Backsliding and Its Causes
Backsliding and Its Causes.—An article in the California Christian Advocate of September 26, after stating that there is much backsliding to-day and the weakness of the church is largely in the fact that so many members are in a backsliding state, goes on to say that in olden times after due efforts to reform the backslider, he was cast out if he continued in his backsliding condition, but to-day he is permitted to remain in, his name is carried on the church roll, and he is a dead weight. All of which is true. He names three steps in backsliding: failure to watch, bad company, and open sinning. And yet there are two things which lie back of these steps, lack of prayer and feeding on God's word. No Christian can maintain spiritual strength who fails to feed upon the word of God and hold daily communion with the Father in heaven. The pitiable thing is that the word of God means very little to the average church-member of to-day. The only true revival which will make Christians who will not backslide is the revival thru the word.