I've just finished a wonderful biography of a man from 18th century Cornwall named Samuel Walker. Get the bio - it's not only good, well documented history, but contains good pointers for ministry as well as some nice devotional gems (would that Walker's writings were more available!). The book is a nice hardback from Evangelical Press, entitled A Cornish Revival: The Life and Times of Samuel Walker of Truro.
In the final chapter are recorded some remarks by Walker about the state of the church in terms of methods used to fill the pew. Listen to the prophetic pronouncement of today's situation:
"...Christ's kingdom is not of this world; and therefore we must not expectd that it will succeed by worldly influence... My friend, Christ is able to support his church; he needs no human props to help him out; when we look for them we distrust him, and when they have been gained it has been soon seen, that the strictness of Christian walking has been quickly relaxed. But while we are eagerly looking for such worldly influences, do we not mean ourselves more than Christ; to screen ourselves from the battering of tongues, and to save our interests which seem to be at stake? I believe this is commonly the case; and then I think we must be upon the brink of denying and renouncing Christ. Let us leave him to manage his own matters. All we have to do is to do our duty without warping; making no compliances with our own hearts. This I am sure we shall do if we be truly in the faith."
How true. This is a very astute observation, and I wish more of our pastors would listen to it and apply it. How much slackness in the church today is attributable to her use of worldly means and adoption of worldly goals? If "human props" were used then, what would Walker think of today's "church" megaplexes? Christ alone! is Walker's cry, and we would do well to heed it, if we desire at all to honor Christ.