There is a pronounced drift toward the world in our churches. One does not need to be a pessimist or a critic to see this. Indeed, one must be blind not to see it. Old-time standards are being ignored. Sometimes they are entirely set aside. Church and Sabbath school leaders and officers are chosen whose influence is known to be weak in the direction of maintaining church standards. But they have ability, and their ability in leadership, or teaching, or music is allowed to have greater weight than their lack of substantial Christian experience. They are put into places of influence. And their influence undermines church standards.
Have ministers any responsibility in this matter? Can we do anything to change the situation? Is the drift to be allowed to become an overwhelming flood to sweep our church standards clear away? Or should we exert ourselves to change matters and enforce the old and established standards?
When a church elder or deacon chooses a course which is questionable, and by his conduct, or transactions, or influence, or conversation, brings reproach on the church, he should be faithfully labored with. And if he is unwilling to alter his course, he should be changed, and some one put in his place who will uphold the standards of the church. Otherwise, the church itself will suffer.
Let it always be remembered that the interests of the church are superior to the interests of any individual member of the church. When a choice must be made between the welfare of a church member and the welfare of the church itself, the welfare of the church should have first consideration. When a deaconess, teacher, or young people's leader by her dress, actions, associations, or worldly spirit exerts an influence which weakens and nullifies church standards, let her be faithfully dealt with, and change her influence and example or be replaced.
This is easier to suggest than it is to do. Nevertheless, it should be done, be it ever so hard. If it is not done, if no protest is made when worldly tendencies begin to manifest themselves, our silence is taken as endorsement. We see the situation and we do not speak. It is considered that we would speak if we thought it wrong. Our silence puts us on the side of wrong. Soon we will have no standards left unless we support and defend and enforce what we have.
Here is a pianist whose ability is superior to any other in the church. We desire that ability in the service of the church. She is chosen as church pianist. But her dress is worldly. Her airs are offensive. Her professional pride is conspicuous. She introduces worldly, secular music as preludes, interludes, offertories, and postludes into sacred, divine services. Romantic love songs sound forth on the Sabbath day, or a gavotte, or dance rhythm; beautiful music perhaps, but entirely unfitting and out of place in the house of God on His day of worship.
When this is pointed out to her, she is offended, refuses to change, insists that she knows music better than the spiritual leader, which is doubtless true. What shall be done? There is but one thing to do if right standards are to be upheld. Let her go. Do not let her go on. The church is better off without talent which is not thoroughly consecrated to the service of Jesus Christ. The church is better served by some devoted Christian whose musical education may be inferior, but who knows Jesus Christ in personal salvation, and whose talents are completely surrendered to Him.
So it is with respect to every other post of responsibility in the church. Church officers should uphold church standards. If they fail to do so, they should not remain church officers. Never mind how much influence they have, how many friends they have, how strongly intrenched they are. Prestige, personal influence, personal ability, position, popularity, superior talents—these are all valuable when truly consecrated, but they ought never to be accepted as substitutes for a living connection with and whole-hearted devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The time has fully come when ministers everywhere should see to it that our church standards are upheld and enforced. They should not permit them to be lowered and trampled upon. The good name of the cause of God is at stake. We should not permit it to suffer. A firm stand is demanded on the part of our ministry in order to change our present situation and restore the old, tried, established standards of the faith. Let us not only "ask for the old paths," but walk in them in faithfulness and devotion.
Lansing, Mich.
