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Arnold Cook (1902 - 1992)
Listen to freely downloadable audio sermons by the speaker Arnold Cook in mp3 format. Dr. Cook holds a Master of Divinity degree in Missions from Canadian Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Missiology degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, School of World Mission. Dr. Cook wrote Historical Drift, a guide to restoring spiritual passion in the Church. Only after 1941 with the establishing of the Western Canadian Bible Institute in Regina, did the Canadian C&MA experience rapid and solid growth especially West of Winnipeg. After Simpson's death in 1919 the transition to new leadership was rocky. Paul Radar, his successor, was unable to balance pastoring his large Chicago church with his role as president.
Prophetic preaching has all but vanished as some pastors look for "a more positive eschatology" than what Simpson taught. The most mentioned prophetic event in Scripture is the "millennium." As Alliance people we come from a tradition where the missionary task is linked with the imminent premillenial return of Christ. e.g. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations (ta ethna--people groups), and then the end will come" (Matt. 24:14). Simpson actually believed we could hasten Christ's return by finishing the one clear task He left us, i.e. evangelization of the world (Matt. 28:18-20). What has changed? His coming is 124 years closer than when the C&MA began (1887). The unfinished task has been more quantified and identified. I am encouraged by our continued focus on the "least reached peoples." But have we lost this powerful motif--of bringing back the Coming King as the New Testament promises? But I believe we can be renewed and empowered to impact our world as a small denomination which has chosen to make "Christ's last command our first concern" for 124 years. But our response to these Biblical foundational truths must not change: 1) "I the Lord change not" (Mal. 3:6). 2) He has spoken to every generation through His infallible unchanging Word. 3) The need of human nature is still the same. Many of us have been innovators, changing our methods but not the message. This takes both spiritual discernment and a tenacious commitment to Scripture. Too often new media or strategies subtly change the message.
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