Too Much Style | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 22, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 28.

Too Much Style.

IN our large towns and cities the churches are dying of style. There is style in the building and furniture; style in the preaching and altar work; style in singing—or rather musical performances; style in the accoutrements of the attendants upon worship. Style is a good thing in its place; but there is danger of allowing our religion to merge into style, literally to go to seed in that form. Let us have simplicity, naturalness, humility, fervor, spirituality, liberty, power. Memoriter or read sermons are an abomination; operatic singing versus congregational singing is a curse; stiffness and preciseness in worship are moral death. These things drive the poor away; and when the poor go out at the doors, the Holy Spirit goes out at the windows. We do not ask that men be poor or ignorant, or coarse, or offensively noisy; but we do ask that they be humble, simple, natural; we ask that they sing and pray with the Spirit, and preach with power.—Holston Methodist.