p. 613 | The Increase by William N. Glenn

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 16, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 39.

The Increase.

By William N. Glenn

THERE is probably nothing in connection with the Christian church that so misleads the public mind as statistics. Not only is the mind of the general unbelieving public misled by this means, but Christians themselves entertain a misconception of the real status of Christianity. Satan never devised a more charming delusion for the church than the idea of becoming strong and influential through its numerical growth. And the effect upon the world has been to cause a contempt for Christianity by the lax and inconsistent lives of the mass of merely nominal Christians.

The tendency of the church in all ages has been, when inflated with numerical prosperity, to court worldly honor and political power. Even David and Solomon married wives of the surrounding nations, and made other unwarranted alliances, for supposed political advantage. There are two channels through which the evil of illegitimate church growth works. 1. An element is introduced which would cater to its worldly surroundings in order to win popularity. This condition was illustrated by the church at Jerusalem in Paul's day. When he came to that city from Macedonia, after his third missionary tour, the pillars of the church, including even James, were very anxious to have him prove to the Jews, in refutation of what they had heard concerning him, that he still observed the ceremonial law. See Acts 21. The real object of the request was to save a commotion in the church, maintain popular favor, and evade persecution. This seems to have been the plan upon which the church in Judea was working, and it was apparently prospering.

2. Having obtained popularity and power, an inflated church would fain coerce opposition which cannot otherwise be overcome. This feature was illustrated at a later period, when by intrigue and aggression the church had secured secular power through the Roman emperors. The history of the Dark Ages tells the story, and further detail is unnecessary.

These experiences of the church while nominally a unit, have been repeated in the history of several denominations. They began in humility, self-sacrifice, and separation from the world. As they were prospered and increased in numbers, they became self-important and sought popularity and power. Some of them number their members by millions, and while supposing that they are "rich and increased with goods," they know not their real poverty and weakness. See Rev. 3 : 14–22. Boasting of their numbers, they are seeking in every way for popular favor and political prestige.

Now God is not averse to increase. He is "not willing that any should perish," but has made a way of escape for "whosoever will." The labors of his servants, assisted by his Spirit, for thousands of years, have been to this end; but he would not have his followers look to that source for strength. This was manifested in the reduction of Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300 men, lest they should think the victory a result of their own power.

But great as is the desire of the Lord for additions to his church, he does not accept any but such as are added in a legitimate manner. In fact, he does the adding himself. Acts 2 : 47; 1 Cor. 3 : 6, 7. Man has been commissioned to preach the gospel, and "faith comes by hearing" it; but the Holy Spirit's help is necessary to make it efficient, and must also dictate in the matter of additions to the church. All other additions are but sources of weakness, and will in the end prove to be only wood, hay, and stubble—no matter how well the preaching has been done, or how honest the preacher. See 1 Cor. 3 : 10–15.

Nor has the Lord left us without the means of knowing whom he has added. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Paul tells us in Gal. 5 : 22, 23 what are the fruits of the Spirit—"love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance;" and adds that "against such there is no law." The inference is plain, then, by contrast, that there is law against the works of the flesh, such as are enumerated in the preceding verses; and those who do them are "under the law," or under condemnation—"condemned already." That the law is the prominent factor in the test, is shown in the first epistle of John: "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." Chap. 3 : 10, 11. Now for the test of love for the brethren required in this scripture: "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments; for this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." Chap. 5 : 2, 3.

Then applying this test to the millions accredited to Christianity throughout the world, who will call us uncharitable if we conclude that the grand total would thereby be very much reduced? And are we not warranted in the further conclusion that, had the Spirit of God been allowed to do the adding to the church from the beginning to the present time, there would now have been a much larger number of genuine obedient believers? W. N. GLENN.