But after a time the zeal of the believers began to wane, and their love for God and for one another grew less. Coldness crept into the church. Some forgot the wonderful manner in which they had received the truth. One by one the old standard-bearers fell at their post. Some of the younger workers, who might have shared the burdens of these pioneers, and thus have been prepared for wise leadership, had become weary of oft-repeated truths. In their desire for something novel and startling they attempted to introduce new phases of doctrine, more pleasing to many minds, but not in harmony with the fundamental principles of the gospel. In their self-confidence and spiritual blindness they failed to discern that these sophistries would cause many to question the experiences of the past, and would thus lead to confusion and unbelief.

Men efter en tids forløb begyndte de troendes nidkærhed at blive mindre og deres kærlighed til Gud og hverandre svandt hen. Der sneg sig kulde ind i menigheden. Nogle glemte, på hvilken vidunderlig måde sandheden var blevet deres. Nogle af de yngre arbejdere, der kunne have delt byrden med disse pionerer, var blevet trætte af de ofte gentagne sandheder. I deres higen efter noget nyt og overraskende søgte de at indføre nye lærdomme, der for mange virkede mere tiltalende, men som ikke stemte overens med evangeliets grundsætninger. I deres selvsikkerhed og åndelige blindhed opdagede de ikke, at disse spidsfindigheder ville få mange til at tvivle om fortidens erfaringer og på denne måde føre til forvirring og vantro.