. Gospel programs over the
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radio,
messages on billboards or in tracts: these are some of our blimps. They either supplement our own personal witness
or else they’re substitutes for involvement with our neighbors...
“Today we have perfected
various technical means of presenting the Christian message. We are hitting a mass market with mass gospel media.
But in the process, we have often passed our personal responsibility on to blimps and loud speakers and impersonal
organizations. But technical organizational means have one enormous lack: a human heart. They may multiply a voice
ten thousand times, but remain only a voice.”
I am frequently asked
to suggest a “program” for personal work — and I have devised some dandies. But none of them will work for you and me. If brethren want to convert
their neighbors, they will find a way to and will often succeed; for the heart goes where no “Gospel Blimp” can
go.
So — a friend read
this little book, and thought it would be great to use in converting our “liberal, brethren from their errors of
institutionalism. “We should buy thousands of these and --- Hmmmmm!!
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