STOLIDITY IN THE HOUSE OF GOD by M. E. D. G.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, March 10, 1885.

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 10. Whole No. 1605.

STOLIDITY IN THE HOUSE OF GOD.

By M. E. D. G.

WHEN I was a little child my father gave me a great many orders. Some of them suited me very well, and I used to shout out a hearty assent. Other commands, like “Come up to the study in five minutes and read your Greek chapter,” made me feel rather discouraged, and I used to hear in silence. “Did you hear what I said?” “Yes, sir.” “Well, give me some sign that you hear! It is not civil to keep silence when you are addressed.” How often I think of my dear father's standard of good manners when I see the congregation come into church. It is the Father's house, but the manner of finding seats is just the same as in the theater, only the usher carries the members in his head. No one bows or kneels to greet by reverent attitude the promised presence of the Lord. The choir sings, and the congregation looks on, perhaps hears, though they give no sign. The minister reads the Bible lesson. That exercise he has entirely to himself, and sometimes he makes much of it, but the stolid faces brought there by stern consciences show no interest. The minister prays, and every neck holds its head bolt upright, and every eye has in it at last a little interest. It is watching to see that the preacher keeps his own shut. The prayer is evidently a tedious performance, which the preacher also has entirely to himself, and which the people seem to think he had better have left out, only he has the habit of it.

A glimmer of interest may be found in the congregation when the text is read, but no sign that worship is the purpose. It is there to be entertained. The whole dead mass hangs on the poor preacher's neck, and if he is poor in oratory, he has an awful tug to galvanize it into a semblance of life.

Wouldn't it be civil to give some sign, even if they are not really there to worship? At least there can be a hearty joining in the singing, and a reverent bowing of the head when prayer is offered, and an intelligent, appreciative interest in the face, as the sermon is unfolded. The attitude of the hearers has much to do with the effectiveness of the preaching. If there be a true spirit of worship and praise, it will be easy to show some sign of interest.—M. E. D. G.