A test of faith
Three and a half weeks later, on Wednesday, May 16, 1855, Dwight sought membership at the Mount Vernon Congregational Church. He testified that he had been saved, but since he knew too little of the tenets of their faith, he was rejected by the deacons who interviewed him. For example, when asked, “What has Christ done for you, and us all, that especially entitles Him to our love and obedience?” Dwight replied, “I think He has done a great deal for us all, but I don’t know of anything He has done in particular.” Although Edward Kimball was on the panel of interviewers, they felt that Dwight’s testimony lacked solid evidence of his conversion. Dwight’s application for membership was deferred, and he was put under the mentorship of Edward Kimball and two other deacons. Kimball and the two deacons encouraged and coached Dwight for his next interview, scheduled for nearly a year later.
A Second Chance
The minutes of this interview read as follows: No. 1,131. March 12, 1856. Mr. Moody thinks he has made some progress since he was here before at least in knowledge. Has maintained his habits of prayer and reading the Bible. Believes God will hear his prayers, and reads the Bible. Is fully determined to adhere to the cause of Christ always. Feels that it would be very bad if he joined the church and then turned. Must repent and ask forgiveness, for Christ’s sake. Will never give up his hope, or love Christ less, whether admitted to the church or not. His prevailing intention is to give up his will to God.
Admitted to the Church
This time, even though little seemed to have changed in his life since the first interview, Dwight’s willingness to remain under the mentorship of Kimball and the two deacons, paired with his sincere desire to repent, swayed the group in his favor, and Dwight was admitted as a Congregationalist. He would sign the church registry on May 3. Dwight would later testify frequently, “I was born of the flesh in 1837. I was born of the Spirit in 1856.”
A Wise Decision
According to Dwight’s son, in The Life of Dwight L. Moody, the action of the examining committee in refusing admission to young Moody on this occasion had been criticized by others, but the wisdom of the decision was always felt by Mr. Moody himself, who in later years laid great emphasis upon a young convert’s being ready to give a reason for the hope that was in him.
A New Path
Around this time, Dwight had a falling out with his uncle for a reason no one in the family could truly discern. When his cousin, Frank Holton, told him he was going West, Dwight decided to join him until he found a place to settle. When Dwight returned from his trip, his strong impulsive personality began to resurface. He was outspoken during prayer meetings at church; he tried to lead and teach when others felt he should be listening and learning from those more experienced in the faith. Finally, the elders and deacons told him he needed to sit quietly and all but barred him from speaking in these meetings. Yet Dwight’s zeal was irrepressible, so he soon developed a reputation as a troublemaker in the eyes of the church leaders.
A Dim Future
Dwight’s future in his uncle Samuel Holton’s shoe-selling business also looked dim. His coworkers found him to be more and more of a nuisance. Even though Dwight was a successful salesman, he was still brash in asserting opinions, and he lacked tact when dealing with other people. Dwight later confided to a friend that he “felt like a caged bird. The settled and finished condition of everything around him was a constant constraint. There seemed to be no room for him anywhere.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
Tale Tuesday 072
Date: 23rd January, 2024
Title: : Dwight L. Moody – The Greatest Layman (Part 4)
Source: God’s generals- The Revivalists
Author: Roberts Liardon
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