The Gulf War has had a measurable impact on our ecclesias in North America. The “Tidings” ecclesial news for the January through April issues of this year reported a net increase in membership of 63. That compares with a net gain of 56 for all of 1990 and an average net gain of 43 per year during the 1980’s. In all cases, the ratio of those coming from Christadelphian backgrounds and those who do not remained almost identical at 52% to 48%.
Since many ecclesias report news only once at the beginning of the year, we thought that may have been a factor affecting the statistics for the first four months of 1991. Evidently that was not the case, however, because the same period in 1990 showed an increase of 11 members and in 1989 an increase of 22. Thus, there can be little doubt that the dramatic events in the Middle East caused many to feel Christ is at the door and they must make preparations for the day of judgment.
This same heightened awareness of divine things has been noted in those already in the Truth and in the general public. We have all, no doubt, felt a greater urgency about our own spiritual condition. And in the world at large, we have probably heard references to Armageddon in news reports and ecclesias have reported an increased attendance of interested friends at lectures.
A natural reaction?
We may feel that such spurts of urgent concern inevitably accompany dramatic events and that there is nothing we can do to maintain the momentum once world attention returns to more normal happenings. That is no doubt true of the general public. But is it necessarily true of the ecclesial world?
Why should a crisis in the Middle East have any effect on our decisions and those of our children, relatives or regular interested friends? We know the Truth. Those who were baptized already knew it or they would not have been able to successfully complete an interview for baptism. We all believe Christ is coming; we all know we can die at any time through disease or sudden accident.
We may feel those who were baptized were in that gray area of decision-making, and world events provided the necessary impetus for right action. That may be true; but if we look around at the demographics of our community, we see that there is an unusually large number of young people coming into the decision-for-baptism age range during the next few years. Will we have to wait for another dramatic world event to provide the necessary impetus for many of them to make the right decision? And what of us? Is our sense of urgency going to slowly recede into the background?
If we are hoping for another dramatic sign to rekindle our spirits, we may wait in vain, “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Christ will not come when we are all excited about world events. He will come when life is moving in a normal routine.
Thankfully, we have received another dramatic sign of the times. Let us make full use of it and maintain the spiritual momentum it has generated in our lives. The affairs of this life will once again seek to claim our time, attention and affection. Let us resist such a slipping back and press toward the mark of our high calling, for now is our redemption nearer than when we believed.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One