A Religious Reformation a Necessity of the Age.
By George I. Butler
WE are living in an age of invention, an age of great light and of general investigation. The human mind was never more active. We cannot doubt that there is real advancement in many directions. But how is it in religion? Is a general advancement being made in this over the practices of our fathers? Or is there a positive declension? God has given us a standard of true religion in his holy word. This is able to thoroughly furnish the man of God unto every good work. If so, it is just right. Does the religious practice of this time correspond with this standard? The apostolic church certainly set the highest example of Christian practice the world has ever seen. They were not too holy, too zealous. Indeed, it is evident that in many things their practice as recorded in the New Testament came short of the standard of perfection. How does the practice of the present time correspond with theirs? Does it equal or exceed it? If not, a reformation is demanded. The Bible clearly teaches that in the last days there will be great religious declension, that "the love of many shall wax cold" (Matt. 24:12), that the times will be perilous, and that a catalogue of grievous sins will be found in connection with religious professors, and that the power of godliness will be denied, and merely the form retained; and it authoritatively adds, "From such turn away." 2 Tim. 3:1-5. Having reached the period of time spoken of, viz., the "last days," we are in duty bound to look around us to see if such a state of things does exist; and if we are authorized from plain and notorious facts to conclude that it does, then we are solemnly bound to heed the requirement of the Scripture. It will be proper therefore to compare the condition of things around us in the religious world with the only correct standard of religious practice, the Bible, to ascertain the truth. The Bible forbids the love of the world. It declares that "if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15. Speaking of a fallen church which should be utterly destroyed, the prophet says her "merchants were the great men of the earth." Rev. 18. Christ says we "cannot serve God and mammon." And James says, "The friendship of the world is enmity with God." James 4:4. The Bible everywhere teaches that while it is the duty of God's people to labor for the salvation of wicked men, by bringing them to Christ, there must be a separation from the world. Its spirit, its honors, its pride, its pleasures, are not to be sought for by his disciples. In the apostolic church we see an example of this kind. A profession of love for Christ cost something then. But now a membership in a popular church is oftentimes a help to worldly honor and position. It is eminently respectable. Is this because the spirit of modern society is so much more holy than it used to be? No; this is an age of frivolity, of pleasure-seeking, and these are often carried right into our religious sanctuaries. Godless amusements, such as are destructive to all solemnity of feeling, and are grossly immoral in their tendency, are held in the church itself, and, under its sanction, all over our broad land. I refer to donation parties in which grab-bags and church lotteries figure, and women are kissed for a certain price paid into the treasury, and many other things of like character. Such practices as these prevail to an alarming extent all around us, and are so common as to excite little remark or thought. When these are held under the sanction of the church, the standard of religion is thus lowered down to a respectable worldly standard, and in some cases much below it. I might speak of this to great length, but the subject is too painful. These practices have even met the rebuke of respectable worldly journals, and I have no question but they enter largely into the cause of the general disrespect felt by a large class of intelligent skeptics and men of the world which we know exists all around us. When these things are whitewashed over, excused, and fellowshiped, the church is responsible for this effect. How plainly the apostle's reference to "lovers of pleasures" is here illustrated. The prevailing selfishness and universal desire to get rich is another illustration of the same principle. We do not observe any less desire for worldly riches among the professed popular church of Christ to-day than among worldlings who make no profession. Church members generally exert themselves fully as hard in this direction, and, in most cases, they do not scruple more at the means by which they obtain wealth. Sharpness and overreaching in deal are exceedingly common. And I cannot learn that there is any marked difference in this respect between church members and worldlings. Riches generally give men a high and influential position in the church, not because the person is morally better, but because he has money. This statement is indisputable. The Bible does not sanction any such sentiment. Our divine Lord chose to come to this world, and even set an example of poverty. He might have come as a rich man, had he chosen to do so. But he says, while "the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." He has chosen the "poor of this world, rich in faith," for his peculiar followers. He has positively declared that it is "easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven;" yet we find no lack of modern professed followers of him anxious to make the experiment. He says, "Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation." Luke 6:24. But who now believes these declarations? Most assuredly it is not the popular church of to-day. But the apostolic church did, and practiced upon them. They made themselves poor, as we learn in the first chapters of Acts, that they might do good to their fellow-men. So I might take up the prevailing exhibitions of pride and vanity displayed in the modern churches. I confidently affirm that there are very few of their members indeed who pay any practical respect whatever to the plain teachings of the Bible upon the subject of dress. A godless and ridiculous fashion, originating in Paris, has tenfold more power upon the hearts of church members than the plainest declarations of Holy Writ. And this is thought to be something innocent. How must God regard this matter? He caused inspired men to write directions for his people in regard to dress, forbidding ornamentation, wearing of gold, and vain display, and requiring modesty, neatness, and simplicity. 1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Pet. 3:3, 4. But a worldly church rides right over these things as of no consequence, and runs eagerly after worldly fashion. The apostle says, "From such turn away." "Come out from among them, and be ye separate," says Paul. The standard of pure doctrine and holy practice has been lowered to harmonize with worldliness and pride. Our practice must be brought into harmony with God's word. It is the only rule of faith and practice. We are nowhere informed that we can deviate from this with impunity. God is not engaged in child's play. He does not tell mankind his wishes and will, to be just as well pleased if they obey or disobey. "Obedience is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." Obedience is the highest possible service we can render to God. Here our loyalty is tested. If we do obey him, we must walk differently from the proud and vain, even if they belong to a worldly church. There are many honest souls scattered here and there whose hearts are saddened by such things as I have referred to, and who long for something better. They hardly know which way to turn. There are many more whose minds have never dwelt particularly upon these things, and they do not realize their tendency. They need instruction. But the great masses love these very things which are grieving the Spirit of God from the churches. We boldly affirm that there is a necessity of reform in Christian practice generally. And we do not believe that there is any rational hope that the worldly, popular churches of our land can be brought back to humility and simplicity such as the Bible teaches. No doubt there are many good things taught in our modern pulpits. But our rich and popular church members will not tolerate that teaching which lays bare their sins and applies the ax to the root of the trees. The plain truth is smoothed over and made palatable to rich and popular sinners. And in a large majority of cases, the ministers are the very ones who do not wish this order of things changed. Where are the faithful men who cry aloud and spare not, and who "show my people their transgression"? A popular church is sinking down lower and lower into conformity with the world, and the siren song of "peace and safety" lulls them into carnal security. The insane frenzy for worldly wealth continues, and where is the hope for reform? It is not in such surroundings; but it is in a separate work which calls out the honest to a higher and purer practice. All around us are evidences which show such a reformation to be a necessity. Christ is coming, and this reformation will herald his approach. We ask the reader to ponder carefully these statements. They are not designed to excite or prejudice the mind; but they are designed to call attention to facts notorious to all. The sleeping senses of thousands of honest souls need to be aroused. Let us agitate, agitate, till the public conscience is touched, and people see the necessity of coming back to the humble simplicity of Bible teaching.