Growth of the Church

[Woody]

Quote:

"The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the truth, because of the church members who have never been converted, and those who were once converted but who have backslidden." --Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 371. (1900) {Ev 110.2}

A couple of questions come to mind. When did the Lord stop bringing people to our church?

And if the Lord is not doing bringing them into our church ... then who is? Our church is one of the fastest growing churches in America.

[John317]

Good statement from the Spirit of prophecy and good questions.

1) Is Ellen White saying the Lord never brings people into the truth? Does it say God stopped bringing people into the church?

2) Doesn't the statement signify that it's likely many who come into the truth are not converted?

If that's the case, we can assume that fast growth isn't necessarily a sign of God's work. If we were to equate growth, or size, with God's work, we would be convinced that God is bringing more people into other churches. In the history of Christianity, the fastest growth has been during times of great apostasy. For instance a time of some of the most rapid growth was from about 300 AD to 500 AD, but this was also during a time when most of the false teachings came into the church through people who were still pagans when they joined. They weren't converted.

3) What can we expect to happen when a significant percentage of the church is not converted? Is it possible it would affect the church's mission and maybe even some of what is believed and taught?

Is it also possible, then, that Satan also likes to see some people come into the truth? During times of war, this is called using a Fifth Column.

Ellen White says this will happen. She says that evil angels themselves will be among us and presenting doubts and misinformation and confusion. This is difficult for many people to believe, yet it is what she says. (If we are of a mind to dismiss what Ellen White says when we don't like it, won't we be likely to dismiss these statements of hers?)

4) What are the signs of genuine conversion?

The conversion of sinners and their sanctification through the truth, is the very best proof a minister can have that God has called him to the ministry. If these evidences attend his labors, he needs no other recommendation. The evidence of his apostleship is written upon the hearts of the ones converted, and is witnessed to by their reformed lives. Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. They are zealous for the truth they have received. They realize that their lives must harmonize with this truth. The Review and Herald, April 15, 1902, paragraph 4

One of the strongest evidences of true conversion is love to God and man. Those who accept Jesus as their Redeemer have a deep, sincere love for others of like precious faith. Thus it was with the believers at Thessalonica. "As touching brotherly love," the apostle wrote, "ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing." The Acts of the Apostles (1911), page 262, 263

[Woody]

Quote:

One of the strongest evidences of true conversion is love to God and man. Those who accept Jesus as their Redeemer have a deep, sincere love for others of like precious faith.

How true. It all comes down to love.

Will we love our neighbor or will we pound them with the Law. In the end ... the attraction to come to our church will be the Law. But far to many will not have love along with it. The key issue in the end will be ... do the new converts have love? Do they understand Salvation by Faith? Unfortunately, many will push the law as the means of Salvation. This will be the dividing line.

I can understand why the Lord would not work to bring any more people into the church if it does not have love and if it is too focused on Self as a means of salvation.