When writing biographical essays, one can expand on at least three distinguishing characteristics of the individual or can list three areas in which the critic admires or does not admire the individual. For Ian Murray’s The Life of Arthur W. Pink, published by Banner of Truth, the reviewer chose to use three areas of Pink’s life and work to illustrate three important areas. Our scheme:
A. W. Pink, his life and work
IAW Pink – His Life – Three Continents
II. AW Pink-His Work-The Preaching-The Controversy
third AW Pink – His work-writing – Thirty years of perseverance
On April 1, 1886, Arthur Walkington Pink came into the world in Nottingham, England. During this time, there was concern about the state of the church in England. Men like JC Ryle and Charles H. Spurgeon noted the “rebate”. In this climate, AW Pink entered the scene. Thomas and Agnes Pink had little idea of the situation and how their son would contribute to it. In a house like the Pinks’, while business mail might arrive on Lord’s Day, no one would open it until Monday. Children read pictorial editions of Pilgrim’s Progress and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs on the Lord’s Day instead of playing with regular toys. We will examine the life and work of AW Pink.
Although AW Pink grew up in this Christian home, he did not believe. He turned to Theosophy, “a cult which, though only formed into a Society in 1875, claimed special knowledge preserved from generation to generation by a brotherhood of initiates. Its best-known British publication, Lucifer magazine, clearly indicated its antithesis.” -Christian nature…” (p.5) Pink became known for speaking on behalf of the sect. Thomas Pink used to wait awake for Arthur when he returned from these meetings, reminding him of biblical passages such as: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of him is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12 (KJV) Pink didn’t like his father’s insistence, but one night this text stuck with him as he tried to work on an upcoming speech. For three days he did not leave his room, and when he did, God had saved him. Instead of going to an English seminar, he decided to study at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.
After six weeks, he decided that continuing at the Institute unnecessarily delayed his entry into the pastorate. His first pastor took him to Silverton, Colorado, a mining town. With the Scofield Reference Bible in hand, Pink would find the sum total of Dr. Gray’s instructions. From Colorado, he went to the West Coast, probably in the Los Angeles area. While we don’t know how long he spent in California, we do know that he later went to rural Kentucky, where he met Vera Russell. On November 16, 1916, they were married, at which point she became his “indispensable ‘help meet'”. Apparently he visited England a couple of times during those years, but after pastoring in Kentucky, they moved to South Carolina to pastor Northside Baptist. Church from July 1917 to February 1920. While they had difficulties related to the effect of World War I on the economy, they had even greater difficulties related to understanding Pink’s Scriptures. By 1910, he had more books than his Scofield Reference Bible that influenced his thinking. That would play an important role in his work. Sometimes the Pinks lived in houses with other families and other times they rented their own accommodation. I admire those who at that time shared the living space with other families. This also happens in our days, creating additional struggles while alleviating financial difficulties. AW Pink’s work took him from the US to Australia, to the UK, back to the US and finally back to England and Scotland.
God had called Arturo to preach, of this he was confident. At times, on all three continents, many would flock to hear Pink preach. God used him mightily, but over time the doors were closed to his preaching. What happened? On the one hand, in general, the church experienced a “lowering” as Spurgeon called it or an evolution from liberalism at one extreme to “easy belief” among evangelicalism at the other. She explored different denominations, but none that she could agree with enough to become a member. Nonmembers did not receive invitations to speak. Guided by her call to preach, Pink continued to search for some time. In the end, Pink stopped attending church. What about Hebrews 10:25? “Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but exhorting one another, and all the more as you see that day drawing near.” (KJV) This controversy affects our thinking regarding Arthur W. Pink. Knowing God’s insistence on the importance of the church throughout the New Testament and this particular command to meet with other believers, I wonder how Pink couldn’t find a church he could at least attend. His studies had led him away from the teaching of the Scofield Reference Bible. To the Pinks’ credit, although they did not attend church, they studied and worshiped at his home. Furthermore, he searched the Scriptures to see what they taught.
Even while Pink was preaching and looking for churches he could join and speak to, he began publishing Studies in the Scriptures, a monthly magazine. At first they lived with couples who handled much of the typing and publishing for these magazines. Eventually Vera learned to write and they handled everything. Somewhere along the line, she recognized that her voice would only be heard through the printed word. Sometimes many subscribers received the magazine while other times they didn’t know if they could continue. Pink provided a varied diet by maintaining different series that went from month to month. She spent a lot of time corresponding with pastor-hearted readers. These were later republished as magazines for each year or as books. Among her most famous books: The Sovereignty of God and The Attributes of God. Also, many have read Passages from Genesis and Passages from Exodus. Her first publication, The Divine Inspiration of the Bible, appeared in 1917. Volume one of Studies in the Scriptures appeared in 1922. In December 1953, the final issue of Studies in the Scriptures appeared months after her death. . Pink persevered thirty long years in this ministry. Ian Murray, the biographer, provides the reader with a timeline of Pink’s published works. This allows readers to note when each was published and to understand how Pink’s thinking matured over the years. AWPink’s influence grows as more and more readers find her works.
Arthur and Vera Pink lived in Stornoroway, Scotland for their last seven years. Arthur took his last breath on July 15, 1952. He had prepared articles for Studies in the Scriptures for future editions. Vera wrote to her friends: “I can only say: ‘He has done all things well’… My beloved is now in the glory where he so longed to be with Christ.” P. 184 he completed the editorial part concluding at the end of the following year. Although he recovered somewhat from a stroke, his ability to type waned. Pink’s beloved wife “went” home on July 17, 1962 at the age of sixty-nine. Although her lives were over, her work lives on in the writings of AW Pink.