What Every Backslider Needs
rT1WO of the most salient points in the Bi- -*” ble are — man’s weakness and God’s strength. There are very few characters in the Bible-gallery — even the best — who did not, at some time or place, fall away into lamentable sin. Modern “Perfectionism” finds but small comfort or aid from Scripture biographies. It is a striking fact, too, that several of God’s people broke at the very point in which they seemed to be the strongest. For example, Noah was a Puritan, and yet he reeled off (once at least) into drunkenness. Moses’s name is a synonym of meekness, but he lost his temper and received God’s rebuke. Solomon was once the wisest of men j but he played the fool with women and wine-cups and heathen idols. Peter was a brave man, but after he had boasted of his bravery, he played the coward under the sneers of a silly servant girl. These and others who were guilty of backslidings — either brief or more protracted — were restored by the grace of God. What they passed through is precisely what every backslider in our churches needs, and that is a reconversion.
Peter’s case certainly was of this description; for Jesus said unto him (while he was already a disciple): “When thou art converted, strengthen the brethren.” Reconversion is not regeneration. God’s Word gives no hint of a second, or a third new birth of the soul. No such process is recognized in the history of spiritual experience. Reconversion is neither a second awakening of a sinner, nor a second regeneration of one who has been a true Christian.
It is simply the return to God, and to the path of duty, on the part of a backsliding believer. Peter did not cease to be a Christian during that sad and shameful denial of his Master. Nor does any truly regenerated man entirely lose his faith or his heart-union to Christ during his seasons of disgraceful declension. He is not in a healthy state or a happy state; nor is he “dead in sin.” There is life there, but life at a low ebb; and nothing but the forbearing patience of God prevents him from utter apostacy and final perdition.
Peter’s heart-process in reconversion was similar to that in his original conversion in two vital particulars. He sorrowed for sin and repented of it. He came to Jesus in genuine faith. Reconversion is a turning unto God; it differs from a first conversion in two respects; viz.: the point set out from is a different point, and the distance travelled over is vastly less.
Thousands of church-members are in painful need of a reconversion. The Church gets very little from them except their names on its roll, and their appearance at its communion table. They not only do not help; their wretched influence makes them a hindrance. No “revival” is more needed in our churches than the recovery of the backslider.
The first thing for every backslider to do is to come back to Christ. “He restorethj my soul.” That is, he reinvigorates the life,* gives new vitality to the heart’s blood, new strength to the spiritual sinews, new elasticity to the footstep in the path of duty. u0h, that I could be again what I once was!” is the sad outcry of many a backsliding professor when his conscience begins to tingle, and the Holy Spirit begins to strive with him. But that is not the point, brother! Instead of vainly trying to get back your former self, and to reach your old mark, strike out for something better! You can not run your experiences again in an old mould. Seek from the Master a new power, a new inspiration, strength for new service, and direction into new lines of activity. The less you think of your former self, and the less you attempt to stereotype an old experience, the better it will be for you. “Put off that old man with his deeds, and put on the new man in Christ Jesus.”
Having come first to Jesus in heart-contrition and self-abasement, it is a good thing to make an honest confession. A member of my own church who had wandered off into scandalous practices, came into our prayer-meeting one evening, and standing up before the pulpit made a square manly acknowledgment of his backs! idings. He asked his brethren to forgive him, and prayed God to forgive him. From that time he never alluded to the painful subject again, but threw himself into zealous labors for the Master — in which he continued until his dying day. Instead of nauseating us by harping on his aberrations (after the manner of some reformed inebriates), he made a clean breast of it once for all and then began to bring forth “fruits meet for repentance.”
There could not be a more profitable or God-honoring service in our social meetings than for backsliders to make frank confession, and implore their wounded Master to restore them to his favor. General confession of sin in public prayer amounts to less than nothing very often; it is only from the throat outward. But to stand up and acknowledge guilt, and breach of covenant, and wounding of Christ in the house of his friends, demands an aroused conscience and genuine penitence. No backslider is in a fair way of recovery until he is humbled. He must” remember whence he has fallen, and repent and do the first works/7 or he can never have restored to him the joys of Christ’s salvation. To die in a state of backsliding may involve the loss of heaven!