The Signs of the Times, vol. 10

February 28, 1884

“A Humiliating Confession” The Signs of the Times, 10, 9.

E. J. Waggoner

In a recent number of the Christian Statesman, a lecturer for the “National Reform” party, tells of the extreme wickedness of St. Louis, and of the difficulty which the pastors experience in getting even the members of their own churches to attend regular services. The condition of affairs is truly distressing, but as we read in the same article a portion of a conversation with one of the pastors of the city, we could not feel that the fault lay primarily with the lay members. SITI February 28, 1884, page 137.1

It seems that the Ministers’ Association of the city declined to accept an invitation from the Women’s Christian Temperance Union to preach on the subject of prohibition. As an excuse for their course, one of the ministers said:- SITI February 28, 1884, page 137.2

“Don’t be discouraged because we do not work with you in this reform. Our hearts are with you. It does not require a majority now to turn off a minister. One or two can do it, if they have money. It is unsafe for us to take a higher standard than the lowest in our congregations, for the people say we must be a unit, or the pastor must go. We are like men pulling a sled on slippery ice. We have to be careful or our feet will fly.” SITI February 28, 1884, page 137.3

How much self-respect can such a man have? How dare not preach that which will displease his hearers. It is safe to say that in every congregation there are some whose taste are exceedingly low and depraved-who attend church and wear the cloak of religion in order to conceal some of their evil deeds; and yet the pastors say, “It is unsafe for us to take a higher standard than the lowest in our congregations.” Is it any wonder that the people are not elevated? When ministers of the gospel deliberately pawn their honor for their salary, is it surprising that the people sell their souls for lust and lucre? SITI February 28, 1884, page 137.4

Perhaps some of our friends would accuse us of lack of charity if we should say that the course which those pastors pursue is in exact fulfillment of Isaiah 56:10, 11, but we ask them to read the text, and see if it is not at least a parallel; and then we ask them to decide whether or not it is safe to unhesitatingly accept the first day of the week as the Sabbath, simply because the popular ministers say that it is. Is it not time for the people to search the Scriptures for themselves, to ascertain if these things are so? If such a course was commendable in Paul’s day, and under his preaching, is it not imperatively necessary now? E. J. W. SITI February 28, 1884, page 137.5