FOR the Seventh-day Adventist Church 1969 is the "Year of CONCERN." The CONCERN program is even now being launched in hundreds of churches through out the North American Division, with many overseas leaders making plans for its use in their fields as well.
Rightly conducted, this program can do much not only in reclaiming former and missing members but in bringing revival and reformation to our church members. One of the many reasons given for the large number of apostasies is that members of the church just don't seem to care. Once this climate changes, and there re turns to our people the real spirit of brotherhood and CONCERN, we can expect the situation to change.
We recall that it was through the loss of love among the brethren in the early church that Satan made his first inroads. On the other hand, the church most noted for its brotherly love was that of Philadelphia, and she had no faults registered against her.
The first part of the divine counsel given by the Great Physician to sin-sick, lukewarm, Laodicea is that she "buy . . . gold tried in the fire." And inspiration declares, "The gold . . . has been shown me to be faith and love combined, and love takes the precedence of faith." --Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 36.
We are warned, "Satan is well aware that if he can remove love and faith, and supply their place with selfishness and unbelief, all the remaining precious traits will soon be skillfully removed." -Ibid., pp. 36, 37.
The apostolic church, prior to its defection, was known for its great love. Even her enemies said of her, "Oh, how those Christians love one another!"
That love must be restored. Once it is we will have come a long way toward the preparation needed for the final outpouring of God's Holy Spirit. Pentecost will be repeated. At Pentecost "every Christian saw in his brother a revelation of divine love and benevolence." It was then that "the church beheld converts flocking to her from all directions. Backsliders were reconverted. Sinners united with believers in seeking the pearl of great price" --The Acts of the Apostles, p. 48.
As CONCERN is launched, let us unite in earnest prayer that true love may be fully restored to our churches. Then we can expect these results to follow.
