DEMAND FOR GOSPEL PREACHING.
In a note last week we called attention to Mr. Moody’s appeal for Gospel preaching found in the Independent of December 24. He is stirred to make this appeal by the lack of conversions in the churches, over three thousand churches in the Presbyterian and Congregational denominations failing to report any accessions during the year 1895. Mr. Moody asks some suggestive questions as to the cause: Whether this lack of converting power is “the result of what they call the ‘modern criticism’ of the Bible? Is this a specimen of the better times when we would get rid of the old stories about Moses writing the Pentateuch, and the sun and moon standing still, and the fish swallowing Jonah? How much of all of this is owing to the politics our ministers have been preaching lately, and the talks on the labor question, and the stereopticon shows on Sunday evenings, and all these other things that have been driving out the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ?” The Independent does not think that these things are the causes, but it to a certain extent recognizes the need of Gospel preaching, and declares that “Mr. Moody does well to be astonished and pained at the thousands of churches—3,000 in the Congregational and Presbyterian bodies alone—which reported not a single member added by profession of faith last year. It is enough to send a thrill of pain through the soul of every true Christian.” The Advance, of Chicago, says that “it is unmistakable that in some of our pulpits where culture and not regeneration is the word, where the example of Christ is preached to the exclusion of his atonement for sin, their occupants do not, in Mr. Moody’s words, ‘believe in conversions as they used to do.’” It was but a short time since that Bishop Moore, of the great Methodist Episcopal Church, editor of the Western Christian Advocate (Cincinnati), solemnly declared concerning his own people:— “The great trouble with us to-day is that the rescue of imperiled souls is our last and least consideration. Many of our congregations are conducted on the basis of social clubs. They are made centers of social influence. Membership is sought in order to advance one’s prospects in society, business, or politics. Preachers are called who know how to “Smooth down the rugged text to earn its plate,
And snugly keep damnation out of sight.” “ . . . The class books are filled with names of unconverted men and women. . . . The distinction between inside and outside is so obscure that men smile when asked to unite with the church, and sometimes tell us they find the best men outside. . . . The ax is laid at the root of the tree. The call is to repentance. God’s work must be done. If we are in the way, he will remove us.” These are solemn words. They certainly show the need of returning to the Lord and preaching the Gospel of Christ. Bishop J. P. Newman, of San Francisco, of the same church, declares “the essential thing for us is a general revival of religion. . . . My opinion is that the inspiration of such a movement must come from the religion of our Lord, the only hope of humanity, and hence the commandments and the sermon on the mount should be the daily practice and meditation of every citizen. Out of this should come the federation of all the churches without regard to sectarianism or sectionalism.” Much more might be quoted from prominent men and religious journals; but these are sufficient to establish two facts: (1) That the spiritual condition of nominal Christianity is deplorable; and (2) that its great need is a revival in religion, a revival which has its life in Jesus Christ. Now, as a complement to this recognized condition and its consequent need, we wish to present the remedy of Jesus Christ in the following message for this time:— “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwelt on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14:6, 7. This is God’s message to the church and the world. It is the everlasting Gospel of God’s word. It calls from the fear of man to the fear of God, from giving glory to science, tradition, great men, and multitudes, to giving glory to God. It calls from the service of self and the world to the worship—the service (for the highest form of worship is service, Matt. 4:10)—of the great Creator of the heaven and the earth. The memorial of his creative power is his holy Sabbath. His fear and worship lead to obedience to all his—not men’s—commandments. Going with this message is the solemn announcement that the Babylon of the world’s creeds, errors, plans, schemes, devices, is fallen; and then God solemnly warns us against the worship of the beast or his image, or the reception of the great mark of apostasy. Verses 8–11. Following this great threefold message we have the description of the people of God developed by the message: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Verse 12. Not one commandment of the ten, not nine, not a perverted and mutilated copy, but all the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. This is God’s message, his remedy for the sickness of the church. Truly he may ask, “Why is the health of the daughter of my people not recovered?” With the application by faith of this remedy there would be no need of “federations,” of outward mechanical unions; there would be manifest the blessed union for which Christ prayed.