DEAR BHETHREN: In view of the fact that so many of our Churches are greatly wanting in moral power, we have chosen as a theme for this, our Annual Circular, the means and motives for increasing the moral power of the Church.You remember that the persecution which arose about Stephen scattered the followers of Christ, and they traveled abroad and preached the word, and the hand of the Lord was with them, "and a great number believed and turned to the Lord." These scattered few had the elements of moral power within themselves, and when the hand of the Lord was with them, great good was accomplished. Their faith was in lively exercise. Love glowed upon the altars, of their hearts; sympathy burned within their souls, while prayers continually went up to God, and the mere handful became a host for good. Such might you become, brethren, if you would only go forward in the fear and strength of Israel's God. But one complains of a want of faith; another of a want of love and sympathy; some have neglected prayer, and a number are so wanting in holiness, that it seems almost impossible to move many of our Churches to proper activity. With this lamentable state of things before us, we suggest some means of increasing your moral power as Churches. This you may do by forming a clear and definite idea of the work to be performed by the Church. Christ has clearly taught what that work is. He says: "Ye are the salt of the earth." Salt is used to preserve that which is tending to decay. So the Church is to exert a saving influence on sinners who are going to ruin.
Again he says: "Ye are the light of the world," which implies that the world is in darkness, and needs light; and he adds: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." The commission to us is, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." These passages furnish an epitome of the work to be done by the Church, which is to labor to make men better; to strive to have them restored to the favor of God. The work is indeed, important, and it will greatly increase the moral power of the Church for the accomplishment of this, if her members keep before them clear and definite ideas of the nature and extent of the work to be performed. To do this they must labor to obtain a complete knowledge of the whole subject. Limited knowledge renders us unstable. On seeing a machine, we form an opinion;, but on seeing it at work, we are compelled to change our minds. So persons, from an imperfect knowledge of the mission of the Church, form erroneous ideas, and are continually vascillating and changing. Such instability destroys the moral power of a Church. One reason why our Churches do not advance upon the world with a uniform success is, because their members are unstable in their plans. This want of stability shows a want of the right kind of knowledge. The knowledge which you so much need in your conflict with the world is derived from the study of God's word. Hence the importance of Bible classes in all of our Churches.
If we made no more effort to keep ourselves informed on the business affairs of life than we do on the great work of the Church, how unwisely would we often act, and how little would we accomplish. We hurriedly read a few chapters in
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the Bible on Sunday; but we have neither the time or inclination to devote much thought to the subjects treated of. The result is, our knowledge is imperfect, our ideas indistinct, and our efforts weak and often ineffectual. We recommend to you not only the more careful reading of your Bibles at home, but the attending of Bible classes, where you can compare your ideas with those of your brethren, and in this way keep before your minds the work to be accomplished by you as a Church. If you will do this, you will find that your power for doing good has been greatly increased, and your desires to labor for the Master much strengthened.Again, you may increase the moral power of your Church by extending your knowledge of the means to be employed in the work of the Church.
The raw recruit is not to be relied upon in the battle. He is not familiar enough with the implements to be used.
It is of equal importance that Church members become familiar with the weapons of their warfare. Paul says: "Be not a novice; be not as one newly planted." In his second epistle to Timothy, he adds: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." True, this was addressed to ministers, but will it not apply, in a good degree, to all the members of our Churches? Are they not, in some sense, workers for God? Is it not important for them to be familiar with the means with which he would have them carry on his work? Men have made some sad mistakes in the means they have employed in working, as they thought, for God. The sword and bayonet have been applied, and the earth has been made drunk with human blood. Thus the religion of peace has been made the occasion of carnage and woe. How unlike the teachings of Christ, who said: "My kingdom is not of this world, else would my servants fight?" Paul says: "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of the strongholds of Satan."
The Gospel is the chief means to be employed in storming and carrying these strongholds. As a means, it is wisely adapted to be used on moral beings. Does one long for immortality, in the Gospel we have the subject cleared up, for in it life and immortality are brought to light. Does one desire freedom from guilt, the Gospel points to the blood of Christ as that which cleanses from all sin. Should we meet one hungering and thirsting after righteousness, the Gospel presents Christ as the bread of life, of which, if a man eat, he shall never die, and if he drinks of the waters which Christ shall give him, he will never thirst. Should we meet another struggling in gloom and distress, Christ says: "I am the light of the world; come unto me all ye that shall labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest."
These are some of the means to be employed by us in winning souls to Christ. How wonderfully adapted to every condition of fallen humanity. By extending your knowledge of these, and becoming familiar with their use, you may, under God, accomplish a vast amount of good, and greatly increase the moral power of your Church.
Again, by the constant exercise of these elements of moral power, you will greatly increase their strength. Faith, love, sympathy, prayer, and holiness, are some of the elements of power. By the constant exercise of these, they become stronger, and you will exert a more potent influence for the truth. Faith by exercise becomes experience. What a rich experience did its constant use give to Abraham. When called to leave the land of his fathers, he immediately obeyed,
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though he knew not where he went. When told that his seed should become numerous as the stars of the Heavens, he believed God, though, as yet, he had no child. That faith which led him to follow God into an unknown land and believe him when his promise seemed opposed, to nature, ultimately triumphed in one of the most wonderful displays of its power in the offering of Isaac a sacrifice before God. He was the child of promise, and yet Abraham was commanded to offer him. Nor does he stop until his baud, with the uplifted knife, is caught by Divine power.All know that love and sympathy grow with their use. The more we love, the stronger the attachment. The more we sympathize, the deeper the fountains become from which it springs. So of prayer: the more we pray, the more power we have in prayer. And the more these elements are used, the more holiness we will display, and the greater will be our moral influence in the world.
Having made some suggestions as to the means to be employed to increase your moral power, we suggest some thoughts which should stimulate you to effort in that direction.
Increase is the established order around us. All things in nature seem to have a progressive tendency. First infancy, then youth, and then manhood. First the sprout, then the sapling, and afterwards the giant oak reaches the clouds in his majestic splendor.
So in the Kingdom of Grace. He that enters it must come as a little child - a babe in Christ. He that continues in it is expected to become a man strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. So should it be with our ability for doing good. It should be constantly increasing.
We become better farmers, better merchants, better business men, each year that we live, until we get so old we are compelled to retire from such active pursuits. So we ought to become better Christians - more and more useful in the vineyard of the Lord. Most of you are very careful to increase your pecuniary ability each year - will you be unmindful of increasing your moral ability - your power for doing good.
Again you must increase your moral power in order to secure the favor of God. The parable of the talents shows this. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one talent; to each according to his ability. Of the one who did not improve his talent he said, "Cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness." How far a Christian may neglect to improve and be saved we will not presume to say; but such persons certainly lose much of the approbation of God. How many talents has God given to yon, my brother? Are you improving them? Will he say to you, well done good and faithful servant? Many of you God has blessed with the ability and means of making money. As ye have thus freely received, have yon freely given? We do not ask how much. Does your conscience tell you that God fully approves your conduct in this respect.
Furthermore, brethren, the attitude of the Church to the world is aggressive. We must carry the conflict into the enemy's camp. It is not enough for you to exist as Church, and keep up regular services. If this is all you are doing, natural causes, as deaths and removals, will soon work your extinction. There is no standing still in this matter. You must either advance on the world, or the force of natural causes will draw you back.
Allow us, in conclusion, to ask you, dear brethren, what did your Church achieve for Christ last year? How small the number of souls brought to him
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through jour instrumentality. What are you going to do this year? Will you make np more effort than before? This may be your last year on earth. Let us then awake to greater diligence. Let us apply ourselves earnestly to increasing the moral power of our Churches, or God may accuse us of being unfaithful stewards and unprofitable servants.============ [Elkhorn Baptist Association Minutes, Circular Letter, 1871, pp. 8-11. The document is from the Elkhorn Associational office, Lexington, KY. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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