APOSTASY IN THE CHURCH by Francis M. Wilcox

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Sep 5, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 36.

APOSTASY IN THE CHURCH.

By Francis M. Wilcox

IN past numbers we have considered some questions having a bearing upon the subject of the world's conversion. We have found that in the last days the nations of the earth will be preparing for war, and the stirring developments of every day demonstrate that such is the case. We have found, further, that there would be marked moral degeneracy, which is now evident to every observer.

But, while these conditions may exist in the world, may it not be true that, through the professed church of God, the Lord may accomplish the conversion of the heathen? There might, indeed, be a plausibility of hope in this, did the church of God stand where it should in coping with these conditions that exist; but, alas, we find that the same spirit of degeneracy which marks worldly society has permeated the church. It is so that to-day, instead of the church of God standing as the light of the world, with the line of demarkation clearly drawn between it and the ungodly, it is influenced, and to a large extent molded, by the worldly influences with which it has come in contact.

This condition of the professed church of God in the last days is made a subject of prophecy by our Lord and His apostles. Paul, in his second Epistle to Timothy, bears the following testimony relative to this state of affairs: "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, but denying the power thereof, from such turn away." Chapter 3: 1-5.

Here is a category of eighteen different sins of which man would be guilty. The first verse says that these sins would be found among the people in the last days, and the fifth verse says that a class of people having a form of godliness would be doing these wicked deeds.

This can refer to none others than to those who profess the name of Christ but in whose lives generally there is nothing but a profession; hence the power of Christ and the profession of their lives are denied. In Rev. 14:6, 7 the last church is again brought to view under the term of Babylon. The fall to which reference is made is not a physical but a moral fall, a departure from the Lord Jesus Christ, and a union with the world.

We come now to the question, Does the professed church of God to-day meet these conditions? The prophecy states that these conditions will be found in the last church. Do we find the prophecy meeting its fulfilment in the church? It seems hardly necessary to point out to the intelligent reader the conditions now existing in Christendom which do show that the prophecy is being fulfilled. Sad as it may seem, and loath as we may be to make the admission, we are still forced to the conclusion that the church of Christ to-day has been bereft of its power. This is indicated by marked tendencies which we see on every hand. Among the many let us briefly consider the following:—

Increasing Worldliness.

Unwillingly and painfully the conclusion is being forced upon many minds that the church of to-day has degenerated into a great social organization. True, in every denomination are honest hearts. In every church community and church organization are those who love the Lord Jesus Christ, honest, humble, God-fearing souls, who, to the best of their ability, are endeavoring to manifest before the world the character of Jesus. But there is also another element, and one which is largely in the ascendancy, who have united with the church on account of its advantages to them in a business and social way, rather than from a conviction born of the Spirit of God. We find the business man joining the church to increase his business, and the professional man uniting with the church to extend his practise, etc. It can not be denied but that ulterior and selfish motives actuate many who now present themselves for church membership in our large church organizations. This trend of increasing worldliness is further manifest in the spirit of parade, and love of display and dress, which are fostered by a large part of the church membership. It is seen in the extension of the church ritual, in church embellishment, in hired choirs, in operatic music, and in scores of ways in which the form is brought in to make up for the lack of the power.

Adoption of Worldly Methods.

In bringing down its standard to meet the desires of the world, and to gain influence and favor, the church has unconsciously come to adopt worldly methods and plans in the carrying forward of its work. The prophecy says that the church would be "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." How truly this is evidenced in the various entertainments provided to raise funds for church purposes! Instead of the church educating men that it is a duty and a privilege for them to sustain the cause of God by gifts and offerings, it has adopted the plan of giving them an equivalent in fun for that which they donate to the church, so we have church festivals, fairs, and bazaars, where the church, instead of inculcating principles of abstinence and control, gives liberty to license and dissipation, thus strengthening, rather than endeavoring to uproot, the evil tendencies of the appetite and of the human heart.

Infidelity.

Added to the evil practises and wrong methods enunciated above, the confusion of doctrine held by the professed church of Christ must be evident to every thinker. Of what absurdities of idea and preaching has not the pulpit been guilty? And during the last few years Higher Criticism has been doing its baneful work. Christened infidelity sits enthroned behind many sacred altars. Simple faith is relegated to the past, and classed with the superstitions of savagery. The story of Eden is classed as an allegory, the characters in Job as myths, Christ but a good man, and His atonement of no vicarious virtue.

Appealing to State Aid.

Never has there been a time in the history of Protestantism when there has been such general appeal to the State in carrying out its behests as in the last two or three years. Jesus Christ is set forth in the Scriptures of truth as the husband of the church. Whenever the church leaves Christ and takes hold of the arm of civil power, the Bible represents the act as spiritual adultery, the same as it would be for a woman to leave her natural husband and unite with another man. We have seen during the last few years the church appealing to the State for government aid to carry on sectarian and denominational schools. We see appeals made to the civil arm for the enforcement of religious laws, compelling men to observe one day in the week as the Sabbath. All this is but an evidence that the church has fallen from the high spiritual plane it occupied, and, conscious of its lost spiritual power, it now reaches out for civil power to supply its lack. Surely if the church of God to-day hopes to bring the heathen to Christ, it must first purify its own assemblies, it must weed out the leaven of worldliness which has been at work.

A great effort is being made by the combined churches of the world to enforce religious laws, but let it be remembered that men never can be made righteous by legal enactment. They may be forced to conform to some outward ceremony, but that will only serve to turn them from open sinners to wretched hypocrites, bringing hardness to their hearts and bitterness to their spirits which they did not before possess.

The fact remains, and must be apparent to all, sad tho it may be, that the great church organizations of our country and of the world have fallen—fallen morally and spiritually—and there can be but little hoped for conversions in the world as long as the church itself affiliates with the world and indulges in its practises. We would that the conditions might change, but the Word of God clearly indicates that evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse until the end. Only by the return of the Prince of Peace, and the transformation which He shall work by His mighty transforming power, will this earth be rid of sin and sinners, and the glory of God cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. May the Lord preserve His children spotless unto that time.

Now, as never before, it is for the true ones to remain faithful. From the treason of others they must be incited to greater loyalty; from others' cowardice they must be led to exercise greater courage; and from the prevailing coldness in the world they must gather new warmth and vigor and life. The church as a whole has departed from God, there are still true and tried ones. Let these still hope in God. They are the most precious objects of His love. He hears their prayers, He treasures their tears, and soon He will turn their mourning into rejoicing, their sorrow of heart into abounding joy. Faithfulness will meet its reward, and he who sows in tears shall reap in joy, and, with songs of rejoicing, come in the glad harvest gathering, bringing the sheaves with him.