Ernest C. Reisinger: A Biography.

Geoffrey Thomas

The Banner of Truth Trust 2002

ISBN 0 85151 825 7

Hardback, 262 pages

{Website editor's note: I cannot spot any information about Geoff's book on the Banner Website, so I thought I'd produce a page about it, which I'll replace with links to the Banner site when it includes the information. Sorry this page has been produced at speed, and lacks polish. Please use your browsers BACK button to return to where you came from}

Dustjacket Introduction

Ernest C. Reisinger, builder, pastor and author, has been described as an 'unsung hero of the twentieth-century renaissance in Reformed theology'. This new biography will open a window into the life and character of a remarkable man.

Readers with an interest in the development of American evangelical Christianity in the twentieth century will find this work a valuable source. A thrilling note pervading the entire narrative is that God alone is glorified in salvation.

Reisinger's early life, his conversion, war service in the U.S. Navy, business success and call to the pastoral ministry are all described. But here too is the more intimate story of his family life, with its joys and sorrows, and the astonishing influence of his book distribution efforts.

The climax of the story is the role Reisinger has played in helping to call the Southern Baptist Convention, America's largest Protestant denomination, back to its historical roots.

This book is the record of the outworking of the grace of God in one whose self-description has long been, 'Not a profitable servant, but a pardoned sinner.'

Geoff Thomas, a Baptist pastor in Wales, is one of the delightful gifts of God to the church of Jesus Christ. He humbly states that he owes most of this volume to others efforts before him. Ernie Reisinger supplied much of the data himself, together with interviews conducted by Geoff Thomas with Ernie. It is obviously a labor of love. I am glad to recommend this biography of Ernest C. Reisinger as a must read for Baptists interested in the last fifty years of reformation in Baptist life. Having benefited myself from serving with Pastor Reisinger in a church setting for several years, I will ever be grateful to God for the things I have learned from him, especially the books he made me read. His lengthy life and experience in different settings will be a benefit to established pastors as well as to ministerial students.

I have divided this review into four areas which make this biography a worthy read: personal, historical, theological, and practical.

First, Ernie's account of his unconverted life and subsequent conversion to Christ is a great encouragement and example of God's redeeming grace. Most of Ernie's childhood and business life occurred in and around Carlisle, Pennsylvania. From a profligate carpenter's life, Ernie was transformed into a faithful Christian witness affecting the lives of many. His account of the major witness to him, Elmer Albright, is a classic example in how to witness to a worldly man. Elmer, a co-worker with Ernie, witnessed to and prayed for Ernie over many years, never giving up on God's grace. I believe that Elmer's witness has followed Ernie in his concern for persevering witness to individuals one at a time. Ernie's time in the Navy following his conversion is an example of how to be a witness in a worldly environment. His successes and mistakes as a witness encourages men in the world never to give up.

Second, Ernie's tireless efforts to learn God's Word and the truths of the Bible is an example to all laymen to study God's Word for themselves. He did not attend seminary, but the blessing of good books on his life, especially the Puritans, filled in the blanks very well. His love of good books has been multiplied by the prolific use of giving them to others. Many pastors and laymen have been introduced to the world of John Bunyan, Charles Spurgeon, Matthew Henry, and the great Puritan classics by Ernie. His model for using literature in evangelism and edification should be followed by all.

Third, the joys and sorrows Ernie experienced as a successful businessman could serve as an encouragement to laymen to serve God in the business world. Some of his nuggets of wisdom in management are worthy to remember. Even the later sorrows of seeing his business enter difficulty after retirement are lessons for Christian laymen to consider. Although he "retired" from business, he never retired from spreading the gospel.

Fourth, the inclusion of correspondence between Ernie and his friends, enemies, children, and grandchildren are an encouragement for all of us to keep up the sacred example of letter writing as a Christian ministry. These letters are full of good counsel for young and old and will give good direction for those who wish to speak the truth in love.

Fifth, the waywardness of his son, Don, as well as Don's return to Christ, serves to add a note of reality to the personal history of Ernie Reisinger. In the narration of this time of trial, both the virtues and the struggles of Ernie's character are revealed. He would be the first to claim "earthen vessel" status to his life and work. Yet God's grace continues to gain the glory and victory through all.

One of the great values of this biography, especially to younger pastors and students, is that it is a good survey of the growth of the reformed faith among Baptists in the last fifty years. Involved from the beginning in the establishment and growth of Grace Baptist Church in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, one becomes familiar with the leaders of the young reformed Baptist movement in the United States. Names like Walter Chantry, Al Martin, Erroll Hulse, R. T. Kendall, Tom Nettles, Tom Ascol, and others, cross the pages. Also, Ernie's friendship with Presbyterians such as Iain Murray, John Murray, and D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones attest to the reformed ecumenism which has marked Ernie's life. His services to Westminster Seminary and to the Banner of Truth Trust are further attestations.

After retirement from business, Ernie and Jane retired to Islamorada, Florida. By God's providence, Ernie served as pastor of First Baptist Church in that community for several years. After that, he was called to North Pompano Baptist Church in Pompano Beach, Florida, in 1977. It was there that the hard lessons of reformation in Southern Baptist life were experienced successfully. This is helpful to any young pastor entering a Southern Baptist church. It was also there that the "Boyce Project" was established by Ernie as a project by the church. This theology of the founder of Southern Seminary was given to thousands of Southern Baptist seminary graduates and pastors, laying the foundation work for the first "Southern Baptist Conference on the Faith of the Founders" in 1983. This conference has continued to grow healthily as a boon to resurgent Calvinism in the SBC. It has expanded into Founders Ministries.

After Ernie's move to Cape Coral, Florida, served as interim pastor of Grace Baptist Church there. Through his influence, Dr. Tom Ascol was called to serve as pastor, where he serves faithfully to this day. It was here that Ernie's writing ministry expanded and continues. The many materials, books, and quotes he has gathered over the years have been passed on to a new generation of pastors and laymen through his writings.

One of the virtues of this biography is the historical narration of Ernie's theological journey. He details his early acceptance of the Scofield Reference Bible theology and his move to a reformed and Calvinistic theology. His search for the victorious Christian life as he dabbled in Higher Life views ends with a gratifying discovery of historical and biblical sanctification. One of Ernie's passions has been a right understanding of the reformed view of the Law and the Gospel and its application to evangelism, holiness, and church life. His books on Today's Evangelism, What Shall We Think of the Carnal Christian, The Law and the Gospel, and The Quiet Revolution are just as relevant to new movements and errors today as when he wrote them. These works are good guides to students and pastors, often referring to the great classics of the reformed faith for further reading.

There are many practical lessons to be learned from this biography. Many lessons can be gleaned for pastoral wisdom in reformation. Lessons are there for the use of literature in personal witnessing and church reformation. There are lessons concerning the now fading use of correspondence with family, friends, and even enemies of reformation.

I think that one major lesson abides in this biography: perseverance in the search for biblical truth and perseverance in the cause of biblical reformation in the churches. It would be easy to fold up the tent and steal away into the night in the latter years of one's life. However, God has put a determination in Ernie's character which abides still and is an encouragement never to give up on reforming the churches of Jesus Christ. This is a challenge to younger men to make the most of their time for truth and to suffer willingly in that grand endeavor.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this biography for the curious who want to more about the resurgent Calvinism in Baptist life. It might clear up many erroneous notions. But I also recommend it to those who have been in the battle for many years. There are lessons to be learned from one life which has been used by God to affect so many others. Geoff Thomas has done us a service by revealing one life touched by God's Sovereign Grace.

{Website editor's note: I cannot spot any information about Geoff's book on the Banner Website, so I thought I'd produce a page about it, which I'll replace with links to the Banner site when it includes the information. Sorry this page has been produced at speed, and lacks polish. Please use your browsers BACK button to return to where you came from}