It seems that man, in his innocence before the fall, would have been able to keep the two great commandments (upon which all the law and the prophets were hung) without effort. He had no controversy with God and could walk with Him in transparency

—something essential if we are to love our creator with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Adam also had a perfect relationship with his only neighbor and loved her as himself. This love flowed out of the immediate recognition that she was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. So close were they in relationship that God could say in Gen. 5:2, “Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.”

An immediate consequence of the fall was a severing of these relationships that made it impossible to keep the great commandments any longer. 

An organic garden can produce many colorful, nutritious, delicious vegetables if the gardener cares for it well. If he does not, weeds and pests will invade, inhibiting the growth of the plants. In the same manner, a Christian’s life can produce much wonderful fruit if the individual diligently seeks God and willingly obeys His Word. He must set his affection totally on God and live a life of true worship. If he does not, he will surely fall prey to the enemy and not bear good fruit. The same is true of the Christian Church. This article is an analogy of the Christian life, describing many similarities between a garden and the church. The church in America is in great need of revival. Sin abounds among those who call themselves Christians, and God is grieved.

We live in a day and an age where many of God’s people are burdened about many things. Every major denomination in Christendom is experiencing major shifts away from the life and vitality of their beginnings. I get letters representing them all.

The letters basically express the same thing, words of concern over drift. Drift away from the original zeal and love for God. Drift away from the clear Biblical positions that others died for. I am concerned for the same things. This concern is one of the reasons for this magazine. I recently read a short article written by Paul Emerson a Mennonite minister. He expressed the same sigh as he watches his church drift away from one of the most powerful testimonies of any group a God’s people in church history. The article, printed below, fits our burden in this magazine. God, send us more prophets who will not be silent. --The editor

The prophet in his day is fully accepted of God and totally rejected by men.

Years back, Dr. Gregory Mantle was right when he said, “No man can be fully accepted until he is totally rejected.” The prophet of the Lord is aware of both these experiences. They are his “brand name.”

I present to you today what I feel is a great need in many believers’ lives. I fear that many of us have absorbed way too much of this individualism that is so prominent in our land. This is a call to lay down our own agendas and have a meek and humble spirit, looking to our authorities as speaking from God. I am not a pastor or leader of any kind, so I am not seeking for any type of respect for myself as such. It is just my heart to see people accept counsel from capable leaders. In no way will leaders ever replace the need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, or time spent reading the Word of God. Also, I know that there are leaders who have abused this authority and perhaps you have been hurt in such a situation. I am sorry if you have. But remember, just because you have had one bad experience does not mean that all leaders are the same. Let me begin with a short allegory.

An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that the most shortsighted can hardly fail to notice it during the past few years. It has developed at an abnormal rate, even for evil. It has worked like leaven until the whole lump ferments. The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them.

The church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses.