Article April 19, 1913 Issue

FROM OUR EXCHANGES

with contributions from W. B. Selbie, Franklin Blanchard, Percy Gardner

[Prin. W. B. Selbie, M.A., D.D., in British Congregationalist]

We are living in a time when the word of the Lord is rare and there is no open vision. Even in churches which boast themselves of the prophetic character of their ministry, it is seldom that men hear a veritable, "Thus saith the Lord." The liberty for which we have fought so good a fight, tends to degenerate into license, and every man does and thinks that which is right in his own eyes. The old authorities which once held sway among us, have largely been repudiated, and nothing as yet has taken their place. Criticism has done its work well, and the acid of it has bitten deep into the very foundations of the faith. Meanwhile the positive and constructive endeavor, which is the only aim and justification of criticism, lingers. The ground has been cleared, but the new growth is not yet. The result is, that men are casting about them on every side for some standing-ground. They have no strong convictions. "They faintly trust the larger hope," and on such terms they find it hard to persuade others. The pulpit is too much occupied with discussing its message, and too little concerned to declare it; and the pew has caught the critical tone, loves to have its ears tickled, and finds it more and more difficult just to be still and worship God. Religion seems to have lost its theological and dogmatic interest; it is great on history and psychology, revels in the subjective, and is content to soothe rather than challenge or sanctify.

There are many signs that a change for the better is at hand for those who have eyes to see. At the same time we must admit that the spirit of indifference now so widespread in the churches is largely due to the lack of certainty and assurance on matters both of Christian life and faith. It is harder than it used to be to get Christian people to give themselves whole-heartedly to the service of the kingdom, and the tendency to a merely nominal church-membership is greatly on the increase. At the same time the pulpit has almost lost the note of unction and urgency. Topical preaching is much in vogue, and has usurped the place of the prophetic and evangelical message. The great themes of sin, salvation, and the life in Christ, tend to fall into the background, and the desire to be interesting often takes the sting and passion out of the message. If this is ever to be mended, it can only be by digging down to the foundations of the faith, and by creating anew that sense of need which the gospel alone can satisfy.

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