Revival Work—Causes of its Inefficiency
By G. D. Ballou
It is often a source of remark and wonder to many good orthodox church-going people, as well as others, that revival preaching is so powerless to convert sinners, and when once converted to keep them so. It certainly is a lamentable fact, that so few of the many who seem to accept the offers of mercy, and make a public profession of faith in Christ, remain faithful to their profession to the end of a twelvemonth. Probably not more than one in ten of the reported conversions prove permanent, and work out such a reformation of life as to show that the person was genuinely converted. Recently, in a village where I was acquainted, there had been a revival, and forty conversions were reported. The minister who had charge of the effort, boasted publicly of what a glorious revival they had experienced, and what a rich harvest of precious souls had been gathered into the fold. But at the same time he remarked privately that if eight of the forty remained faithful it would be all he could expect. Such an admission under such circumstances was indeed humiliating. Such a state of things can not but make one think of what the prophet says, "They have begotten strange children; now shall a month devour them with their portions." Hosea 5:7. It would seem that there ought to be some remedy for this state of things, for certainly the gospel of Christ has not lost its power, nor has God ordained that such unsatisfactory and pitiable results should follow the teaching of the plain, simple truths of his word. It certainly was not so in early times. Christ once said, "The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light." The truth of his words is well illustrated when we compare the methods used in revival work, with the methods used in the other affairs of life. The shrewd business man works by a well-planned system. Days, weeks, and months of careful thinking are incorporated into his occupation. He builds his success on thought and knowledge; so with the true teacher. His effort is to stimulate thought and advance the pupil in knowledge. He imparts instruction in the most natural way, so that each new thought awakened grows out of, or depends on, those previously developed. So it ought to be in teaching the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Earnest thought should be aroused, and a thorough knowledge of moral obligation, and of the hope set forth in the promises and prophecies, should be imparted. God has given the intellect to lead and govern our other powers, and he calls upon us to reason with him in regard to obedience and penitence, and his power to pardon. Isa. 1:18. He has planted the affections and emotions in our natures, to encourage and give force to the decisions of the intellect. He has adapted his word to our wants, by filling it chiefly with instruction designed as a basis for faith, with here and there an exhortation intended to stir the affections and emotions, and lead us to activity and zeal in his service. One who has never thought of this matter will be surprised by the very small proportion of exhortatory scripture the Bible contains, as compared with that which is especially intended to teach our relations to God, and make known to us his revealed will. I have often heard church-going people talk something like this: "I have been to church regularly for the last six months, and I do not see as I have learned anything about the Bible. I think if I had staid at home and read the book alone, I would have been better informed than I am." Such expressions coming from persons of integrity are a sad comment on the religious instruction of these days. The fault with preaching in general is that it does not reach the mind. Especially is it true in revival work, that from first to last the appeal is made entirely to the feelings and emotions. If a man is really converted he must be thoroughly converted. His mind must first be convinced, and then his feelings may be legitimately wrought upon. But the great effort seems to be to move the feelings. When this is accomplished and the poor, trembling candidate has expressed a desire to become a Christian, he is pronounced converted. The work is complete according to the popular notion. Feeling, when it reaches a certain depth and stirs up a certain degree of excitement, is mysteriously transformed into pure and undefiled religion. And so the masses refuse to be converted, until some unaccountable sensation shall sieze and instantaneously transform them, without effort on their part, to lives of purity and holiness. Hence it is that the man who can control the feelings of his audience and sway them at will, is in such demand when a revival is wanted. An intelligent, well-founded conversion, one which imparts the ability to give a reason of one's hope, costs something of an effort. Prov. 2. Close thought and application of the mind are distasteful to the majority. Most people like to have their feelings stirred to the depths; they love to be excited and thrilled; they love to be carried in imagination to the brink of the precipice, and held out over the yawning abyss, and then be miraculously rescued. This style of preaching, which is largely in demand, partakes too much of the character of novel-reading. When the preacher is gone, the excitement rapidly subsides, and their sentimental religion evaporates like fog before the morning sun. All religious exercises become dull and prosy, and soon the individual is in a worse condition than before. Nothing short of a greater excitement than the first will suffice to arouse him from the stupor into which he has fallen. Is it any wonder that sensible people withhold their sympathies and support from the churches, when they see such inconsistent proceedings? The best place to exercise common sense is in religious matters, and nothing can show better judgment than trying to instruct people in regard to the plan of salvation, before urging them to accept of its offers. And yet there is a sentiment against teaching doctrines, and trying to show the harmony of the Scriptures. "Away with your doctrines," is the popular cry. We would like to know how men and women can be converted to the gospel, so long as they regard the Bible as mysterious and contradictory. And how can the church expect to convert the world, even a single soul, so long as they teach that much of the word cannot be explained. Has not the time come for thinking people to send up a cry for more instruction, more knowledge, more light, and less of shallow sentimentalism? Another element which is sapping the foundations of practical Christianity is the perpetual call, "Get ready to die." It seems to be the end of all teaching and exhortation. This is a gross mistake. Our being ready to die depends entirely on how we have lived. Hence we say, get ready to live, and you will thus be prepared to die. It is true we are not fit to live. To live right is the important thing. Dying right will take care of itself. We are not to be judged by our happy or gloomy feelings at death, but by our actions in life. If our lives are such as God can approve, we need not be concerned about our departure. The most pernicious effects are seen as the fruit of this popular exhortation. It blights and withers the noble thoughts that would lead us to a consistent Christian life, by causing us to overlook practical duties, and center our chief thoughts on the death-bed scene, hoping that by some means we may be allowed a happy, triumphant departure. This subordinating everything to a preparation for death leads sinners to fatal procrastination. If it is the important thing, why may they not run riot as long as possible, and then use the last few minutes in sorrow and contrition, and thus, in accordance with funeral theology make their accounts all right with God? But the weakness of this idea is still more apparent, when we consider that the Bible says not one word in all its pages about any special moral or spiritual preparation for death. On the other hand the whole tenor of its teaching would lead men to carefulness in their daily life. Here are some of its injunctions: "Walk while ye have the light;" "To-day if ye will hear his voice harden not your heart;" "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth;" "Live soberly, righteously, and godly." We find many rules to live by; not one to die by. Living right is the important thing, and our future will depend on how we have used this life, not on a few forced, spasmodic efforts on the brink of the grave. The Christian whose life has been in accordance with the instruction of God's word, does not look down into death for any consolation; his faith carries him beyond, over into that life eternal, which is promised to the righteous. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." To be a child of God is the great privilege of every one. May we not hope that the truth and light may yet be made to shine so that darkness and error may be swept away from the minds of the honest in heart, and they be made to realize that it is better to be built up in the truth, than to be simply stirred up by it?