WHY THEY DON'T STAY CONVERTED.
By GEO. D. BALLOT.
It is a source of frequent remark among church-going as well as other people, that revival preaching is powerless to impart lasting spiritual vitality to those converted under its influence. When our attention is once arrested by this thought, it does seem lamentable that so few of the many who seem to accept the gospel, and perhaps unite with some church, remain faithful to their profession for a year. Probably not more than one in ten of the conversions reported proves permanent and works such a reformation as to show that the individual was genuinely converted. In a recent revival where forty cases of conversion were reported, the minister having charge of the effort boasted publicly of the glorious revival experienced and the rich harvest of souls that had been gathered into the fold; but at the same time he remarked privately that if eight of the forty remained faithful it would be all he could expect. Such an admission was indeed humiliating, if we claim that the gospel was given to save men. We are reminded of what the prophet Hosea says: “They have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.” Hosea 5:7. There must be some avoidable cause or causes operating to produce such results; for certainly the gospel has not lost its power, nor has God ordained that such unsatisfactory and pitiable results should follow the preaching and acceptance of the simple truths of his word. How different is the present time from the early gospel days. Then it was only the few who drew back, now it is the few that remain faithful. We think the mode of procedure in the order of presenting Bible truths is largely to blame for this state of things. Modern scientific educators give us an excellent rule to pursue in presenting new truths of any kind; it is to follow the order of dependence. In the practical workings of this rule, the teacher endeavors to present new ideas and thoughts in such a way that each new one will depend on those previously presented. Let us apply this rule to religious teaching: The Bible consists largely of instruction both doctrinal and practical, with here and there a word of timely exhortation interspersed. One who has never thought of this matter will be surprised at the very small proportion of exhortational scripture. The whole book is an exposition of the plan of salvation, with something of the history of its workings. The instructional portions are intended to give us a knowledge of the relations we sustain to God, and the exhortational to lead us to act with reference to those relations. This thought leads us to see how perfectly the Bible is adapted to man's nature: the instruction appealing to his intellect, and the exhortation to his feeling. God gave the intellect to govern the physical and emotional elements of our nature. Men who succeed in any undertaking have practically to recognize this truth. Those who are governed by feeling universally end in making a failure. The feelings are implanted in us, not to lead and control, but to give force and character to the carrying out of the decisions of our judgment. Popular religious teaching seems to ignore this common-sense view of man's nature and requirements to such an extent that nearly every effort to convert souls is a direct appeal to the feelings, with scarcely a legitimate attempt to reach the intellect. The preaching is nearly all exhortation, addressed to the emotions and feelings, with little or no instruction in it. The great object is to move the feelings, and the shortest method to produce this result is adopted. When once this is accomplished, and the poor trembling candidate has expressed a desire to become a Christian, he is said to be converted. The work is done according to the popular notion, and he is ready to be admitted into the church. Feeling, when it reaches a certain depth and stirs up a certain degree of excitement, according to revival theology, is suddenly and mysteriously transformed into pure and undefiled religion. Hence it is that men who can control the feelings of their audiences and sway them at will are in such demand when a revival is wanted. We often hear the complaint from intelligent, candid people, both church members and worldlings, that they do not learn much about the Bible from the preaching they hear; they do not understand the plan of salvation any better at the close of a revival than at the commencement. This certainly is not as it should be. Men and women must be instructed in regard to their relations to God before they can intelligently accept the terms of the gospel. A well-founded conversion, one which imparts the ability to give a reason of the hope within, costs something of an effort. (Read Prov. 2:1–9.) To the great mass of mankind, close thought and application of the mind are exceedingly distasteful; but this is the price of that wisdom which is from above, which is first pure, then peaceable, and of that peace which passeth understanding. There must be a yielding up of our will and way, and a diligent inquiry after truth. In contrast with this state of mind, there are very few who do not like to have their feelings stirred to the depths. They love to be excited and thrilled. They love to be carried to the brink of the precipice and held out over the yawning abyss, and then be suddenly and miraculously rescued. This style of preaching, which is largely in demand, partakes too much of the character of novel reading. The attendant excitement subsides rapidly, and often leaves the newly converted in a worse condition than before. Nothing short of a greater excitement than the first will suffice to arouse such backsliders from the spiritual stupor into which they inevitably fall. And thus the story repeats itself all over the land. Is it any wonder that many sensible people withhold their sympathies from the churches, when they see such unreasonable proceedings? The best place to exercise common sense and good judgment is in religious matters, and nothing can show better judgment than to instruct people in regard to the plan of salvation before trying to get them to accept of its offers. The great popular cry wherever one attempts to explain and show the harmony of the Scriptures is, “Away with your doctrines and give us the Spirit.” We ask how men and women can be converted so long as they regard the Bible as more or less dark, mysterious, and contradictory? Are not its doctrines and instructions necessary to instill the right spirit into us? How does the church expect to convert the world, or even a single soul, so long as they allow that much of the Scriptures is inexplicable? The greatest fault of the church is that they are neglecting the study of the Bible, thus losing the instruction which is specially applicable to our time. Instead of trying to instruct themselves out of the word and walk in the increasing light, they cry out against nearly every effort to obtain more knowledge and light and submit to be led by their own feelings and inclinations. Especially is this true when any popular doctrine is called in question. The church of to-day is trying to walk by the light which shone upon the pathway of their fathers. They forget that “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Prov. 4:18. How easy for us to sympathize with Moses in his dealings with rebellious Israel, or to weep with Jeremiah in his afflictions, or to have our hearts moved with tender pity as we contemplate the life of Christ; and then how easy for us to go our ways and forget that God is dealing with the world now just the same as in any past age, and that we have a part to act just as truly as the prophets and holy men of old. God surely has not left his creatures to themselves. He has had special truths for past ages, and he has a special truth for this time; and it is our privilege to know what this truth is, by earnestly searching the word of God. It seems that the time has come when those who will, can see the weakness and folly of popular religious teaching. It is time for sensible men and women to cry out for more instruction, more knowledge, more light, and less of the shallow sentimentalism so characteristic of our times.