"A MYTH," Arnold Toynbee once re marked, "is a curious animal; for it feeds upon itself, and the more it eats, the larger it grows." Is there a growing body of mythology in the Adventist Church? Casual observation of organizations about us would indicate that we would expect there to be such a development.
Immediately one conies to mind a gigantic whale of a myth that threatens the very existence of the church. Not only is it already swollen out of proportions but daily it balloons out, filling much of the vacuum left by our apparent lack of concern.
This dangerous monster of a myth can be expressed this way, "Sure, there needs to be a revival and reformation in our church if Christ is ever to come. I'm willing to do my part too when I see others doing what they should. But I can't do it alone. I'll just wait until I see something actually happening. If I were to do something extraordinary now in the way of self-denial or involvement in the church I'd probably look ridiculous. People might call me a fanatic!"
Yet revival and reformation do not begin in full-blown programmed efforts of the church as a whole. Church leadership can give impetus to such a program. But, basically, revival and reformation are individual tasks. They must begin
WITH YOU AT HOME---ALONE WITH GOD ON YOUR KNEES.
There can be no other way if we are to fol low God's blueprint.
"A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work. There must be earnest effort to obtain the blessing of the Lord, not because God is not willing to bestow His blessing upon us, but because we are unprepared to receive it. Our heavenly Father is more willing to give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children. But it is our work, by confession, humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which God has promised to grant us the blessing." --Selected Messages, book 1, p. 121. (Italics supplied.)
Christ is waiting for us. What are we waiting for?
