Conclusion

It cannot be denied that there is in the Church to-day a great amount of indifference; first to the claims of Christ and in some quarters an increasing indifference to the claims which people of the world have upon those of us who believe in Jesus Christ as a Saviour.

I cannot imagine Noah sitting down in the ark with his wife and sa)ang, “Here we are safe and our two bo) are out on the hills lost,” and yet if many Christians should take a census of their households they would find that while the father and mother and possibly one child may be in Christ, yet the others are away from him and therefore according to the Scriptures lost How any one can allow the day to pass by without a special effort in behalf of these is inconceivable. It would seem that we would almost be afraid to close our eyes in sleep for fear the morning would bring to us the fact that Eternity was upon our loved ones and they had neglected 239 the acceptance of Christ too long. It is also true that there is a great amount of worldliness in the Church and this in the face of the command of God who said, “Come out from among them and be ye separate and touch not the unclean thing.”

In a Western city a mother once came to me to ask me to pray for her boy. When she had departed her minister told me that it would really be useless. At his suggestion I went to visit the mother and heard from her lips the sad story that three years before her boy had entered her presence to ask her to go with him to a special service in the Church, for he was deeply interested. She declined to go on the ground of a previous engagement, and her boy learned that the engagement was at least to be a questionable, if not a sinful thing. He became embittered, did not attend the church himself and for three years had refused to go. At this time the mother wrote a letter saying, “I want to tell you, my boy, a story of your baby days. Your father insisted that you should sleep alone. I put you in your crib and you cried yourself to sleep. The first thing in the morning I saw you with your little face pressed up against the bars of your crib and your little hands reaching out after me. Now,” she said, “the picture is changed and it is your mother with her white face pressed against the bars and her hands reaching out after you.” He read the letter but refused to enter the Church and so far as I know is still indifferent and unsaved.

There is no question but that the worldliness of those who are themselves children of God has stood in the way of the salvation of many a soul.

It is also true that there is a great amount of skepticism in the Church. Skepticism concerning the inspiration of the Bible and the Divinity of Christ, the necessity of his acceptance in order to be saved and also the necessity for belief in what is known as the scriptural idea of the atonement. Some of this is honest skepticism, some of it is due to inconsistent living, and doubts are but symptoms of a deeper disease, but a portion of it is also due to the discussion which has been carried oft in these past months concerning the inspiration of the Scripture and the authority of the Word of God, and because of this discussion men who have not studied for themselves have reached the conclusion that the old doctrines have become almost obselete and much of the Bible is to be treated only as an ordinary book of history.

It cannot be denied that there is an increasing amount of sin in the world and that ungodly living is in certain quarters greatly on the increase. One has only to walk the streets of the city to see on every side of him evidences of iniquity positively appalling, he has only to study the social conditions of the poor to understand that the teachings of Jesus are being absolutely disregarded and that in many quarters the rich are growing richer at the expense of the down-trodden poor. He has only to study the homes of the rich to realize on the one side that while there is no such picture of devotion to Christ presented an5rwhere as in many of the homes where wealth abounds, yet at the same time in other homes of wealth there is a condition of affairs to-day which is positively shocking.

The murder of a man in one of our Eastern cities the other day emphasizes this point because he mingled in such circles as have been described. One of the city pastors in speaking of the condition of society which made this

murder possible said,” Recent events in our city have revealed the gay, irreligious life which many of our more prosperous people live. There is a growing godlessness among many well-to-do persons. The type of depravity among persons in the higher circles is often worse than in the slums of the city. This gay, godless way of living often manifests itself in what is spoken of as club life.

“America is fast following in the steps of the old Roman empire. The home is despised, children are an incumbrance, a poodle dog is of more value than a baby. Wealth and pride consume the lifeblood of the nation and aristocratic weaknesses sap our democratic vigor.” And yet in the presence of all these discouragements, we confidently believe that the skies are brightening and that there is the assurance of the dawning of a new day.

There is an increasing number in the Church too longing for better things. There is a great volume of prayer ascending to God in behalf of the unsaved. Some one has said when God would draw out all the beauty and strength of a woman’s nature he lays a helpless babe upon her breast, and when he would arouse the Church so that she might put on her garments of beauty and holiness he puts upon her some concern for the unsaved. That this concern is on the increase we confidently believe.

There is a great conviction that not only is an awakening needed but that it is coming, indeed the first droppings of the shower are already upon us.

Present-day evangelism is simply the spirit of Paul who when he was chained to a Roman soldier lost no opportunity to tell each new guard the story of his conversion and the power of his Saviour. This guard in turn told the story to others who listened reverently and in a little while simply because each individual had spoken to another the story of the Gospel was known throughout the whole country.

Present-day evangelism is just parents seeking for their children, friends laboring in behalf of friends, business men possessed of some concern for their business associates, and every Christian being consistent in the presentation of Christ to a lost and dying world. Whatever may be the condition of the individual here and there or of the individual Church, God will surely win a victory. He never yet has been defeated and he will not begin with this generation.

The fields are white unto the harvest. The call of the great head of the Church is for reapers. On all sides of us the people are hopeless and helpless. From Heaven and earth the summons comes to us. May we never be found indifferent to the call.

“I dare not idle stand,
While upon every hand

The whitening fields proclaim the harvest near; A gleaner I would be. Gathering, dear Lord, for thee.

Lest I with empty hand at last appear.

“I dare not idle stand,

While on the shifting sand. The ocean casts bright treasures at my feet;

Beneath some shelPs rough side

The tinted pearl may hide. And I with precious gift my Lord may meet

“I dare not idle stand.

While over all the land Poor, wandering souls need humble help like mine;

Brighter than brightest gem

In monarch’s diadem, Each soul a star in Jesus’ crown may shine.

“I dare not idle stand,

But at my Lord’s command. Labor for him throughout my life’s short day;

Evening will come at last.

Day’s labor all be passed.
And rest eternal my brief toil repay,”