p. 7 | The Up-to-Date Church

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 17, 1906

The Up-to-Date Church

The "up-to-date church" is now talked of by that class of religionists who want to be somewhat spectacular and have the church take a hand in everything. The prevalent idea of an up-to-date church is a church that keeps even with the world—in politics, sociology, and science, "falsely so called." But a church can only be up-to-date in its legitimate sphere by following in the footsteps of Christ, who is "the same yesterday, and to-day; and forever;" following in the light of His prophetic Word, and receiving views of current events and their portent which the world can not comprehend. The really up-to-date church is giving heed to the "more sure Word of prophecy," "as unto a light that shineth in a dark place." It is heeding the signs by which the Lord has told us we may know that His coming is "near, even at the doors." The church that aims only to keep abreast with the world, and to be foremost only in the world's enterprises, is far behind as a church pretending to represent the kingdom of God on earth. When the Lord shall appear in the clouds of heaven, and all the holy angels with Him, the true up-to-date church, now scoffed at by the world and its religious imitators, will be found looking for Him and ready to receive Him. Their glad salutation will be, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."