WHEREIN APOSTOLIC PREACHING DIFFERS FROM MODERN.
By B. F. Robbins
“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Cor. ii, 5. The secret of the success of apostolic preaching in the conversion of men to the truth of the gospel of Christ, is revealed in the text and its connection. Paul’s preaching to the Corinthians was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. There is, then, a great difference between the preaching of the apostles and the success of their ministry among men, and the preaching of this time as also the converts under its ministry. The converts to Christianity in the apostles’ days were truly believers in Jesus. They were separate from the world, steadfast in the faith, ready if required to sacrifice life. Their faith stood not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. But how different now. The power of God by his Spirit to give efficiency to the preaching of the gospel is not in the work, and hence the resort to persuasive, enticing words of man’s wisdom to induce men and women to take upon themselves a profession of faith in some one of the many conflicting creeds. The faith of such rests upon the wisdom of men, and not upon the power of God, which is practically denied by many of the professed ministers of Christ of all names and creeds. This is, alas, too true, and its truthfulness is apparent in the lives and deportment of many professed Christians. The church of this age fulfills the prediction of Paul. 2 Tim iii, 1-5. The preaching of Paul and his fellow-laborers was with power from on high: a power that carried conviction to the hearts of stubborn Jews and idolatrous Greeks, and constrained them to flee to Jesus the only Saviour of sinners, even while persecution and a violent death were frequently the consequence of their faith. If persecution was the attendant of a199profession of faith in Jesus now as then, the persuasive words of man’s wisdom, now resorted to, would be entirely powerless to convert any; and were not a powerless, formal Christianity popular, the preachers would have no hearers, and the palaces of worship would be closed. But an important question suggests itself. Why is not the power of God to give success to the preaching of the gospel of Jesus now in the world? Certainly it is not because it is not as much needed now as then. Then the preaching of the cross of Christ was to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness, but to all believers the power of God. Now practical infidelity pervades the church. The gospel and its holy requirements, though praised in enticing words of men’s wisdom, are practically denied. The power of God is not in the world, and mere outward profession has taken the place of the power of godliness. The power of God is as much needed now as in Paul’s day. But we are told by our religious teachers that the power of God attending the preaching of the gospel was only designed for the apostolic age, and ceased with it. But this we cannot believe. Jesus, in his commission to his disciples (Mark xvi, 15-18; Matt. xxviii, 19, 20), assures us of power from above to attend their preaching, and that he would be with them even to the end of the world. Now the ministry of this age must surrender their claim of acting under this commission of Jesus to his ministers, or else cease to contend that the endowment of power to truly qualify them for the work of preaching the gospel was designed only for the apostolic age. Paul would not have the converts of Jesus under his ministry, ground their faith in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. This is the only foundation upon which faith can safely rest. All other is but shifting, sinking sand. B. F. ROBBINS.
Owosso, Mich.