A remarkable statement appeared recently in the British press, reading as follows:
"In the Middle Ages the church seemed to have touched the lowest depths of unspirituality. It seemed a spent force. But the Reformation came and brought new life and light to Europe. . . .
"We are at the ebb of another tide. But can we say that the torch that blazed on Calvary.. has burned down and flickered out forever? . . . There will be another revival in the church. Men touched with the old fire will go out again. . . . The man will come, and a new tide will sweep around the world, cleansing and renewing."—The Reverend Austin Lee, Ex-Curate of Ken, in London Daily Mail.
Such a prediction, coming from a prominent Church of England clergyman, ought to stir the heart of every Seventh-day Adventist minister. As a people, we have long looked forward to just such an experience as that of which Mr. Lee here speaks. We have known that it must and will come; yes, and that it is long overdue. But it is inspiring to learn that others also recognize its absolute need.
Now, when this revival sets in, it will be inaugurated by the representatives of the threefold message of Revelation 14. This message, under the touch of the Holy Spirit, is to constitute God's reviving message for this hour. And He has laid upon this people the responsibility of giving it to all the nations of earth. He has promised to us the outpouring of the Spirit in the fullness of power for its accomplishment, and has pledged a plenteous harvest to those who go forth and thrust in the sickle of truth in that wondrous hour.
Nor is it because of any restraint on God's part that this mighty work of revival tarries. He has long been waiting for the full co-operation of His ministers and people. Years ago the call was sounded through the Spirit of prophecy for the church to arise, and in the fullness of the power of the Spirit, to go forth and finish the task of preparing the harvest for the heavenly garner. Let us again review the phrasing of this call:
"To us today, as verily as to the first disciples, the promise of the Spirit belongs. God will today endow men and women with power from above, as He endowed those who on the day of Pentecost heard the word of salvation. At this very hour His Spirit and His grace are for all who need them and will take Him at His word. . . .
"The disciples did not ask for a blessing for themselves. They were weighted with the burden of souls. The gospel was to be carried to the ends of the earth, and they claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted in a day.
"So it may be now. Let Christians put away all dissension, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them ask in faith for the promised blessing, and it will come. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the 'former rain,' and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant."—"Testimonies," Vol. VIII, pp. 20, 21.
If these statements are not an exaggeration, and this we assuredly believe, then it is evident that we have not yet reached "the swelling of the Jordan" in our ministry. The full volume of the "loud cry" of the message has not yet been heard. Our greatest achievements in soul winning are still before us. After reviewing the fact that under the power of Pentecost thousands were converted in a day, the significant statement is added in the quoted message, "So it may be now."
Yes, that wondrous experience is still before us. True, we have seen thousands converted in a year and possibly in a month by the combined efforts of our ministry and people throughout the world, but we have yet to witness the inspiring sight of thousands coming into the faith in a day.
But we believe there are indications that this revival is just before us. At the recent Autumn Council in Battle Creek it was decided to set increased membership goals in every division of the world field. The action appears in full in the Review for November 24, 1932. In 1931 our ministers baptized 34,859 new converts into the message, which is probably the largest number ever won in a single year, but which number we believe can be greatly increased by deeper consecration and determined effort on the part of both ministry and people. We ought actually to be doubling our membership each passing year. Every child of God should earnestly set himself the task of winning at least one other person to Christ each year, and our ministers should expect individually to win scores or even hundreds. This is only reasonable.
The Council, with wide North American representation, set a goal for a net membership of 12,000 for 1933 in North America. This means just a little less than 10 per cent increase over our membership at the end of December, 1932. Surely, this goal is modest enough. We feel confident that under the blessing of God we could go far beyond it. But in any event, we should determine in our hearts that we will at least reach the very reasonable goal set.
We therefore earnestly request every minister and other conference worker in North America to take this matter upon his heart. We desire to see all union committees set an increased membership goal for their respective unions, every local conference committee setting a similar goal for its territory, every pastor fixing a goal for his district and its individual churches, and all ministers and Bible workers setting individual goals for themselves.
There is absolutely nothing else so important in our appointed work as soul winning. It is to this fundamental task that we have been called, and to which we were ordained. If other things are permitted to sidetrack this all-essential work, we are failing to accomplish our God-given task. Just observe these solemn words:
"Though human, and compassed with the frailties of humanity, men are God's messengers; and the dear Saviour is grieved when so little is effected by their labors. Every minister who goes out into the great harvest field should magnify his office. He should not only seek to bring men to the knowledge of the truth, but he should labor, as did Paul, 'warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom,' that he may 'present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.' "—Id., Vol. V, p. 300.
"Men are needed who move under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. The sermons preached by some of our ministers will have to be much more powerful than they are now, or many backsliders will carry a tame, pointless message, which lulls people to sleep. Every discourse should be given under a sense of the awful judgments soon to fall on the world. The message of truth is to be proclaimed by lips touched with a live coal from the divine altar.
"My heart is filled with anguish when I think of the tame messages borne by some of our ministers, when they have a message of life and death to bear. The ministers are asleep; the lay members are asleep; and a world is perishing in sin. May God help His people to arouse and walk and work as men and women on the borders of the eternal world."—Id.. Vol. VIII, pp. 36, 37.
In view of these searching counsels, shall we not accept these expressions in poetic form as our response to this timely summons?
"Is this the time, O Church of Christ to sound Retreat? To arm with weapons cheap and blunt The men and women who have borne the brunt Of truth's fierce strife, and nobly held their
ground? . . .
No! rather strengthen stakes and lengthen cords! Enlarge thy plans and gifts, O thou elect, And to thy kingdom come for such a time! The earth, with all its fullness, is the Lord's: Great things attempt for Him, great things expect, Whose love imperial is, whose power sublime."
Washington, D. C.
*In harmony with the promised discussion of outstanding Battle Creek Autumn Council actions that directly affect our ministry at large. the vice-president of the General Conference for North America here sounds the rally call to concerted conference evangelism. He presents direct soul winning as the primary mission of every worker's life, and submits herewith a definite program of conference and individual goals for souls. This earnest and timely appeal elucidating the solemn recommendation on evangelism passed by the recent Biennial Council—which gathering ranks next to a General Conference session in broad representation and authority—should consequently receive the painstaking and prayerful study of every laborer in the organized work and should result in whatever adjustments of life and work as are necessary in order to harmonize therewith.—Editors.
