The Church and the Drones.
By Editor
ANY one who is at all familiar with the composition of our churches, will agree that the number of members who contribute nothing, or next to nothing, to the spiritual power or work of the church, are largely in excess of those who do. We do not now speak of those "hidden ones" whose spiritual life or activities are not open to the common observation; who are laying up stores of scriptural instruction in the minds and hearts of their children at home; who, cumbered with much domestic serving, and burdened with many cares, are living out their lives unto God amid the routine drudgery of every-day life, holding communion with God, in the midst of it all, being nourished and ministering nourishment all unseen to others. But we speak of those who are well-known as members of the church; who, while they are more or less present on the Sabbath days, feeding (if they do feed) on the bread that is broken to the whole congregation, turn nothing of the life or strength which they have received (if they have received any) to any advantage to the church or to any human being apart from themselves. So far as service is concerned, they are drones, pure and simple. Like their prototypes of the hive, they gather no honey, they build no cells, they take no part in the service, support, or protection of the community. They fly abroad with much more noise than the working bee, and come back again only to eat that which others have gathered, and live amid the comforts and safety which others have provided and builded. How the church is maintained or its work is done these Christian drones seem to know nothing and to care less. They are mere feeders. We do not mean by this that they feed anybody, but only that they are on hand to be fed. To them religion is a mere insurance against the contingencies of another world, on which there are no premiums to be paid. They proceed on the assumption that they have a paid-up policy. Or rather that, in consideration, or in virtue at least, of their union with the church, they have been put in possession of a clear title to Heaven. It is a matter of much ingenious speculation among scientific men as to what use there can possibly be for the drone-bee that is in such vast numbers in the swarm. The working bee, about the first of June every year, gives a practical answer. For, about that time, the whole force of working bees in the hive are seized with a common impulse, and begin a merciless war of extermination upon them, chasing them all to the bottom of the hive, and killing every one of them, sometimes tearing them limb from limb, and sweeping them out of the hive. Whether some such measures (metaphorically speaking) should be taken with the human drone in the church hive, is a matter of question, but, at the same time, one worthy of serious consideration. That they are a burden and a clog upon the church there can be no doubt; that they are a reproach and a false testimony to religion is equally true. That there is any inscrutable reason for them in the divine purpose does not seem to appear. We can discover some purpose and wisdom in the chaff that surrounds the wheat, but even that in time is separated and burned up, after being blown away before the fan. These drones appear to be mere parasites at best, ministering to nobody's good, not even to their own, but only living upon the life and provisions of others. They are a prey upon the life of the church. Paul, writing to the church at Thessalonica, says: "We commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." I suppose there were some idlers there who sought to be fed and supported, temporarily, out of the funds of the church. But the apostle, divinely inspired, wisely forbade that such should eat. We do not see why this rule should not be applied spiritually. If any man or woman takes no part in the spiritual work of the church, if they are mere names to live, but are dead, so far at least as any sign of spiritual activity is concerned, is there any reason why they should be kept as cumberers on the church roll? When the master of the vineyard sought fruit on his fig tree, which he had planted in his vineyard, and found no fruit thereon, after a reasonable time, in which more nurture was given, but to no purpose; he cut it down. Why should these cumberers be allowed in the church vineyard? Does the mere fact that they have made a profession of religion give them the right to remain in the church as fruitless trees? Nay, is it not a wrong to them that they are allowed, year by year, to go on in the delusion that they are Christians, when there is no sign that they are anything more or less than dead professors? If they are fruitless for the want of more care, or training, or attention, then, by all means, give it to them; but if, after a few years, there is no change or promise of fruit, then, by all means, let them be removed. We believe this to be in accordance with the teaching of God's word. Moreover, we believe that the presence of so many drones and dead professors in the church may, in some measure, account for the spiritual weakness of the churches. Let prayer be made for them, let personal labor be bestowed upon them, let long-suffering patience be had with them; but if all these fail, let them be cast out, that they may go to their own place.—Independent.