Preaching to the Unconverted
By Editor
In response to a request from the editor of The Independent that he would write of changes which have taken place in the methods of the American pulpit within his memory, T. L. Cuyler, D. D., states that there have been “some very marked changes” during that time. Among them he mentions the following: “Another characteristic of the average preaching threescore years ago was that sermons were more generally aimed at awakening the impenitent, and bringing them to Jesus Christ. The evil of sin was emphasized, the way of salvation was explained, the claims of Christ were presented, and people were urged to an immediate decision. Nowadays a large portion of the sermons are addressed to professed Christians; many others are addressed to nobody in particular; but there is much less of faithful, fervid, loving, pungent, and persuasive preaching to the unconverted. This is one of the reasons for the lamentable decrease in the number of conversions. If ministers are set to be watchmen for souls, and winners of souls, how shall they escape if they neglect the salvation of souls?” These statements are worthy of serious attention. Jesus promised that when the Comforter should come, He would “convict the world in respect of sin.” If the conviction of sin does not attend the preaching of the word, it is evidence that the word is not preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. There is great need among us to-day of a ministry burdened with a sense of what it means to be without hope, “and without God in the world,” which shall give the Lord “no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” Then the Lord would not lack channels through which He could pour the tide of His forgiving mercy upon unsaved souls, and thus the coming of the great day would be hastened. We cannot report any marked progress toward the settlement of the very important questions which confront the Sanitarium managers as the result of the recent fire. Provision has now been made for carrying forward the regular work of the institution in the buildings still remaining, and the problem of rebuilding is receiving constant and earnest consideration. A meeting of the business men of Battle Creek and others interested in this matter was held last Thursday evening. By invitation of the chairman, Dr. J. H. Kellogg addressed the meeting, making a full statement of the views of the managers. As the result of this conference, a committee of representative business men was appointed to meet with the Sanitarium Board of Managers for a further study of the situation. In the meantime the great mass of ruins is being cleared away, and plans and estimates for rebuilding are being submitted by architects and builders.