CHURCH DECLENSION

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 24, 1879

CHURCH DECLENSION.

We have no comments to make on the following article, which we find under the above heading in the July number of Our Rest, only to prefix, as a text, Rev. 14:8.

One of the prominent signs of the times just now is the constant declension of the church. Taking it as a body, do we not see a rapid falling away from that simplicity and faith which characterized the church of the apostles’ days? Do we not see, indeed, the very counterpart of the seventh and last church addressed by our Lord through his servant John? (Rev. 3:14–21.) And if it be true, as some of our best expositors teach, that the seven churches of Asia to whom the letters were addressed actually represent, in type, seven stages of the church’s history, then the last one is a faithful delineation of the church’s condition just before our Lord’s advent. Did you ever read the description? It presents two leading points, which are charges against her. 1. She is neither cold nor hot, but is lukewarm. 2. She claims to be rich and increased with goods. And how true is this picture of the church of to-day! The burning zeal of her first love is departed, yet she is not cold; she has a form of godliness, but lacks the power thereof. The vast machinery of church colleges, seminaries, missionary enterprises, Sunday and week-night services, festivals, fairs, theatrical entertainments, etc., moves on, but the propelling power, we fear, is not altogether the Spirit of God. The spirit of the world has, to a large extent, taken possession of those who control the affairs of the church, resulting almost in a complete paralysis of every part of her system. Displaying much wealth, her real condition is nevertheless “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked,” in the judgment of Him before whose eyes all our actions and thoughts are visible.

What a sad picture is this of the condition of one who should be wholly separate to the service of Him who gave His life for her. And how it makes us tremble when we remember that this good but despised Lord, this great Judge of the world, is about to separate the Bride from the world, and take her into His presence above, preparatory to the fiery judgments which will sweep over the earth with unabated fury until the wicked are purged out of it. Where will this worldly church stand then? Oh, that now these giddy, thoughtless, pleasure-loving professors might heed the timely admonition of the loving Saviour, and buy of him gold tried in the fire, to enrich themselves with; white raiment to cover their nakedness with; and the Lord’s eye-salve to enable them to see.

One of the characteristics of the last days, given by the apostle Paul, was, that men should be “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” 2 Tim. 3:4. And that this is true of the present generation is evident, when we think for a moment how whole communities are stirred in their foundations by the mere occurrence in their midst of a rowing match, a horse race, a foot race, or some other senseless performance. Think of 80,000 people congregating to witness the outcome of a rowing match, as was the case a few weeks since in England, and of tens of thousands of dollars being paid as entrance fees to witness a foot race in New York. Will men, even those professing Christianity, pay out their money so freely, or give their time and labor so readily to the cause of Christ, out of a heartfelt love of God? No. Yet, let some one propose a grand carnival in which worldly show, pride, and love of pleasure can have free scope, and these same Christians (!) will be foremost to offer their services, and do all in their power to make it a success.

And this love of pleasure and worldly excitement has reached such a climax of late, that many of these professors do not even wait for the frivolous excuse of “church needs,” but lend their services as performers to theatrical managers, just as any courtesan or libertine would, for the amusement of the world in general. In this way, the far-seeing manager, who has an eye to business, is enabled to announce the names of leading singers and organists of various churches on his show-bills, and thereby give a sanctified air to his den of iniquity.

An exhibition of this kind has lately been given in the principal cities of our land in connection with a silly play, entitled, “Her Majesty’s Ship Pinafore”—a play which has not even the redeeming feature of a good moral at its close, nor anything of an elevating character in it from beginning to end. It is the veriest trash and silly nonsense ever written, and yet the walls of our city have for over a week been posted with great show-bills, announcing the First Appearance in Public of the Chicago Church Choir Company, in H. M. S. Pinafore!

The windows and walls of nearly every drinking and gambling den in the city have been adorned with hand-bills, telling the loafers, infidels, and devil-serving men who congregate there, that “the leading members from the best church choirs of Chicago” were going to perform their parts at a theater, which is crowded on Sunday and week day, to witness the demoralizing performances of a lot of actors whose morality is more often questionable than otherwise.

They were informed that the organist of Trinity church would have the musical direction of the opera, whilst the principal characters of the play would be sustained by Mrs. Faulk, of Temple Sinai and Union Park Congregational church; Miss Bartlett, Contralto of the church of the Messiah; and the Basso of Plymouth church (Congregational); the Tenor of Trinity Episcopal church; The Baritone of Trinity Methodist Episcopal church; together with a grand chorus of one hundred trained voices, selected from other church choirs and singing clubs.

Just imagine the effect such announcements must have upon a crowd of worldly-minded men, who fear neither God nor devil. They see the church—the professed followers of the meek and lowly Jesus—flocking in crowds to perform and witness the performance of a “light comedy” in one of the devil’s churches, and next day going with sanctified air and holy countenance to sing the Lord’s praises in his holy temple (so-called). Methinks if the Lord himself were to enter there, he would drive out with a whip of cords all such mocking worshipers, as polluters of his place.

But while we realize the depths to which the church has fallen, and how seldom, if ever, she thinks of the return of her Lord, yet we are far from being discouraged. We remember that it is all in keeping with what he said should come to pass, and is one of the signs of his near approach. Our hope is not in man, but in the God of Israel, in whom is everlasting strength. We appeal, therefore, to those whose hearts beat in unison with the teachings of Christ, and who really love his appearing, to stand aloof from the frivolities and glaring worldliness which characterize the church at the present time. Do not suffer yourselves to be drawn away nor enticed by the many temptations surrounding you, but stand firm, and discourage, by both your actions and speech, every attempt to drag the church into still closer communion with the world. Heed not the jeers of scoffing professors, listen not to the seducing speeches of the tempter; but remember the meek and lowly Jesus, to whom all power has been given in Heaven and on earth, and remember that he has no pleasure in those things which the world loves, but hates them. Every attempt to forward his cause by a co-partnership with the world will prove disastrous, and instead of aiding the conversion of the world, will end in the demoralizing of the church, and finally in the loss, soul and body, of all who persist in following such a course.