Spiritual Declension

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 20, 1911

Spiritual Declension

THE great spiritual declension which we see in the professed church of Christ had its root, in the beginning, in the individual experience of its members. The church departs from God only as the individuals making up its membership grow cold and indifferent in its service. Among some of the causes of spiritual declension in individual life, G. B. E. Hallock, D. D., in the Western Recorder of March 16, speaks of the following:—

What are some of the causes of spiritual declension, of leaving our “first love”? One is the spirit of compromise. We refer to that yielding disposition manifested by many who, early in their Christian life, begin to indulge a fear that their piety is not going to be welcome to others, especially to their unconverted friends, but will be considered too severe in its requirements of practical duty. They imagine that they can, therefore, make their religion less repulsive by lowering the standard “just a little.” A wife thinks her husband will accompany her more often to the church if she will yield now and then, and go with him to the theater. The young Christian indulges in the dance, excusing herself with the thought that

she will keep sufficiently in touch with her worldly companions to help them toward the kingdom. Though possibly from the best of motives, there never was practised a more fatal mistake. Compromises are always dangerous. . . . Christians, do not forget this fact. By every compromise you make, you are the loser. There never was a sinner saved by lowering the claims of the gospel down to him.

With the individual experience kept bright and active, there is little danger of the church of God declining. This appeals to us in a personal sense. How does our own individual Christian experience stand related to the church of Christ? Are we laboring from right motives? Are our purposes true and pure? Are we living in all good conscience in the sight of God from day to day? These are questions of personal concern, which every soul will do well to consider.