God’s Metkod of Preserving Faith How the Faith Missions, Bible Institutes and Independent Movements Have Been Used of Gcd
By REV. W M . H . PIKE
made glad at the triumphs of the Gos pel in every generation. Little by lit tle, however, the church in general be came less and less apostolic in its teach ing but more and more formal and com plex in its worship. Thus as we come into the present times we find a multitude of denomina tions— each emphasizing some special phase of Christian teaching and church polity. These display every phase of spiritual life imaginable. Some churches are as corrupt' in doctrine and practice- as the churches of the middle ages. Some have fewer membership but are more1 apostolic ' in faith and work. There are denominational churches to day with a sturdy spiritual life and a vigorous missionary activity. These are always to be commended. But what shall iwe say of that ever-increasing number of churches which are either literary or pleasure clubs? Churches that hire ministers who are not pas tors. They neither feed or care for the flock. They are wolves in sheep’s cloth ing. False teachers with itching ears who deny the fundamental truths of Christianity as revealed in the Word of God. Now-in the midst of this heter- eogeneous mass of churches has risen a company of people who are not trying to reform the church or organize some new sect. These Christians are loyal to the Word of God. They see the great need of God in the lives of men. They love lost souls and are willing to sacri fice and go to the limit to have the Gos pel preached to men. So in simple faith they have neither left the established church or made a new one; but they have opened channels of service in an Interdenominational way. We have
HE question is often asked, “ Should we encourage any Christian work carried on outside the established
channels of the present day church organizations?” The question finds its answer in the past and not in the present generation. Anyone familiar with Church History will remember that the early church did not long remain in the Apostolic teaching and practice. Even in the closing years of the ministry of Peter, Paul and John we see the en tering wedge of evil doctrine and con duct. Church history reveals the fact that as soon as one generation of Chris tians formulated a creed and established a system of schools and churches, they quickly drifted from the faith of the originators of the movement. Error was soon introduced. Leaders with false teaching arose. Corruption of creed' and evil conduct prevailed until the.children of God began to cry out for the simple and pure Apostolic con ditions again. Then one of two things usually happened, either a great re former was raised up to turn the hearts of thei people back to God and cleanse the existing system, or a leader came out from the established system with a following of like minded Christians who formulated a creed of their own and established a worship in simplicity and truth. Each formative or reformative period witnessed new conquests for Christ and new fields were evangelized. Church history is simply a repetition of this process down through the centuries. One’s heart is sickened at the failures of God’s professing children in every generation, as also pur hearts are
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker