The Need of a Revival

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 9, 1875

The Need of a Revival.

We have reached that period of the year in which a revival of religion is expected in nearly all churches. That there is an urgent demand for a reformation, not only in the church, but in society generally, none will deny. The condition of the world in regard to religion and morality is truly lamentable.

The church revivals of the past few years, in most instances, have seemed to accomplish but little good. But few genuine conversions have taken place, while large numbers have been added to the church, many of whom belong to that class who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. This is owing largely to the fact that the revivalists aim to raise an excitement by appealing to the sympathies of the people, and that many, resolving to live a devoted Christian life, on the spur of the moment, in a state of excitement, backslide and give up entirely; and when in that condition they are more difficult to reach a second time.

Many are seeing the necessity of a revival in church and State affairs. Men’s hearts are failing them for fear as they discover that “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.” What is greatly needed is a reformation in the morals of the people—honesty, truthfulness, and a restoration of that confidence which men have lost in one another, which is so essential to the transaction of the business of life.

A late writer in the Chicago Tribune, speaking of the then expected efforts of the evangelists, Moody and Sankey, in this country, sets forth the necessity of a revival in such a pointed manner that we quote the article quite largely for the benefit of the readers of the REVIEW:—

“The moral system of the community has reached a very low tone. It is enervated and enfeebled. It is not capable of resisting temptation. Dishonesty, fraud, theft, gambling in values, defalcation, and the mania to make money without rendering an equivalent, have blunted the moral senses, especially in the political and commercial life, until almost the whole moral system in cities and towns has become torpid and inactive, and conscience has well nigh ceased to work. The moral system now needs a tonic—something to brace it up and set its inactive powers at work again. It seems as if an overruling Providence had brought about the disasters which have overtaken such men as Fisk, Jay Cooke, B. F. Allen, Henry Clews, Duncan, Sherman, & Co., and Ralston, as a significant warning that this headlong and dishonest scramble for riches must be stopped, or universal ruin will ensue.

“There is little doubt that a religious revival conducted and applied in a proper manner would prove just the tonic which the moral system of the country at present needs. . . . A revival can be made productive of much good or of no good, just as it is applied and directed. We do not believe that the most important need of the country is a revival in the ordinary religious sense—that is, a revival involving theological conditions, and turning upon theological problems of mysteries. . . . A revival of this kind will not reach the weak spot in the body politic nor brace up the moral system. What is wanted is a revival of honesty and integrity. . . . We do not need a revival of the terrors of Hades, for sectarian unbelief or dogmatic indifference, nearly as much as we need a revival to stop men from swindling, gambling, defrauding, appropriating other people’s money, overreaching their neighbors, and making gain by dishonest means and avoidance of labor, which is the present curse of this country, and which is responsible for almost every other sin and evil, and is the source of much of the crime in the community at present. If the revivalists can make the people honest, they will strike at the root of the evil.

“Let the evangelists preach the necessity of honesty, and have the churches practice it. Let them unite their efforts to reform the world in the things of the world, and, having done this, the affairs of the next world will be much easier to take care of. This is the tonic which the people need, and any other remedy will only be scattering in its effects, and productive of comparatively little good in curing the specific disease. Many observing, thinking men have little faith in ordinary revivals, believing that their effects are not permanent, but are mostly spasms of religious excitement, and apt to be of little value in their after effects.

“It may be that a revival of honesty might not be permanent, but that is neither here nor there. Dishonesty is the crying evil of the community, and against this evil the whole force of the evangelists, with all the aid and comfort the churches can give them, should be directed. This will be in accordance with Christ’s teachings. His Golden Rule, Do unto others as you would have others do unto you, is the very essence of honesty. If that were practiced universally, it would promote general honesty and virtue, which would be conducive to the growth of religious feeling. Are Messrs. Moody and Sankey ready to grapple with this great evil of dishonesty, which is undermining the whole community? Are the churches ready to support them and aid them with practical work? If they are, then great good may grow out of the revival. If not, then we fear that the revival may prove only a sensation of excitement, ephemeral in its character, and not productive of the reform which is most needed.” S. H. LANE.