The Main Thing

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 1, 1910

THE history of the church in every age has shown that with the loss of spiritual power and vital godliness has come a spirit of show and ostentation. This is seen in imposing church architecture, grand music, costly furnishings, and an effort to make the externals of worship attractive and imposing. All this, however, can not make up for the lack of spiritual power. Speaking of this in the Baptist Standard of August 4, George W. Truett says:—

Many things are from time to time proposed for the prosperity of the churches. Is it not amazingly singular that the main thing is so often overlooked? It is suggested that the churches should have better buildings, with better equipments; that they should have a more scholarly ministry; that they should have better music, and numerous other things, in order to secure the best prosperity. But what are all these things, if the great passion and purpose be lacking to win lost souls to the Saviour? The magnificent buildings, the elegant music, the eloquent ministers, all seem a hollow mockery if poor, lost souls on every side go down to eternal death. What, then, is the main thing for God's people to be praying for and working at with never-ceasing faithfulness?—It is the winning of lost souls to him who died for them. To this end Christ came and lived and died, and rose again, and went back to glory, and there offers unceasing intercession. For this cause his churches are left in the earth,—like their divine Founder, to seek and to save the lost.

The great need in the Christian ministry to-day is a return to gospel simplicity,—a reaching out after the gospel's only vitalizing power; namely, the Holy Spirit. Externals of worship, however imposing their display, can never satisfy the soul's hunger after God. Without divine ministry they serve only to make of religious service a hollow mockery. The Christian church needs power, but that power can come only by a living connection with the Lord Jesus Christ.