Bishop JC Ryle preached the following more than 125 years ago in a place that was not the America of Charles Finney:
We live in days when there is an immense increase of what is called "church work"The contrast between the ways of the present age and the ways of our grandfathers in trying to do good is very great indeed. To preach the gospel and expound the Scriptures both on Sundays and weekdays; to visit the sick frequently; to go from house to house as a pastor, endeavoring by kindly influence over all the members of families to get at hearts and consciences; to keep up efficient day schools, night schools, and Bible classes; to create and maintain an interest about the souls of others by foreign and home missions—this used to be the work of the clergyman, and this was the kind of work in which he was ever trying to enlist the practical sympathy of his parishioners. It was good, solid, healthy, soul-helping, Christlike work.
A great change has taken place in the last forty years. A quantity of work is continually being carried on by both clergymen and laymen that, however well meant, can hardly be called Christian and in reality has a painful tendency to throw true Christian work into the background, if not to throw it entirely out! No one, for instance, can fail to observe that a large number of professors are spending all their time and strength on church music, church decorations, church programs, and an incessant round of church attractions. Others are equally absorbed in such subjects as temperance, social work, feeding the poor, and improved dwellings for the working classes. Others are incessantly getting up popular concerts, secular lectures, and evening recreations. They proclaim everywhere that the way to do good is to amuse people!
It is quite certain that musical services and church decorations and concerts and bazaars and improved cookery and the like will not save souls. I certainly see on every side a vast increase of what people call church work. But I own to a strong suspicion that there is little or no increase of true religion. There is more show and glitter and display, undoubtedly.
But I doubt extremely whether there is more spiritual reality and more growth of practical godliness and zeal to save souls!1
REVIVALISM was not actually invented in the early 19th century as many suppose. It is really just a term for one of the endless manifestations of pragmatism and will worship, of the human tendency to discount, discard, or misunderstand God’s ordained means of grace.