WHAT IS THE STATE OF RELIGION?
By M. C. W.
THE Advance of October 3 is called a "church work number," because of the information it presents on the condition, needs, and work of churches, in their various phases. Most of this matter has been written in reply to inquiries sent out by the Advance. The particular phase to which we wish to call attention at this time is the character of present-day preaching, and the condition of the churches as a consequence. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES believes that we are living in the last days, that the Lord is soon to come. It believes this because no less than thirteen different lines of prophecy testify to a demonstration that it is true; and because a multitude of independent signs now fulfilled, or fulfilling, indicate, by absolutely unimpeachable testimony, the same thing. Jesus said, "When ye shall see all these things, know that it [margin, He] is near, even at the doors." Matt. 24:33. This time is come, and these things can be seen. Shall we disregard the injunction of our Lord? Among the indications of the last days was predicted great spiritual declension. Upon this point we note the following texts, among others, all referring to the last days, as the passages or their contexts will show:— "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many [R. V., the many] shall wax cold." Matt. 24:12. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness [piety], but denying the power thereof." 2 Tim. 3:1-5.647"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Tim. 4:3, 4. Notice these texts. The waxing cold must be among those who were once warm in God's love. The abounding lawlessness, or disregard of God's law, has been the cause. By the continual transgression of one command of God, men soon come to look upon all in the same way. "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:3. But iniquity, or disregard of God's law, everywhere abounding, has led men to look upon sin as not so very hateful after all. This very thing leads to the condition of things named in the second passage quoted above. Every sin of the carnal heart (compare with Rom. 1:29-32 and Gal. 5:19-21) is held among those who have "a form of godliness, but deny [in their lives] the power thereof." This is what makes the times perilous. These sins among worldlings do not much injure the church of God unless they are given a place inside. Where men would shun sins practiced by the world, they will copy when practiced by the church. Multitudes have been brought into the churches who have no connection with God, who know nothing of conversion, or practical Christianity. Thousands have been brought in through pedo-baptism and infant regeneration. But there is no such thing in the Scriptures as infant regeneration or baptism. Many more join the church as a business policy, or because it is fashionable; and, as the old proverb runs, "Like people, like priest." Therefore they "heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears," who are turning them from truth to fables. Now we do not wish our word to be taken as to whether the above scriptures are or are not fulfilled in our day. We do not wish to testify ourselves alone. We are actuated only by the kindliest feelings toward all sects. But what are the facts? Here are the predictions; what are the proofs? We quote from various writers in the journal mentioned above. James Brand, D. D., on the "Coming Man," thus presents the defects in the church:— "The doctrine which the 'coming man' will specially emphasize, will depend upon the defects of the church when he comes. The great men of God, like Augustine, Luther, Wesley, and Finney, became religious leaders because they had understanding of the times, and brought to the front neglected truths. . . . What will the coming man find to-day? If I am not mistaken he will find, first, a feeble and defective sense of the moral government of God; second, a decayed sense of the guilt of sin; third, a luxurious church, lacking the self-denying spirit of the cross." Says Dr. P. S. Henson (Baptist), of Chicago, in reference to skepticism:— "The church suffers from a double liberalism. It is letting go its doctrines. There is a superficiality and gush in a certain kind of liberalism, a happy-go-lucky sort that says that everything is all right, so long as you are happy. And then there is the Christian conformity with worldly ideas. 'No odds how you live, Puritanism is dead, thank God,' they say. 'We have found how a religious man can live like a worldly man.' But there is a limit." Certainly the words of Dr. Henson do not present before us a growing church in the matter of piety, devotion, and faith. Says Dr. J. L. Withrow (Presbyterian):— "And as to special dangers to Christianity, I think they are far greater as arising from a spirit of criticism and pecking at the Bible by professing Christians, preachers, teachers, and editors, than from either agnosticism or atheism." The times are perilous, because the sins are among the people of God, and yet they are satisfied. Well did the prophet say, "My people love to have it so; but what will ye do in the end thereof?" The Rev. George Lansing Taylor is a minister of high standing in the Methodist Church. He has this year visited five camp-meetings; and this is the way the Lutheran Observer, of October 14, quotes him from Zion's Herald:— "I have learned more than ever to sympathize with the Lord's poor sheep who are hungry for good gospel hay, and get shavings foddered out to them instead! But when 6,000 hungry souls are looking up to a stand full of over a hundred preachers, many of them eminent and godly men, and then the shavings peddlers are trotted out, instead of those who could feed the flock—well—I'll stop here! I might wax uncharitable!" And the following is how some of the laymen look at it, as printed in the Advance:— "We do not want esthetics, nor even ethics, merely as such. We do want the religion of Christ, downright, positive, strong. Give us more Bible—the 'sincere milk of the word,' that word of God which 'is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.' We want a masculine, muscular, manly Christianity, which shall commend itself to mind, heart, and judgment of strong, busy men, who are sturdily grappling with the problems of life." The above call is evidence that this kind of religion is not preached. Thus writes another:— "Our church, from a worldly standpoint, I should say is prosperous. In numbers at the morning service we have nothing to complain of. The Sunday-school is good, the prayer-meeting is fairly attended. But the growing tendency in all our churches to worldliness is a most deplorable fact, and we are not exempt from it. And yet if you speak to the young people about it, they will tell you that our minister doesn't think it wrong to play cards and dance if not carried to excess, and that it doesn't hurt anyone to go to a good theater. I suppose they themselves are to be the judges. The result is that very few join the church on confession. Are we not reaping bad harvest from this kind of seed sown? Can it be that a minister is blind to the evil effects of such things? Or is it fear, or place, or position? It certainly is not scriptural, if I understand the teaching of the Bible." Says another voice from the pews:— "A large number of popular preachers have either lost their convictions, or the courage of their convictions, in presenting the teaching of the Bible in regard to sin and its punishment. The pulpit has, to a certain extent, been shorn of its power to move and save men, because its preaching seems to lack the earnestness of conviction, both in regard to the nature and importance of the truth uttered." From the above testimony, who will not say that Mr. Spurgeon was right when he said the churches were on the "down grade." Who can say that the prophecy does not apply to the Protestant churches, "Babylon is fallen" (Rev. 14:8), the term "Babylon" showing the confusion existing among the denominations as regards doctrines, and the fall denoting a moral fall. Dr. J. L. Withrow, before quoted, indicates that the Bible is but little preached, when he says:— "We ought also to preach more of what is in the Bible, and not so much of everything outside of it, of science and literature." Why should there not be confusion? And when churches should be fed on the word of God, and are not, what is there to hinder them from becoming weak and poor, spiritually? They are brought into that condition that they reject God's word when it is preached, because they do not know it. We would that the picture were otherwise. We do not mention these things to point out the faults or failings of any, but to show that the current of religion is drifting far away from God and his word; that these indications show that Christ's coming is near; that the doctrine of the world's conversion is but a pleasing fable of Satan; and that man's only hope is to return to the word of God, accept of his truth and message for these times, and live. Christ is coming. He wants to meet a people free from sin, and, through the grace of God and the power of his Christ, obedient to every commandment. That they may know this, he has given the last threefold message of Rev. 14:6-14, winged and supported by numerous others of the same import throughout his sacred word. Will men heed this message? or will they cleave to the chaff? Will they lay hold upon the power of God by faith, and thus obtain the substance? or will they clamor for religious legislation, and obtain only a form which hides sin and corruption? Thank God, some will accept the truth; few have the courage to cry out against the wickedness and license now cloaked by religion. But it is sad to know that the present indications are that the many will reject God's gracious warning; and the prophetic word confirms it. But "fear not, little flock [says the Master's voice, ringing through the centuries]; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." M. C. W.648overpowering delusion, goes marching on, numbering its converts by millions, not of the ignorant, but of the educated. And so it will be till the churches, instead of teaching the immortality of the soul and its continued consciousness in death, accept and teach the Bible doctrines that "the dead know not anything," and that the spirits which appear are "the spirits of devils." But this the popular churches will never do; consequently Spiritualism will grow until it gathers within its foul embrace all who receive not the truth of God in the love of it.