Compelling Them To Come In.
Zion's Advocate, Vol. 43, No. 4, April 1904.
A sister requests us to give our views on the 23d verse of the 14th chapter of St. Luke. This we propose to do in a very brief way but in a way that cannot be misunderstood. The verse reads, "And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." This is a part of the parable of the great supper. The man who made the supper is the Lord. The supper is the gospel feast. The house is the church. The servant is the called minister. Those whom he is commanded to compel to come in are the living subjects or children of God in the world. The compulsion to be used is not physical force, for that might compel them to come unwillingly, and only willing service is acceptable. It is not the force of carnal excitement, for they could not render intelligent service while under such excitement, besides they would be liable to become dissatisfied when the excitement ended. It is not by dragging them down the aisles by the arms or by continuously persuading them to "join church," for by that means many might be gathered in who are lifeless subjects and who would be detrimental to the cause. The proclamation of the gospel is the only force we are authorized to use. This will bring those who ought to come.It has long been the custom of Arminians to get up all the excitement possible in a protracted meeting. Various means have been resorted to, to accomplish that end. It is customary to call for "mourners," and to call on people to mourn and to believe with the idea that eternal condemnation awaits those who refuse the call. The notion is advocated that the instruction and prayers of "saints" can hasten the day of deliverance of heart-broken mourners. Such "saints" must think themselves very saintly to set themselves up as mediators and intercessors for sinners, and beg sinners to let them plead their cause at the bar of God. It is perfectly proper for any one to ask another to pray for him, and it is right to pray for others, but for one to set himself up as an officious interceder at a throne of grace and call for candidates to patronize him as such, is bold presumption such as a child of God should never be guilty of. To say, Come up, mourners, and let me pray for you, sounds very much like the inviter regards himself as so successful at the bar of God that others will be received through his holy petitions. That might do for an arrogant pharisee, but not for a poor child of God.
Human revivals require great human effort. At such meetings exhortations characterize the preaching; doctrine would never serve the purpose. People "join" church at such "revivals" that would not think of joining at meetings where deliberation and good sound sense hold sway. Such meetings are reported as having been greatly blessed with the Lord's presence. It is claimed that the excitement and immense crowd in attendance are indications of the Lord's presence, as much as to say that the Lord is not present where "two or three" only are gathered together in calm and deliberate service. Whenever and wherever the Old Baptists conclude that such a "big meeting" is necessary to get the Lord to bless them with his presence they are to be pitied. Lord save our cause from that. Such a notion implies that the Lord is to be found only in the great wind of human exertion, the roaring earthquake of human commotion, and the blazing fire of human zeal. On the contrary the Lord reveals himself in a "still small voice." Read I Kings xix. 11, 12.
J. R. D.
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