Protestantism in America: A Narrative History by Jerald C.
Brauer Jerald C. Brauer is Naomi Shenstone Donnelley Professor
and Professor of History of Christianity, formerly Dean of the
Divinity School, University of Chicago. He is also Editor of The
Westminster Dictionary of Church History. Published by The
Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1965. This material was
prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock. Chapter
18: The Problem of Renewal At the very height of external
success a few prophetic voices were to be heard reminding the
Christian community that all was not well in the life of
Protestantism. It is common knowledge that external health in an
institution is a good thing, but it does not necessarily follow
that the institution is essentially sound and strong within.
This is particularly true of the Christian Church; for wealth,
though necessary to carry on its work, is its greatest
temptation. Large numbers of people in the Church are always
better than empty churches, but the real question