Article December 21, 1899 Issue

From the Religious Press

It cannot be denied that the churches, as such, are failing to exert the influence that properly belongs to them. It is the exception rather than the rule to find crowded congregations. The number of members may be kept up, but the covenant obligations of church members sit upon them rather lightly. Depth and earnestness of religious conviction are not conspicuous in many congregations. As would naturally be expected missionary societies are finding that their way is hedged with difficulties. The appeal of the Missionary Union, which we summarized last week in an editorial note, was a deplorable symptom. The country, we are told, is generally prosperous, but there has been no corresponding increase in missionary gifts, despite the fact that the acquisition of the Spanish colonies by the United States has been welcomed by many religious men as a drive call to preach the gospel in these regions.

But we need not continue further in this strain; it is not one in which we take any delight. What is needed? The answer is plain—a revival of spiritual religion. We are not to excuse ourselves by asserting that God has a set time to favor Zion. We are responsible for using the means that are adapted to produce certain ends. The first step toward a better state of things is to stop comforting ourselves with the statistics of church communicants, and to look at the actual facts as they appear in our own communities. The next step is for pastors and churches to address themselves to their proper work of soul-winning. Why, it has come to pass that that very phrase is disagreeable! Many churches have devoted themselves so arduously to wise or unwise reforms, which chance to be popular, that they have been diverted from their true mission. And above all we need to cultivate, by prayer and meditation upon the truth, that spiritual temper which makes eternal things so real to us that we are glad to wait upon God, and to sacrifice our ease and time and money to advance the cause of the kingdom of God.

The Watchman (Baptist).

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