I had heard that Brother Schambach was not in good health, but I was unaware of his passing until yesterday. If you have never heard of him,his Wikipedia page is here.
He was an interesting person, probably the last of the big tent revival preachers. The combination of evangelism and self-promotion is a unique American phenomenon. It is easy to dismiss it because of the self-promotion part, but thousands really did find themselves drawn closer to God. People were encouraged to pray, to seek God, and live better lives because of men and women like R.W. Schambach.
For the most part, I believe Brother Schambach's intent was to do good. When he passed the "plate" in services, he used buckets. When someone asked why he used such large containers, he replied, "Because they hold more money." He believed that people who gave to him in faith would be rewarded by God, not because he was special but because their action in giving was an acknowledgement of their dependence on the Lord and their willingness to trust Him. It is one of those things that makes no sense unless it does.
One thing that people like Schambach do well is present complex issues in ways that even the simplest hearer can grasp. Perhaps, some will say, they over-simplify and reduce great theological constructs to bumperstickers. Maybe so. My guess is, though, there will be more peasants than PhDs in heaven.
Christ meets us where we are. He will debate with the doctors. He loves the little children.
"You don't have any trouble; all you need is faith in God." -- R.W. Schambach
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