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The Need of a Revival

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 18, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 9.

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The Need of a Revival

By F. M. W.

ARTICLES in a recent number of the United Presbyterian and the Western Recorder (Baptist) consider at some length the need of a revival in the great Christian church. Among the evidences for this need cited by the United Presbyterian are the following: “Lack of interest in the work of the kingdom,” “a waning faith,” “inattention to the Word of God,” “neglect of prayer,” “selfish living.” The editor of this paper declares:—
Self-examination is in order. We need to look scrutinizingly into our own lives, and by the help of God to realize our own needs. Then we shall be in the spirit to receive that power without which all human planning and toiling are in vain.
The writer in the Western Recorder says that among the causes of a decline in spirituality are: (1) “The spirit of union that has obtained in some quarters;” (2) “conformity to the world and the ways of other people;” (3) “working at religion without the help of Christ;” (4) “pulpit performances.” He declares that—
the entertainment idea, which is carried out profusely, is supplanting and pushing aside the spiritual. Dancing, theater-going, moving picture scenes, and games of doubtful savor all have administered in a measure to the present low state of spiritual life among us. . . . If others have a special theatrical choir performance, we must have one, even if it makes every spiritual member bow his head and wish he were absent. To draw the crowd is the thing. The spiritual pastor must become a little more worldly to satisfy those having itching ears, or go far hence to the Gentiles. So we go, down, down, down.
If these disintegrating influences have wrought havoc in the great churches of Christendom, they will work havoc in the Seventh-day Adventist Church to the extent they are fostered in the lives of the members. We cannot join affinity with the world and maintain our living connection with Christ. We cannot permit the spirit of commercialism and pleasure loving, of indulgence in sinful or questionable games and amusements, the love of dress and display, to take possession of the lives of our members, and at the same time maintain the church in its purity and its simplicity. We can look out into the great Christian world and recognize that “Babylon is fallen;” but let us remember that the errors and backslidings from God, the apostasies from truth and from Christian living, which marked her downfall, will mark ours as well unless we individually set our faces to stem the current and maintain in our lives the power of the gospel of Christ.
The standard of Christianity in the Seventh-day Adventist Church will be no higher than the standard of Christianity in the average popular church of the world, only as the truth we hold sanctifies our lives; only as we are kept by the power of God. Holding the truth in theory will never save us. It is only as that truth is reduced to living experience in our lives that we shall be kept from falling and be transformed into the similitude of Christ’s character. Let us “look scrutinizingly into our own lives, and by the help of God realize our own needs.” By recognizing our own needs and by taking hold of the keeping power of Christ Jesus, we shall obtain the one thing needful to our salvation.
F. M. W.