SHALLOW REVIVALS

Sleeping on Benches -- Disturbance at a Sham Revival -- "Throw Him Out of the House" -- John Wesley.

Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 1 Kings 18:17.

     Elijah was looked upon by some as a "troubler in Israel." From time to time God raised up other prophets who likewise were a "terror to evil-doers." Should not this be the case now? Does not this age need men who are so pronounced on every issue that God's voice through them will be heard?

     The night was freezing weather, and we had no place to sleep except in the town hall, where we had just closed out our first service. Accordingly, we pulled benches to the small stove and with Bible for a pillow and overcoat for a covering, we spent our first night in Uniontown, Pa. The fire went out and this gave us a good chance to spend the rest of the night in prayer and meditation. It paid to lay a good foundation, for now there is a brick church there valued at $10,000. It was a cold beginning but a good ending. God gave us a good meeting, and we had to move to a larger hall. However, our spiritual fruit was principally hand-picked, rather than windfalls. The former do not count so fast, but are better keepers.

     While our meeting was in progress, a "big meeting" began not far away. It had run only a little while when it was reported that nearly one hundred had been converted. A bright young man who had been converted in our meeting said to me one evening, "How is it that we see only a few saved each week, while over in this meeting they are getting saved, as many as ten in one service?" I did not think it wise, or just, to question the thoroughness of the meeting when I did not have positive evidence, so said, "We do not have services next Monday night, and I will go over with you." We went, and instead of taking a back seat (as preachers frequently do ) we pressed our way as far toward the front as possible.

     The preacher spoke well, and cried out against many popular evils. When the altar call was given and many responded, we pressed our way forward to assist. It was difficult to get a chance to do much, for as soon as a seeker knelt, an authorized worker or convert immediately began talking to him. As far as we heard, nothing was said about renouncing the world, or praying through to victory, but rather on this wise: "Do you acknowledge you are a sinner? Well, then, accept Christ as your Savior." Those giving affirmative answers to this or similar questions were encouraged to arise and say they had believed on Christ. Of course, this brought a sense of relief, as anyone will feel better at the thought of escaping hell and getting a hope of heaven. If such a hope can be had without much sacrifice, multitudes are ready to accept and embrace it.

     At the close of the service a number came and shook my hand, saying, "Don't you know me? Why, I have heard you preach many a time in your hall, and also at the camp meeting!" Then I inquired, "Have you been converted in this meeting?" The answer was always in the affirmative. Hence I took the liberty to ask in a pleasing manner, "And what does your religion do for you? Does it keep you from getting angry when things go wrong?"

     "Not always. You know we all get worried."

     Another came and, as he was using tobacco, I said, "I am glad you have decided to live for God; but may I ask, have you victory over all unclean habits, such as tobacco?"

     "Oh, well, the Bible does not mention tobacco."

     "Would you like to know the reason why? Simply because it is too filthy, and then the Bible is a book of principles covering every unclean thing without necessarily mentioning it in so many words."

     A third one, who was a fashionable woman, greeted me, and after she told me she had frequently attended our meetings and had just professed Christ, I ventured to ask, "And does your religion save you from the love of the world, with all its customs and fashions?"

     With both hands uplifted, she said, "It makes no difference what you wear, if your heart is only right. I could wear rings on my fingers to the tips, and get to heaven."

     I did not know until that instant that she wore five rings, but replied, "My sister, you might as well say, "It makes no difference how much I lie, if my heart is only right.' It is to be supposed, if the heart is right, your outward life will correspond with the Word."

     With this, they surrounded me, saying, "You have just come to disturb our peace." One woman held a broom in her hand, another took hold of my overcoat and began pulling toward the door, and a third convert, who was a man, said, "Let us throw him out of the house!" This enraged an onlooker who was a non-professor, and stepping up he said, "If you throw him out, I will throw you out and stand you on your head." I told them it was so crowded, if they would just give me a little time I would quietly depart. As soon as we were out, the young convert who had been silently taking it all in said, "I can see the difference now, they act just like I did before I was converted."

     In every place where an uncompromising gospel is preached, there will be found many who get under conviction, but do not want to pay the full price and clean up the past. The devil takes the situation in and is pleased to have a "cheap rate" revival scoop in such souls, for he well knows that after they have taken on a profession, it is almost impossible to get them to acknowledge that they are yet without God. Oh, that souls could understand that it costs just as much to get and keep the favor of God in one place as in another.

     When jewelry, paint and powder are more apparent than "modest apparel," when the secret lodge system is winked at, when the cries of a penitent or the shouts of a saint create confusion, when tobacco-soaked preachers and fashionable church members are among the "personal workers" when these are some of the earmarks in a "campaign" what kind of converts may we expect?

     No wonder Wesley cried out and said, "How terrible is this! when ambassadors of God turn agents for the devil! -- when they who are commissioned to teach men the way to heaven do in fact teach the way to hell. If ever asked, "Why, who does this?" I answer, "Ten thousand wise and honorable men even all those, of whatever denomination, who encourage the proud, the trifler, the passionate, the lover of the world, the man of pleasure, the unjust or unkind, the easy, careless. harmless, useless creatures, the man who suffers no persecution for righteousness' sake, to imagine he is in the way to heaven. These are false prophets, in the highest sense of the word. These are traitors both to God and man. These are no other than the first-born of Satan; the eldest son of Apollyon, the destroyer. These are far above the rank of ordinary cut-throats; for they murder the souls of men. They are continually peopling the realms of night; and whenever they follow the poor souls they have destroyed, 'hell shall be moved from beneath to meet them at their coming.' "