p. 208 | Does It Pay? by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 30, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 13.

Does It Pay?

By Editor

The Interior, in an article entitled, "Does It Pay?" contrasts the present expensive churches and the fancy prices paid to the pastors of fashionable churches, with the churches and salaries in early days, and says:—

"Many, contrasting the present with the past, say that the churches are becoming proud and extravagant, and that they cost more than they are worth. It is easy for one who takes a superficial view of the facts to find fault. But a careful study of them will show that the Christian church has only followed in its development the leadings of Providence, and kept, as was its duty, abreast of the age. To-day, as in those early days, it pays liberally for all that is invested in it. It is a financial success. . . . Leaving out of our estimate for the time the higher interests for which churches are organized, considering them only as institutions for promoting the culture, the elevation, and the enjoyment of the people who sustain them, we see that they can safely challenge comparison with the other institutions of the age. As merely human organizations they are models of efficiency and economy. He who helps to sustain a church is not giving to a charity, but is making a first-class investment for himself and his family. The church will pay back to him in its elevating influences upon himself, his home, and his neighborhood, double compound interest for all that he puts into it. This view of the matter is commended to the attention of business men, to public-spirited patriots, and philanthropists. The church does not come to them as a beggar, but as offering them the best of all investments for the life that now is."

While we fully believe that "godliness is profitable for all things; having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come," and while there is no doubt that the church, when it does its duty, does exert a refining, elevating influence, we deprecate its being put forward as a paying institution. It is not true. The bulk of the world's wealth is not in the church, but is held by non-professors. The result of attempting to make the church a paying institution will be to bring the customs of the world into the church. This tendency is already manifested to a large degree. When business men listen to such proposals as the Interior makes to them, one of two things will happen: Either they will become disgusted when they find the church does not pay them financially, and will give it up, or else they will make it pay, by applying the business methods which give them success in the world. We predict that their natural desire to succeed in whatever they undertake will lead them to the latter course.

How differently the Saviour represented his church. To the rich ruler he said: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven; and come and follow me." Matt. 19:21. And he showed that his church would not be a stepping-stone to worldly wealth and honor, by saying: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23. "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:38.