OCTOBER 20, 2003

THE ROTE, RUT, ROT, ROUTE

The famous Christian preacher/writer of the 1950s and 60s, A.W. Tozer, analyzed the stages of ossification in churches, bound by tradition and not open to Spirit-led changes, as ROTE, RUT and ROT.

First, there is a dependence on ROTE learning about the faith in place of a fresh personal experience of the faith. Second- or-third-generation Christians can fall into a pattern of “repeating without feeling, without meaning, without wonder and without any happy surprises or expectations.” *

If this pattern continues, the church falls into a RUT, which Tozer describes as “bondage to the rote.” Such a congregation usually does not know it is in a rut because it is following such deep tracks from the past. They may even experience numerical growth, since there are many people searching for the comfort of the rut.

Unfortunately, the rut inevitably leads to ROT. The very faith that inspired the church’s founders and early leaders begins to erode, suffering a kind of “dry rot.” Tozer says this stage is characterized by “the psychology of non-expectation” and “spiritual rigidity.” There is no ability to “visualize anything better.”

By God’s grace ROTE, RUT and ROT has never been characteristic of Altadena Baptist Church. I personally can testify to this from hands-on experience and knowledge since 1959. And I can also share evidence, from knowing charter members and from reviewing historical records since its establishment in 1934, that there has always been a sensitive growing edge in this church, an openness to new ideas, a responsiveness to calls for change in style and priorities. If this congregation senses that the Holy Spirit is moving in some new way, we don’t want to miss the party. We don’t want to be paralyzed by the “seven last words of the church,” which are “WE’VE NEVER DONE IT THAT WAY BEFORE!”

However, Altadena Baptist Church has also been marked by a healthy respect for TRADITION. Traditions usually get to be traditions by working for a lot of people over a long period of time. Therefore, we shouldn’t just toss them out because they’re old. The root meaning of the word “tradition” is “that which is passed on.” Not everything is worth being passed on, so each generation should winnow out the chaff from the previous generation, and keep the wheat. And the older generation should graciously accept that not all their “treasures” are valued by the young folk.

What’s nice about ABC right now is that we have a healthy mix of the young and the old, and each seems to trust and honor the other. We are doing our best to cultivate this spirit, because we believe this is the way to keep the church fresh, and yet grounded.

Fresh, and yet grounded! That’s a good vision for us to keep in mind.

–Pastor George Van Alstine

* The quotes are from the book Rut, Rot or Revival by A.W. Tozer, published in 1992.