It appears to the writer that this is the greatest hindering cause to the success of the Christian ministry to-day. Selfishness, worldliness, and pride are the commonest sins of which the professor is guilty, and in many instances have killed the spirituality of the church, weakened its influence for good, and sapped its very life; consequently, we have a large number of virtually dead churches, with pastors who have not witnessed a conversion in their congregation in three, four, and five years. Now, this is a sad state of affairs, and yet it is a fact which the writer dares to make as a truthful statement.
I am a Methodist, and a lover of all good men, and with all due regard to the good men occupying these pulpits, I will say if I were a pastor and had not had a conversion in my congregation in two or three years I would feel like closing the Bible and never reading another line upon its sacred pages, and never entering the door of a church again.
Now, the main and first reason for this condition of things is, in the writer's opinion, due to a failure of the ministry to secure the baptism of the Holy Ghost; and, secondly, the large number of non-believing or unconverted people who have gained admittance to the church of God, thus filling the churches with unconverted souls, who know nothing of the principles of the Christian religion, experimentally or practically. What are we to do? Whose fault is it? It certainly is not God's fault, as He is ever merciful and wills not the death of any man, but that all should turn and live. Now I believe that if we are "instant in season and out of season," preaching the Word, and that preaching is accompanied by the power and influence of the Holy Spirit, the work would be done, for "My Word shall not return unto Me void," saith the Lord.
The object of this writing is to show, first, the cause, and, secondly, its effect upon the world and the church, and, if possible, to suggest a remedy. As I have said, the unbelievers or unconverted people in the church are largely responsible for this condition, because their tastes, desires, habits, and general character are not in sympathy with the church, tho they may give of their means to forward the cause; for if, says Paul, "I have all wealth, and give all my goods to feed the poor, and have not love, I am nothing." Their tastes are vicious; they love their wine; they associate with wicked men; their desires are of a worldly character; and they are known to profane God's name, break the Sabbath, attend the circus, theater, the race course, the drinking saloon, the dance hall; and in their lives there is an almost total absence of that brotherly love and Christian fellowship which should, and always does, characterize the true child of God toward the brethren.
Now, can such men be called Christians? and have they any influence for good in the church or out of it?—Certainly not; hence such characters become stumbling-blocks in the way of sinners and a clog in the wheels of Zion.
The influence of such men in the world, much more in the church, is for evil, and the effects of such an influence are not felt less in the world than by the church. "One sinner destroyeth much good," says the Word of God. So it is that such characters will keep many would-be good men out of the church. It should not, but does in many instances to my knowledge.
Its effect upon the church is of a twofold nature; it keeps other good men out, and has a tendency to throw cold water, as it were, upon every movement of the church, by suppressing the zeal and enthusiasm of the more progressive Christians. It simply resolves itself into this: The man is a hypocrite, the world sees it, and says to the church, "Better convert the members you have before soliciting me to be a Christian."
O brother ministers, let us seek the inspiration of the Spirit; let us seek the baptism of the Holy Ghost, to set the seal of God's approving smile upon our work, that we may become more earnest and zealous in the discharge of our duty, and feel the burden of souls so heavily that we may supplicate a throne of grace with more importunity, power, and earnestness, until God shall hear us and bless our labors more abundantly! O fellow-Christians, let us be consistent; let us be true to God, the church, and ourselves, by living a righteous and godly life in this present evil world, that we may thereby become "living epistles, known and read of all men"! "By their fruits ye shall know them," saith the Lord. That each one of us may thus live close to God, and humble, and unoffending toward our fellow-man, and be able under God to turn many from sin unto righteousness, that many stars may adorn our crowns in that day, let us be prayerful, be faithful, have patience, watch, and wait.
The only remedy, in the writer's mind, is a holy ministry, a live spiritual church, and an active, working brotherhood, united and bound together in the bands of Christian love, such as was exhibited by the good Samaritan when he administered to the poor fellow who, on his way to Jericho, fell among thieves, and was beaten and left for dead—dressed his wounds, placed him on his own beast, carried him to the inn, and arranged for his maintenance. A pure church—a godly membership—is certainly essential to success in winning souls to God.
