TheSetoftheSail

A.W.Tozer

CompiledbyHarryVerplough

Copyright

AdivisionofZurLtd.

TheSetoftheSailISBN:978–1–60066–328–4

©1986byZurLtd.

PreviouslypublishedbyChristianPublications,Inc.FirstChristianPublicationsEdition1986FirstWingSpreadPublishersEdition2010

Allrightsreserved

PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica

ScripturetakenfromTheHolyBible:KingJamesVersion

Sail,Don’tDrift

Ifindthegreatestthinginthisworldnotsomuchwherewestand,as inwhatdirectionwearemoving.Toreachtheportofheaven,wemustsail sometimeswith thewind, and sometimes against it, butwe sail,andnotdrift,norliveatanchor.

OliverWendellHolmes

CONTENTS

TitlePageCopyrightEpigraphForeword

1TheSetoftheSail2ThePowerofSilence

3TheTruth’sMostPowerfulAlly4WeAreCommittedtotheWholeMessage5“IBelieveintheCommunionofSaints”

6WeMustTrytheSpirits7FacingBothWays

8WhatProfitinPrayer?9TheTrueSaintIsDifferent

10FaithRestsuponGod’sCharacter11SalvationWalkstheEarth12God’sLoveandOurs

13TheLordGivethKnowledge14TheUrgetoShare15DedicationtoWhat?16TheMakingofaMan

17WeNeedSanctifiedThinkers—118WeNeedSanctifiedThinkers—2

19TruthIsaGreatTreasure20TheBlessednessoftheFixedHeart

21HowtheLordLeads22OurBusinessIsGod

23WeMustDependupontheHolySpirit24BewaretheProphetsofTranquillity

25ChristIsAllWeNeed26WeNeedtoElevateOurSights27TheSovereigntyofTruth—128TheSovereigntyofTruth—2

29WhatabouttheEthicsofJesus?30WeHaveLostOurWay31FiveKindsofSeekers

32ControversyMayHaveItsHolyUses33TheTrueMotiveforChristianConduct

34WhyFaithIsIndispensable35TheBedofProcrustes

36ImportanceoftheDevotionalMood37Christian!LoveNottheWorld38SubstitutesforDiscipleship39TheMarksofGod’sChosen

40ThePassingoftheAssemblyConceptfromChristianity41WhattheAdventEstablished

42QualityversusQuantityinReligion43TheHonestUseofReligiousWords

44TheRightAttitudetowardOurSpiritualLeaders45TheProperUseoftheBible46Adjusted:ButtoWhat?

Foreword

Thisselectionofhithertouncollectededitorialsfollowssixbooks—TheRootoftheRighteous(1955),BornafterMidnight(1959),OfGodandMen(1960),ThatIncredibleChristian (1964),Man, theDwellingPlaceofGod (1966) andGodTellstheManWhoCares(1970).AllofthemconsistofeditorialswrittenbyA.W. Tozer while he served as editor of The Alliance Witness, the officialmagazineofTheChristianandMissionaryAlliance.Thefavorablereceptiongiventheessaysinthisbookwhentheyfirstappeared

aseditorialshas led to theirpublication in thismorepermanent form.Like theothers, theseselectionswereborn in themidstof life, in the roughseaswherethe children ofGod voyage. I read themwhen they first appeared, and in therereadingIstillfindthemthought-provoking,challengingandhelpful.TheyleadtoarightrelationshipwithGod.A.W. Tozer rarely leaves us in doubt as to how to position ourselves for

spiritualdevelopment.“Wemust,”heurges,“setoursails in thewillofGod,”and then “we will certainly find ourselves moving in the right direction, nomatterwhichwaythewindblows.”

HarryVerploeghWheaton,IllinoisApril,1986

Chapter1

TheSetoftheSail

THATRELIGIONLIESinthewillisanaxiomoftheology.Nothowwefeelbutwhatwewilldeterminesourspiritualdirection.Anoldpoemstatesitforus:

OneshipdriveseastandanotherdriveswestWiththeselfsamewindsthatblow;‘TisthesetofthesailsAndnotthegalesWhichtellsusthewaytogo.

—EllaWheelerWilcoxThoughwedonothearmuchof it in this ageof spineless religion, there is

neverthelessmuch in the Bible about the place ofmoral determination in theserviceof theLord.“Jacobvowedavow,”and itwas thebeginningofaverywonderfullifewithGod.Thefollowingyearsbroughtagreatmanyvicissitudes,and Jacobdidnot always acquit himself like a truemanofGod,buthis earlydeterminationkepthimoncourse,andhecamethroughvictoriousatlast.Daniel “purposed inhis heart,” andGodhonoredhispurpose. Jesus setHis

face like a flint andwalked straight toward the cross.Paul “determinednot toknowany thingamongyou, save JesusChrist, andhimcrucified,” and in thatdetermined spirit ignored the learnedphilosophers,preachedagospel thatwasaccountedfoolishnessandearnedhimselfareputationforignorance,thoughhewaseasilythegreatestbrainofhisgeneration.TheseareonlyafewofthemanymenandwomenoftheBiblewhohaveleft

usarecordofspiritualgreatnessbornoutofawill firmlyset todothewillofGod. They did not try to float to heaven on a perfumed cloud, but cheerfullyacceptedthefactthat“withpurposeofhearttheymustcleaveuntotheLord.”InthekingdomofGodwhatwewillisacceptedaswhatweare.“Ifanyman

will,”saidourLord,“lethim.”Goddoesnotdesiretodestroyourwills,buttosanctifythem.Inthatterrible,wonderfulmomentofsurrenderitmaybethatwefeel that our will has been forever broken, but such is not the case. In HisconquestofthesoulGoddoesnotdestroyanyofitsnormalpowers.Hepurges

thewillandbringsitintounionwithHisown,butHeneverbreaksit.InthediariesofsomeofGod’sgreatestsaintswillbefoundvowsandsolemn

pledgesmadeinmomentsofgreatgracewhenthepresenceofGodwassorealand sowonderful that the reverentworshiper felt he dared to say anything, tomakeanypromise,withthefullassurancethatGodwouldenablehimtocarryout his holy intention. The self-confident and irresponsible boast of a Peter isonethingandisnottobeconfusedwiththehushedandtrustfulvowofaDavidor a Daniel. Neither should Peter’s embarrassing debacle dissuade us frommaking vows of our own. The heart gives character to our pledges, andGodknows thedifferencebetweenan impulsivepromiseanda reverentdeclarationofintention.Letus, then,setoursails in thewillofGod. Ifwedo thiswewillcertainly

find ourselves moving in the right direction, no matter which way the windblows.

Chapter2

ThePowerofSilence

THERE ARE TRUTHS that can never be learned except in the noise andconfusionofthemarketplaceorinthetoughbrutalityofcombat.Thetumultandtheshoutingteachtheirownroughlessons.Nomanisquiteamanwhohasnotbeentotheschoolofworkandwar,whohasnotheardthecryatbirthandthesighatlife’sparting.But there is another schoolwhere the soulmust go to learn its best eternal

lessons. It is the schoolof silence. “Be still andknow,” said thepsalmist, andthereisaprofoundphilosophythere,ofuniversalapplication.PrayeramongevangelicalChristiansisalwaysindangerofdegeneratinginto

aglorifiedgoldrush.Almosteverybookonprayerdealswiththe“get”elementmainly.HowtogetthingswewantfromGodoccupiesmostofthespace.Now,wegladlyadmit thatwemayask forand receive specificgifts andbenefits inanswer to prayer, but wemust never forget that the highest kind of prayer isnever themakingof requests.Prayer at itsholiestmoment is the entering intoGod to a place of such blessed union as makes miracles seem tame andremarkableanswers toprayerappearsomethingveryfarshortofwonderfulbycomparison.Holy men of soberer and quieter times than ours knew well the power of

silence.Davidsaid,“Iwasdumbwithsilence,Iheldmypeace,evenfromgood;andmysorrowwasstirred.Myheartwashotwithinme;whileIwasmusingthefireburned:thenspakeIwithmytongue.”ThereisatiphereforGod’smodernprophets.Theheart seldomgetshotwhile themouth isopen.AclosedmouthbeforeGodandasilentheartareindispensableforthereceptionofcertainkindsoftruth.Nomanisqualifiedtospeakwhohasnotfirstlistened.ItmightwellbeawonderfulrevelationtosomeChristiansiftheyweretoget

completelyquietforashorttime,longenough,letussay,togetacquaintedwiththeirownsouls,andtolisteninthesilenceforthedeepvoiceoftheEternalGod.Theexperience,ifrepeatedoftenenough,woulddomoretocureourulcersthanallthepillsthateverrolledacrossadesk.

Chapter3

TheTruth’sMostPowerfulAlly

THEMOST EFFECTIVE argument for Christianity is still the good lives ofthosewhoprofessit.A company of pure-living and cheerful Christians in the community is a

strongerproofthatChristisrisenthananylearnedtreatisecouldeverbe.Andafurtheradvantageisthat,whiletheaveragepersoncouldnotbehiredtoreadatheological work, no one can evade the practical argument presented by thepresenceofholymenandwomen.Tothesonsanddaughtersofthistenseandhighlymechanizedageaholylife

mayseemunpardonablydullandaltogetherlackingininterest,butamongallthefancy, interest-catching toys of the world a holy life stands apart as the onlythingslatedtoendure.“Thestarsmakenonoise,”saystheItalianproverb;yettheyhaveoutlivedall

man’scivilizationsand in theirunassuming silencehave shoneon through thecenturies,preachingtheirsimpledoctrineofGodandenduringthings.FrancisofAssisicomposedsomesublimehymnsandpreachedsomequaint sermons,butfornoneof these isheknownandbynoneof thesehashecaptured themoralimaginationofmankind.Theutterpurityofhis life it iswhichhaswonhimalastingplaceintheheartsofeveryseekerafterGod.TheChurchinAmericasufferedagreaterlossthanshehassincediscovered

when she rejected the example of good men and chose for her pattern thecelebrityofthehour.Humangreatnesscannotbedeterminedbypopularitypollsnor by the number of lines anyman rates in the public press. It is altogetherunlikelythatweknowwhoourgreatestmenare.Onethingissure,however—the greatest man alive today is the bestman alive today. That is not open todebate.Todiscover thegoodgreatman(grantedthat itwouldbetoourprofit todo

so) would require more than human wisdom. For the holy man is also thehumblemanandthehumblemanwillnotadvertisehimselfnorallowotherstodo it forhim.Spiritualvirtues rundeepandsilent.Like the tideor thepullofgravitationortheshiningofthesun,theyworkwithoutnoise,buttheirgraciousministrationsarefeltaroundthewholeearth.

The Christian who is zealous to promote the cause of Christ can begin bylivinginthepoweroftheSpiritandsoreproducingthelifeofChristinthesightofmen.Indeephumilityandwithoutostentationhecanlethislightshine.Theworldmaypretendnottosee,butitwillsee,nevertheless,andmorethanlikelyitwillgetintoserioustroublewithitsconscienceoverwhatitsees.

Chapter4

WeAreCommittedtotheWholeMessage

TOMANYOBSERVINGpersonstodayitappearsthatconversiondoesnotdoforpeopleasmuchasitoncedid.Toooftentheexperiencepasses,leavingtheseeker unsatisfied and deeply disappointed. Some who are thus affected, andwhoaretoosinceretoplaywithreligion,walkoutonthewholethingandturnback frankly to the old life. Others try to make what they can out of a badbargain and gradually adjust themselves to a modified and imperfect form ofChristianity spiced up with synthetic fun and enlivened by frequent shots ofstimulantsintheformof“gimmicks,”togiveitrelishandsparkle.Theknowledge that revival campaignscancomeandgowithout raising the

moral level of the cities and townswhere they are held should surely give usseriouspause.Somethingiswrongsomewhere.Coulditbethatthecausebackofthisundeniablefailureofthegospeltoeffectmoralchangeisafurther-backfailureof themessengertograsptherealmeaningofhismessage?Coulditbethat, inhiseagerness togainonemoreconvert,hemakes theWayofLife tooeasy?Itwouldseemso.Inothertimesitwasnotanuncommonthingtowitnessthewholesaleclosingofsaloonsandbrothelsasadirectresultofthepreachingof themessage ofChrist in revival campaigns. Surely theremust have been adifferenceofemphasisbetweenthemessagetheypreachedinthosedaysandtheineffectivemessagewepreachtoday.Toallowthegospelonlyitsetymologicalmeaningofgoodnewsistorestrict

itsoradicallyasactuallytomakeitsomethingitisnot.That“Christdiedforoursins according to the scriptures” is good news indeed. That He, having byHimself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty in theheavens from which exalted position He mediates grace to all believers, iswonderful,hearteningnewsforthesinburdenedrace.ButtolimittheChristianmessagetothisonetruthaloneistorobitofmuchofitsmeaningandcreateabadmisunderstandingamongthosewhoheartheresultantpreaching.ThefactisthattheNewTestamentmessageembracesagreatdealmorethan

an offer of free pardon. It is a message of pardon, and for that may God bepraised;butitisalsoamessageofrepentance.Itisamessageofatonement,butit is also a message of temperance and righteousness and godliness in this

presentworld.IttellsusthatwemustacceptaSavior,butittellsusalsothatwemustdenyungodlinessandworldlylusts.Thegospelmessageincludestheideaofamendment,ofseparationfromtheworld,ofcross-carryingandloyaltytothekingdomofGodevenuntodeath.Tobestrictlytechnical,theselattertruthsarecorollariesofthegospel,andnot

thegospelitself;buttheyarepartandparcelofthetotalmessagewhichwearecommissioned todeclare.Nomanhas authority todivide the truth andpreachonlyapartofit.Todosoistoweakenitandrenderitwithouteffect.This is more than a mere splitting of definitions. It has real consequences

amongChristianworkersand,whatismoreserious,ithasconsequencesamongthetrustingseekerswhocometotheseworkersforcounsel.ToofferasinnerthegiftofsalvationbasedupontheworkofChrist,whileatthesametimeallowinghimtoretaintheideathatthegiftcarrieswithitnomoralimplications,istodohimuntoldinjurywhereithurtshimworst.Manyevangelicalteachersinsistsostronglyuponfree,unconditionalgraceas

tocreatetheimpressionthatsinisnotaseriousmatterandthatGodcaresverylittle about it. He is concerned onlywith our escaping the consequences. Thegospel then inpracticalapplicationmeans littlemore thanaway toescape thefruitsofourpast.TheheartthathasfelttheweightofitsownsinandalongwiththishasseenthedreadwhitenessoftheMostHighGodwillneverbelievethatamessageof forgivenesswithout transformation is amessageofgoodnews.Toremit a man’s past without transforming his present is to violate the moralsincerityofhisownheart.TothatkindofthingGodwillbenoparty.Wemust have courage to preach thewholemessage.By so doingwe shall

undoubtedly lose a few friends and make a number of enemies. But the trueChristianwillnotgrievetoomuchaboutthat.HehasenoughtodotopleasehisLordandSaviorand tobe true to the soulsofallmen.Thatmaywelloccupyhim too completely to leave much time for regrets over the displeasure ofmisguidedmen.

Chapter5

“IBelieveintheCommunionofSaints”

WITHOUTDOUBT themost important body on earth is theChurch ofGodwhichHepurchasedwithHisownblood.Unfortunatelytheword“church”itselfhastakenonmeaningswhichitdidnot

originallyhaveandhassuffereduntold injury in thehousebothof itsenemiesandofitsfriends.ThemeaningofthewordforthetrueChristianwasfixedbyourLordandHis

apostles.Whattheymeantbyitiswhatwemustmeanbyit;andnomanandnoangelhasauthoritytochangeit.The simple etymological meaning is easy to discover, but its larger

significance must be learned from the New Testament Scriptures. All that ismeant by that wondrous word cannot be stated in one sentence, nor in oneparagraph,norscarcelyinonebook.The universal Church is the body of Christ, the bride of the Lamb, the

habitationofGodthroughtheSpirit,thepillarandgroundofthetruth.Thelocalchurchisacommunityofransomedmen,aminoritygroup,acolony

ofheavenlysoulsdwellingapartontheearth,adivisionofsoldiersonaforeignsoil,abandofreapers,workingunderthedirectionoftheLordoftheharvest,aflockofsheepfollowingtheGoodShepherd,abrotherhoodoflike-mindedmen,avisiblerepresentativeoftheInvisibleGod.Itismostundesirabletoconceiveofourchurchesas“Works,”or“Projects.”

If such words must be used, then let them be understood as referring to theearthlyandlegalaspectofthingsonly.Atruechurchissomethingsupernaturaland divine, and is in direct lineal descent from that first church at Jerusalem.Insofarasitisachurchitisspiritual;itssocialaspectissecondaryandmaybeimitatedbyanygroupregardlessof its religiousqualitiesor lackof them.Thespiritual essence of a true church cannot be reproduced anywhere but in acompanyofrenewedandinwardlyunitedbelievers.TheChristian life beginswith the individual; a soul has a saving encounter

withGodandthenewlifeisborn.NotallthepooledeffortsofanychurchcanmakeaChristianoutofalostman.Butoncethe“greattransaction’sdone”thecommunionofbelieverswill be found tobe thebest environment for thenew

life.Menaremade foreachother, and this isnevermoreapparent than in thechurch.Allelsebeingequal,theindividualChristianwillfindinthecommunionofa

local church the most perfect atmosphere for the fullest development of hisspiritual life. There also hewill find the best arena for the largest exercise ofthosegiftsandpowerswithwhichGodmayhaveendowedhim.Thereligioussolitarymaygainonafewpoints,andhemayescapesomeof

theirritationsofthecrowd,butheisahalf-man,nevertheless,andworse,heisahalf-Christian. Every solitary experience, if we would realize its beneficialeffects,shouldbefollowedimmediatelybyareturntoourowncompany.TherewillbefoundthefaithofChristinitsmostperfectpresentmanifestation.Butonethingmustbekeptinmind:thesethingsaretrueonlywherethelocal

churchisachurchindeed,wherethecommunionofsaintsismorethanaphrasefrom the Creed but is realized and practiced in faith and love. Those religio-socialinstitutions,withwhichwearealltoofamiliar,whereworshipisaform,the sermon an essay and the prayer an embarrassed address to someone whoisn’tthere,certainlydonotqualifyaschurchesunderanyscripturaltermswithwhichweareacquainted.The elements of a true church are few and easy to possess. They are a

companyofbelievers,theLord,theSpiritandtheWordoftheLivingGod.Letthe Lord be worshiped, the Spirit be obeyed, the Word be expounded andfollowedastheonlyruleforfaithandconduct,andthepowerofGodwillbegintoshowitselfasitdidtoSamsoninthecampofDan.Thechurchwillproduceaspiritualcultureallitsown,whollyunlikeanything

createdbythemindofmanandsuperiortoanycultureknownonearth,ancientormodern.GodisgettingHispeoplereadyforanotherworld,andHeusesthelocalchurchasaworkshopinwhichtocarryonHisblessedwork.ThatChristianisahappyonewhohasfoundacompanyoftruebelieversin

whoseheavenlyfellowshiphecanliveandloveandlabor.Andnothingelseonearthshouldbeasdeartohimnorcommandfromhimsuchadegreeofloyaltyanddevotion.

Chapter6

WeMustTrytheSpirits

THESEARETIMESofmoralandreligiousconfusionanditissometimeshardtodistinguishthefalsefromthetrue.Our faithful Lord has tried to save us from the consequences of our own

blindnessbyrepeatedwarningsandmanycareful instructions.ItwillpayustogivecloseattentiontoHiswords.Toward the endof the age,we are told, there shall be a timeof stepped-up

religious activity and frenzied expectation, growing out of the turbulentconditions prevailing among nations. The language is familiar to mostChristians: “Wars and rumors of wars … nation shall rise against nation …famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places….Then shall theydeliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of allnations…and thenshallmanybeoffended,andshallbetrayoneanother,andshallhateoneanother.”Concurrent with this state of affairs will be a great increase in religious

excitementandsupernaturalhappeningsgenerally.“Formanyshallcomeinmyname,saying,IamChrist;andshalldeceivemany….Andmanyfalseprophetsshall rise….Then if anyman shall say unto you,Lo, here isChrist, or there;believe it not. For there shall arise falseChrists, and false prophets, and shallshow great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shalldeceivetheveryelect.Many tender-mindedChristians fear to sin against lovebydaring to inquire

into anything that comes wearing the cloak of Christianity and breathing thenameofJesus.TheydarenotexaminethecredentialsofthelatestprophettohittheirtownlesttheybeguiltyofrejectingsomethingwhichmaybeofGod.Theytimidly remember how the Pharisees refused to accept Christ whenHe came,and they do not want to be caught in the same snare, so they either reservejudgment or shut their eyes and accept everything without question. This issupposedtoindicateahighdegreeofspirituality.Butinsoberfactitindicatesnosuchthing.ItmayindeedbeevidenceoftheabsenceoftheHolySpirit.Gullibility is not synonymous with spirituality. Faith is not a mental habit

leadingitspossessortoopenhismouthandswalloweverythingthathasaboutit

thecolorof thesupernatural.Faithkeeps itsheartopen towhatever isofGod,andrejectseverythingthatisnotofGod,howeverwonderfulitmaybe.“Trythespirits”isacommandoftheHolySpirittotheChurch.Wemaysin

as certainly by approving the spurious as by rejecting the genuine. And thecurrenthabitof refusing to takesides isnot theway toavoid thequestion.Toappraisethingswithaheartofloveandthentoactontheresultsisanobligationresting upon every Christian in the world. And the more as we see the dayapproaching.HowcanwetellwhetherornotamanorareligiousdemonstrationisofGod?

Theanswer iseasy to find,but itwill takecourage to follow the factsasGodrevealsthemtous.The tests for spiritualgenuineness are two:First, the leadermustbe agood

manandfulloftheHolyGhost.Christianityisnothingifnotmoral.Notricksoftheology, no demonstrations of supernatural wonders, no evidences of blinddevotiononthepartofthepubliccandecidewhetherornotGodisinthemanorthemovement.Every servantofChristmustbepureofheart andholyof life.Whilesinlessperfection isnot likely tobefoundamongeventhebestofmen,still theleadertobetrustedistheonewholivesasnearlikeChristaspossibleandwhoknowshowtorepentinsorrowofheartwhenhesinsagainsthisLordby any act orword. ThemanGod honorswill be humble, self-effacing, self-sacrificing,modest,cleanliving,freefromtheloveofmoney,eagertopromotethehonorofGodandjustaseager todisclaimanycreditorpraiseonhisownpart. His financial accounts will bear inspection, his ethical standards will behighandhispersonallifeabovereproach.But the test of moral goodness is not enough. Every manmust submit his

work to the scriptural test. It is not enough that he be able to quote from theBibleatgreatlengthorthatheclaimforhimselfgreatandstartlingexperienceswithGod.Gobacktothelawandtothetestimony.IfhespeaknotaccordingtotheWorditisbecausethereisnolightinhim.Wewhoareinvitedtofollowhimhaveeveryright,aswellasasolemnobligation,totesthisworkaccordingtotheWordofGod.Wemustdemandthateveryclaimantforourconfidencepresentacleanbillofhealth fromtheHolyScriptures; thathedomore thanweave inatext occasionally, or hold up the Bible dramatically before the eyes of hishearers.HisdoctrinesmustbethoseoftheScriptures.TheBiblemustdominatehispreaching.HemustpreachaccordingtotheWordofGod.Thepriceoffollowingafalseguideonthedesertmaybedeath.Thepriceof

heedingwrongadviceinbusinessmaybebankruptcy.Thepriceoftrustingtoa

quackdoctormaybepermanentlossofhealth.Thepriceofputtingconfidenceinapseudo-prophetmaybemoralandspiritualtragedy.Letustakeheedthatnomandeceiveus.

Chapter7

FacingBothWays

LIKEADOCTORwithasickpatientwhosediseaseeludesdiagnosis,religiousleadershaveforsomeyearsbeenawarethatthereissomethingseriouslywrongwithevangelicalismandhaveyetbeenunabletolaytheirfingerupontheprecisetrouble.Thesymptomstheyhavediscoveredinabundance,butthecausebackofthem has been hard to locate. Mostly we have spent our time correctingsymptoms,havingall thewhileanuneasyfeeling thatourremediesdidnotgodeepenough.Oneoddmarkofthediseaseofwhichwespeakisanimpulseonthepartof

thepatient to jumpupanddownandshout thathenever feltbetter inhis life.YetiftheNewTestamentandtheexampleofeminentsaintsrepresentanormalstate of spiritual health, our patient is not only below standard but actuallygravelyill.Knowingthatadiseasethatcannotbeidentifiedinvariablycallsoutaflockof

untrained experts to analyze andprescribe,weyet risk apronouncementupontheconditionofevangelicalChristianityinourday,andwebelievewemaynotbetoofarfromthetruth.The trouble seems to be a disorder of the spiritual nerve systemwhichwe

might, for the lack of a proper term, call dual orientation. Its dominantcharacteristic appears to be a cross-up among the nerve ganglia of the soulresultinginaninabilitytocontrolthedirectionofthelife.Thepatientstartsonedirection and before he knows it he is going another.His inward eyes do notcoordinate;eachoneseesadifferentobjectandseekstoleadthestepstowardit.Theindividualiscaughtinthemiddle,tryingtobetruetobothfocioftheheart,and never knowingwhich hewould rather follow. Evangelicalism (at least inmanycircles)issufferingfromthisstrangedivisionoflife-purpose.ItstheologyfacestowardtheEastandthesacredTempleofJehovah.Itsactiveinterestsfacetoward the world and the temple of Dagon. Doctrinally it is Christian, butactually it is pagan mentality, pagan scale of values and pagan religiousprinciples.Let a man but become, as the earlyMethodists would have said, “soundly

converted,” and certain things will begin to happen in his life. He will

experience a wonderful unification of personality and a turning about of thewholelifetowardGodandheavenlythings.Thoughhewillundoubtedlysufferfrom the inward struggle described in the seventh chapter of Romans, yet hisdirectionwillbeestablishedbeyondanydoubtandhis facewill remain turnedtowardtheCityofGod.That word direction should have more emphasis these days, for the most

important thing about a life is its direction. David hardly said anythingmoresignificantthanthis:“IhavesettheLordalwaysbeforeme:becauseheisatmyrighthand,Ishallnotbemoved.”AndtheHebrews’writersummeditallupinonesentence,“LookinguntoJesus,theauthorandfinisherofourfaith.”AnemotionalconversionwhichstopsshortofChrist-orientationisinadequate

forlifeanddeath,and,unlessnewhelpcomesfromsomequarter,itmayeasilybeworsethannoreligiousexperienceatall.Andjustthiswouldappeartobethesource of our bad orientation. The original experience of conversion was notsufficientlyradicaltoturnthelifewhollytoGodandthingseternal.Thenwhenreligiousleadersfoundthattheyhadontheirhandshalf-convertedpersonswhowanted to be saved but would not turn fully to God, they tried to meet thesituationbyprovidingatwilight-zonereligionwhichdidnotdemandtoomuchandwhichdidoffersomething.Betterhavethemhalfwayin,theyreasoned,thanallthewayout.Weknownowhowbadthatreasoningwas.WithlargeblocksofevangelicalsprayingandpreachinglikeChristianswhile

they live and talk like worldlings, howmuch longer may we expect them toremain evangelical?Apostasy always beginswith the conduct. First there is awrongorientationof the life,a facing toward the lostworldwithyearningandenjoyment;latertherecomesagradualsurrenderofthetruthitselfandaslippingback intounbelief.Thathashappened to individualsanddenominationsand itcan happen to the whole present evangelical communion if it is not checkedbeforeitistoolate.For this cause, the facing-both-ways attitude of our present Christianity is

something to be alarmed about. And if that attitude were the result of plainbacksliding there would bemuchmore reason for optimism. Unchristian actsdonebyaChristian throughweaknessandover theprotestsofhisbetterheartmaybebadenough,buttheyarenotlikelytobefatal.ButwhenhedoesthemwiththesanctionofhisteachersandwiththebeliefthattheyareallapartoftheChristianway,howishetoberescued?

Chapter8

WhatProfitinPrayer?

THESKEPTICinthebookofJobaskedthedisdainfulquestion,“Whatis theAlmighty,thatweshouldservehim,andwhatprofitshouldwehave,ifweprayuntohim?”The whole tone of the remark shows that it is meant to be rhetorical. The

doubter, believing the question could have no answer, tossed it offcontemptuouslyandturnedaway,likePilate,withoutwaitingforareply.Butwehaveananswer.GodHimselfhassuppliedit,andtheuniversalconsensusoftheageshasaddedanAmen.IntheeleventhchapterofHebrewswehavealonglistofbenefitswhichfaith

brings to its possessors: justification, deliverance, fruitfulness, endurance,victory over enemies, courage, strength and even resurrection from the dead.Andeverythingthatisattributedtofaithmightwithequaltruthbeattributedtoprayer, for faith and trueprayer are like two sidesof the samecoin.They areinseparable.Menmay,andoftendo,praywithoutfaith(thoughthisisnottrueprayer),but

itisnotthinkablethatmenshouldhavefaithandnotpray.Thebiblicalformulais “Theprayer of faith.”Prayer and faith are here bound together by the littleprepositionof,andwhatGodhathjoinedtogether,letnotmanputasunder.Faithisonlygenuineasiteventuatesintoprayer.WhenTennysonwrote “More things arewrought by prayer than thisworld

dreams of,” he probably uttered a truth of vaster significance than even heunderstood.WhileitisnotalwayspossibletotraceanactofGodtoitsprayer-cause,itisyetsafetosaythatprayerisbackofeverythingthatGoddoesforthesonsofmenhereuponearth.OnewouldgatherasmuchfromasimplereadingoftheScriptures.Whatprofitisthereinprayer?“Mucheveryway.”WhateverGodcandofaith

cando,andwhateverfaithcandoprayercandowhenitisofferedinfaith.Aninvitation to prayer is, therefore, an invitation to omnipotence, for prayerengagestheOmnipotentGodandbringsHimintoourhumanaffairs.Nothingisimpossibletothemanwhopraysinfaith,justasnothingisimpossiblewithGod.This generation has yet to prove all that prayer can do for believingmen and

women.ItwasasayingofGeorgeMuellerthatfaithgrowswithuse.Ifwewouldhave

greatfaithwemustbegintousethelittlefaithwealreadyhave.Putittoworkbyreverentandfaithfulpraying,anditwillgrowandbecomestrongerdaybyday.DaretodaytotrustGodforsomethingsmallandordinaryandnextweekornextyear youmay be able to trust Him for answers bordering on the miraculous.Everyonehassomefaith,saidMueller;thedifferenceamongusisoneofdegreeonly, and themanof small faithmaybe simply theonewhohasnotdared toexercisethelittlefaithhehas.AccordingtotheBible,wehavebecauseweask,orwehavenotbecausewe

asknot. Itdoesnot takemuchwisdom todiscoverournextmove. Is it not topray,andprayagainandagaintilltheanswercomes?Godwaitstobeinvitedtodisplay His power in behalf of His people. The world situation is such thatnothing less than God can straighten it out. Let us not fail the world anddisappointGodbyfailingtopray.

Chapter9

TheTrueSaintIsDifferent

THECHURCH’SMIGHTIESTinfluenceisfeltwhensheisdifferentfromtheworld inwhich she lives.Her power lies in her beingdifferent, riseswith thedegreeinwhichshediffersandsinksasthedifferencediminishes.Thisissofullyandclearlytaught intheScripturesandsowell illustratedin

Churchhistorythatitishardtoseehowwecanmissit.Butmissitwedo,forwe hear constantly that the Churchmust try to be asmuch like theworld aspossible,excepting,ofcourse,wheretheworldistoo,toosinful;andwearetoldto get adjusted to the world and “be all things to all men.” (This use of thepassage, incidentally,pointsupPeter’s saying that“OurbelovedbrotherPaul”wrote some things which the unlearned and the unstable wrest to their owndestruction.)OnesuremarkoftheChurch’sheavenlycharacteristhatsheisdifferentfrom

the rest ofmankind; similarity is amarkof her fall.The sonsofGod and thesonsofmenaremorallyandspirituallyseparated,andbetweenthemthereisagreatgulf fixed.Whenreligiouspersons try tobridge thatgulfbycompromisetheyviolatetheveryprinciplesofthekingdomofGod.MenareimpressedwiththemessageoftheChurchjustasfarandaslongas

sheisdifferentfromthemselves.Whensheseekstobelikethemtheynolongerrespecther.Theybelieve(andrightly)thatsheisplayingfalsetoherselfandtothem.ThemoraljarthatresultswhenanindoctrinatedsonofAdammeetsasonofheavenisoneofthemostwholesomethingsthatcanhappentobothofthem.Andcontrary tocommonopinion,menaremore inclined to followthewayofChristwhen theyarecompelled tomakea radicalalteration in their lives thantheyarewhenthewayismadeeasyforthem.Thehumanheartsensesitsneedtobe changed, andwhen religion appearsoffering lifewithout such change, it isnottakenseriouslybythinkingmen.Thesuperficial,theinsincere,mayembracesuch a low-powered brand of religion, but the seeking heart must reject it asfalseandunreal.All conformity to the world is a negation of our Christian character and a

surrenderofourheavenlyposition.LetusplantourselvesonthehillofZionandinvitetheworldtocomeoverto

us,butneverunderanycircumstanceswillwegoovertothem.Thecrossisthesymbol ofChristianity, and the cross speaksof death and separation, never ofcompromise. No one ever compromised with a cross. The cross separatedbetweenthedeadandtheliving.Thetimidandthefearfulwillcry“Extreme!”andtheywillberight.Thecrossis theessenceofall that isextremeandfinal.The message of Christ is a call across a gulf from death to life, from sin torighteousnessandfromSatantoGod.ThefirststepforanyChristianwhoisseekingspiritualpoweristoaccepthis

unique position as a son of heaven temporarily detained on the earth, and tobegin to live asbecometh a saint.The sharp lineofdemarcationbetweenhimandtheworldwillappearatonce—andtheworldwillneverquiteforgivehim.Andthesonsofearthwillmakehimpaywellforseparation,butitisapricehewillgladlypayfortheprivilegeofwalkinginfruitfulnessandpower.

Chapter10

FaithRestsuponGod’sCharacter

ALLTHINGSELSEbeingequal,thedestinyofamanornationmaysafelybepredictedfromtheideaofGodwhichthatmanor thatnationholds.NonationcanrisehigherthanitsconceptionofGod.WhileRomeheldtoherfaithinthestern old gods of the Pantheon she remained an iron kingdom. Her citizensunconsciously imitated the character of her gods, however erroneous theirconception of theDeitymight have been.WhenRomebegan to think looselyaboutGodshebegan to rot inwardly,and that rotneverstopped till itbroughthertotheground.Soitmustalwaysbewithmenandnations.AchurchisstrongorweakjustasitholdstoahighorlowideaofGod.For

faith rests not primarily upon promises, but upon character.A believer’s faithcannever risehigher thanhisconceptionofGod.Apromise isneverbetterorworsethanthecharacteroftheonewhomakesit.AninadequateconceptionofGodmustresultinaweakfaith,forfaithdependsuponthecharacterofGodjustasabuildingrestsuponitsfoundation.Thisexplainswhyunbelief issuchagrievoussin; it ispurelibelagainst the

Lord of heaven and earth.Unbelief judgesGod to be unworthy of confidenceandwithholdsitstrustfromHim.Cantherebeamoreheinoussinthanthis?“HethatbelievethnotGodhathmadehima liar” (1 John5:10).Ourhearts shrinkfromthefullimplicationsofsuchastatement,butwouldnotthisseemtoteachthatunbeliefattributestoGodthecharacterofSatan?JesussaidofSatan,“Heisaliarandthefatherofit.”UnbeliefsaysvirtuallythesamethingofGod.How then shall unbelief be cured and faith be strengthened? Surely not by

strainingtobelievetheScriptures,assomedo.NotbyafranticefforttobelievethepromisesofGod.Notbygrittingourteethanddeterminingtoexercisefaithbyanactofthewill.Allthishasbeentried—anditneverhelps.Totrythustosuperinduce faith is to violate the laws of themind and to do violence to thesimplepsychologyoftheheart.Whatistheanswer?Jobtoldus,“Acquaintthyselfwithhimandbeatpeace”;

and Paul said, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by theword ofGod.” These two verses show the way to a strong and lasting faith: Getacquainted with God through reading the Scriptures, and faith will come

naturally.ThispresupposesthatwecometotheScriptureshumbly,repudiatingself-confidenceandopeningourmindstothesweetoperationsoftheSpirit.Otherwise stated: Faith comes effortlessly to the heart as we elevate our

conceptions of God by a prayerful digestion of His Word. And such faithendures,foritisgroundedupontheRock.

Chapter11

SalvationWalkstheEarth

Ifanymanwillcomeafterme,lethimdenyhimself,andtakeuphiscross,andfollowme.—MATTHEW16:24ITISLIKEtheLordtofastenaworlduponnothing,andmakeitstayinplace.HereHe takes that wonderful,mysteriousmicrocosmwe call the human soulandmakesitsfuturewealorwoetorestuponasingleword—“if.”“Ifanyman,”He says, and teaches atonce theuniversal inclusivenessofHis invitation, andthe freedom of the humanwill. Everyonemay come; no one need come, andwhoeverdoescome,comesbecausehechoosesto.Everymanholdshisfutureinhishand.Notthedominantworldleaderonly,

but the inarticulate man lost in anonymity is a “man of destiny.” He decideswhichwayhis soul shall go.He chooses, and destinywaits on the nodof hishead.Hedecides,andhellenlargesherself,orheavenpreparesanothermansion.SomuchofHimselfhasGodgiventomen.ThereisastrangebeautyinthewaysofGodwithmen.Hesendssalvationto

theworld in the person of aMan and sends thatMan towalk the busywayssaying, “If anymanwill come afterme.”No drama, no fanfare, no tramp ofmarchingfeetortumultofshouting.AkindlyStrangerwalksthroughtheearth,andsoquietisHisvoicethatitissometimeslostinthehurly-burly;butitisthelast voice ofGod, and untilwe become quiet to hear itwe have no authenticmessage.HebearsgoodtidingsfromafarbutHecompelsnomantolisten.“Ifanymanwill,”Hesays,andpasseson.Friendly,courteous,unobtrusive,Heyetbears the signetof theKing.Hisword isdivineauthority,Hiseyesa tribunal,Hisfacealastjudgment.“Ifanymanwill…, lethimfollowme,”Hesays,andsomewill riseandgo

afterHim,butothersgivenoheedtoHisvoice.Sothegulfopensbetweenmanandman,betweenthosewhowilland thosewhowillnot.Silently, terribly theworkgoeson,aseachonedecideswhetherhewillhearor ignore thevoiceofinvitation.Unknowntotheworld,perhapsunknowneventotheindividual,thework of separation takes place. Each hearer of the Voice must decide for

himself, andhemustdecideon thebasisof the evidence themessage affords.Therewillbenothundersound,noheavenlysignorlightfromheaven.TheManisHisownproof.ThemarksinHishandsandfeetaretheinsigniaofHisrankand office.Hewill not putHimself again on trial;Hewill not argue, but themorningofthejudgmentwillconfirmwhatmeninthetwilighthavedecided.AndthosewhowouldfollowHimmustacceptHisconditions.“Lethim,”He

says,andthereisnoappealfromHiswords.Hewillusenocoercion,butneitherwillHe compromise.Men cannotmake the terms; theymerely agree to them.Thousands turn from Him because they will not meet His conditions. Hewatchesthemastheygo,forHelovesthem,butHewillmakenoconcessions.AdmitonesoulintotheKingdombycompromiseandthatKingdomisnolongersecure.ChristwillbeLord,orHewillbeJudge.EverymanmustdecidewhetherhewilltakeHimasLordnoworfaceHimasJudgethen.What are the terms of discipleship? Only one with a perfect knowledge of

mankind could have dared to make them. Only the Lord of men could haverisked the effect of such rigorous demands: “Let him deny himself.”We hearthesewords and shake our heads in astonishment.Canwe have heard aright?Can theLord laydownsuchsevere rulesat thedoorof theKingdom?HecanandHedoes.IfHeistosavetheman,Hemustsavehimfromhimself.Itisthe“himself”whichhas enslaved and corrupted theman.Deliverance comesonlyby denial of that self. No man in his own strength can shed the chains withwhichselfhasboundhim,butinthenextbreaththeLordrevealsthesourceofthepowerwhich is toset thesoul free:“Lethimtakeuphiscross.”Thecrosshasgatheredinthecourseoftheyearsmuchofbeautyandsymbolism,butthecrossofwhichJesusspokehadnothingofbeautyinit.Itwasaninstrumentofdeath.Slayingmenwasitsonlyfunction.Mendidnotwearthatcross;butthatcross wore men. It stood naked until a man was pinned on it, a living manfastenedlikesomegrotesquestickpinonitsbreasttowritheandgroantilldeathstilledandsilencedhim.Thatisthecross.Nothingless.Andwhenitisrobbedofitstearsandbloodandpainitisthecrossnolonger.“Lethimtake…hiscross,”saidJesus,andindeathhewillknowdeliverancefromhimself.A strange thing under the sun is crossless Christianity. The cross of

Christendom is a no-cross, an ecclesiastical symbol. The cross of Christ is aplaceofdeath.Leteachonebecarefulwhichcrosshecarries.“Andfollowme.”Nowtheglorybeginstobreakinuponthesoulthathasjust

returned from Calvary. “Follow me” is an invitation, and a challenge, and apromise.Thecrosshasbeentheendofalifeandthebeginningofalife.Thelife

thatendedtherewasalifeofsinandslavery;thelifethatbeganthereisalifeofholiness and spiritual freedom. “And followme,” He says, and faith runs ontiptoetokeeppacewiththeadvancinglight.UntilweknowtheprogramofourrisenLord for all the years to comewe can never knoweverythingHemeantwhenHe invitedus to followHim.Eachheart canhave itsowndreamof fairworldsandnewrevelations,oftheodysseyoftheransomedsoulintheagestocome,butwhoeverfollowsJesuswillfindatlastthatHehasmadetherealitytooutrunthedream.

Chapter12

God’sLoveandOurs

GODBEINGWHOandwhatHe ismust loveHimselfwithpureandperfectlove.ThePersonsof theGodhead loveeachotherwitha loveso fiery, so tender,

thatitisallaburningflameofintensedesireineffable.God isHimself the only beingwhomHe can love directly; all else thatHe

lovesisforHisownsakeandbecauseHefindssomereflectionofHimselfthere.GodlovesHismutecreationbecauseHeseesinitanimperfectrepresentation

ofHisownwisdomandpower.He loves theangelsand seraphimbecauseHeseesinthemsomelikenessofHisholiness.HelovesmenbecauseHebeholdsinthemafallenrelicofHisownimage.PotentiallyGodlovesallmenalike,butHisactivelovelightsuponsomemen

morethanuponothers,thedegreedependinguponhowmuchofHimselfHeisable to impart to them. The truly Christlike soul enjoys more of God’s lovebecauseGodseesinitatruerimageofHimselfthaninasoullesspurified.GodlovesHisSonwithinfiniteperfectionbecauseHeis“thebrightnessofhisglory,andtheexpressimageofhisperson.”God desires that all men should become Christlike, for in so doing they

presentlargerandmoreperfectobjectsforthereceptionofHisoutpouredlove.ConformitytothenatureofChristonthepartofaredeemedmanrestoresthe

imageofGodinthesoulandthusmakesitpossibleforGodtolavishonthesoulwithoutrestraintalltheboundlessloveofwhichHeistheoriginalfountain.It ishardforasinfulmantobelieve thatGodlovesHim.Hisownaccusing

consciencetellshimitcouldnotbeso.HeknowsthatheisanenemyofGodandalienatedinhismindthroughwickedworks,andheseesinhimselfathousandmoraldiscrepanciesthatunfithimforthejustenjoymentofsopurealove.YetthewholeBibleproclaimsthe loveofGodforsinfulmen.Wemustbelieve inHis lovebecauseHedeclares itandavailourselvesof thesanctifyinggraceofChristinordertoreceiveandenjoythatlovetothefull.“ForoursoulissospeciallylovedofHimthatishighest,thatitoverpasseth

theknowingofallcreatures…thereisnocreaturethatismadethatmayfullyknowhowmuchandhowsweetlyandhowtenderlyourMakerlovethus.And

thereforewemaywithgraceandHishelp(behold)witheverlastingmarvelthishigh, overpassing, inestimable love that Almighty God hath to us of Hisgoodness.And thereforewemay ask of our Loverwith reverence all thatwewill.”Godislove,andisforthatreasonthesourceofallthelovethereis.Hehasset

as the firstofallcommandments thatwe loveHimwithallourhearts,butHeknowsthatthedesiredlovecanneveroriginatewithus.“Welovehim,becausehefirstlovedus,”isthescripturalandpsychologicalpattern.WecanloveHimasweoughtonlyasHeinflamesourmindswithholydesire.Yetthereisalsoaloveofwillingaswellasoffeeling.Thoughwemaynotbe

consciousofanygreatdegreeofinwardsensation,wemaysetourwillstoloveGodandthefeelingwillcomeofitself.LetusbringourselvesunderobediencetoHisrevealedWordandourloveforHimwillgrow.Obediencewillstrengthenfaith and faith will increase knowledge. And it is a well-known law of thespiritual life that our love for God will spring up and flourish just as ourknowledgeofHim increases.ToknowHim is to loveHim,and toknowHimbetteristoloveHimmore.

Chapter13

TheLordGivethKnowledge

ELSEWHEREIHAVEsaidthatwecannotknowGodbythinking,butthatwemust do a lot of thinking if we would know Him well. This sounds self-contradictory,butIamsurethatthetwostatementsareinfullaccordwitheachother.TheinabilityofthehumanmindtoknowGodinatrueandfinalsenseistaken

forgrantedthroughouttheBibleandeventaughtinplainwordsinsuchpassagesasthese:“NomanknoweththeSon,buttheFather;neitherknowethanymantheFather, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” “TheworldbywisdomknewnotGod.”“ThethingsofGodknowethnoman,buttheSpirit ofGod.”God’s nature is of another kind fromanythingwithwhich themind is acquainted; hence when the mind attempts to find out God it isconfrontedbyobscurity.Itissurroundedwithmysteryandblindedbythelightnomancanapproachunto.A consideration of this truth led some thinkers of the past to conclude that

since it is impossible for man to discover God by means of any faculties hepossesses,Godmustthereforeremainnotonlyunknownbutunknowable.Whatthese men overlooked was that when God desires He can and does revealHimself tomen.TheSpiritofGodisabletomakethespiritofmanknowandexperience theawfulmysteryofGod’sessentialbeing. It shouldbenoted thatthe Spirit reveals God to the spirit of man, not to his intellect merely. Theintellect can knowGod’s attributes because these constitute that body of truththat can be known about God. The knowledge of God is for the spirit alone.Suchknowledgecomesnotbyintellectionbutbyintuition.ToknowGodinthescripturalmeaningofthetermistoenterintoexperience

ofHim. It nevermeans toknowabout. It isnot aknowledgemediatedby theintellect, but anunmediated awareness experiencedby the soulon aplane toohighforthemindtoreach.Where then is the place of the intellect in Christian experience? And why

wastetimethinkingwhenweknowbeforehandthat thoughtcannotbringustothe knowledge that is most of all to be desired, the knowledge of God? Theanswer is that the whole biblical revelation is addressed to the intellect and

through the intellect reaches the will, the seat of the moral life; if the willresponds in repentance andobedience, theHolySpirit illuminates the penitentheart and revealsChrist, the image ofGod, to it.What began as an appeal toreason(Isaiah1:18)endsinaspiritualexperiencewhollyabovereason.God is concerned with the whole man and has designed that Christian

experienceshouldembrace theentirepersonality.TheChristian faithdealsnotwiththespiritualonlybutwiththemoralandtherationalaswell.Therationalandmoral elements in religion are theproperobjects of thought andwillinglyyieldtheirrichtreasurestoprayerfulmeditation.TheChristianfaithdealswithGodandmanandwhatcanbeknownabout themandtheir relationone to theother. It contemplates creation, redemption, righteousness, sacred history, thedestinyofmankindandthefutureoftheworld.Suchtruths,oncetheyhavebeenrevealed by divine inspiration, lie where they can be got at by the redeemedintellectandwaittobeexploitedbythesonsofthekingdom.UndertheilluminationandguidanceoftheHolySpirittheprayerful,studious

believercanbecomeaChristianphilosopher,asage,adoctorofdivine things.Morethanthat,hecanbecomeamanofGodandalighttohisgeneration.Irepeat,wecannotknowGodbythinkingalone,butwecanneverknowHim

verywellwithoutalotofhardthinking.

Chapter14

TheUrgetoShare

SPIRITUALEXPERIENCESmustbeshared.Itisnotpossibleforverylongtoenjoythemalone.Theveryattempttodosowilldestroythem.Thereasonforthisisobvious.TheneareroursoulsdrawtoGodthelargerour

lovewillgrow,andthegreaterourlovethemoreunselfishweshallbecomeandthegreaterourcareforthesoulsofothers.Henceincreasedspiritualexperience,so faras it isgenuine,bringswith it a strongdesire thatothersmayknow thesamegrace thatweourselves enjoy.This leadsquite naturally to an increasedefforttoleadotherstoacloserandmoresatisfyingfellowshipwithGod.The human race is one.God “made of one blood all nations ofmen for to

dwell on all the face of the earth,” and He made the individual members ofsocietyforeachother.Notthehermitbutthemaninthemidstofsocietyisintheplace best to fulfill the purpose for which he was created. There may becircumstanceswhen fora time itwillbenecessary for the seekerafterGod towrestle alone like Jacob on the bank of the river, but the result of his lonelyexperienceissuretoflowouttofamilyandfriend,andonouttosocietyatlast.Inthenatureofthingsitmustbeso.The impulse to share, to impart, normally accompanies any true encounter

withGod and spiritual things.Thewoman at thewell, after her soul-inspiringmeetingwithJesus,leftherwaterpots,hurriedintothecityandtriedtopersuadeherfriendstocomeoutandmeetHim.“Come,seeaman,”shesaid,“whichtoldme all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”Her spiritual excitementcouldnotbecontainedwithinherownheart.Shehadtotellsomeone.Is it not possible that our Lord had this inmindwhenHe spoke about the

impossibility of secret discipleship? Have we misunderstood the truerelationshipbetweenfaithandtestimony?ChristmadeitclearthattherecouldbenosuchthingassecretdiscipleshipandPaulsaid,“Withtheheartmanbelievethuntorighteousness;andwiththemouthconfessionismadeuntosalvation.”ThisisusuallyunderstoodtomeanthatGodhaslaiduponusanarbitraryrequirementtoopenourmouth in confessionbefore salvation canbecome effectivewithinus.Maybe that is the correctmeaning of these verses.Or could it be that theconfessionisanevidenceofthesalvationwhichhascomebyfaithtotheheart,

and where there is no impulse to impart, no outrushing of words in joyoustestimony,therehasbeennotrueinwardexperienceofsavinggrace?The irrepressible urge to share spiritual blessings can explain a greatmany

religiousphenomena.Itevengoessofarastocreateakindofvicarioustransferof interest from one person to another, so that the blessed soul would ifnecessarygiveupitsownblessingthatanothermightreceive.Onlythuscanthatprayer ofMoses be understood, “Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, andhavemadethemgodsofgold.Yetnow,if thouwilt forgivetheirsin—;andifnot, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written” (Exodus32:31,32).HisgreatcareforIsraelhadmadehimincautious,almostrash,beforethe Lord in their behalf.Moses felt that for Israel to be forgivenwas rewardenoughforhim.Thisimpulsiveuprushofvicariouslovecanhardlybedefendedbefore thebar of pure reason.ButGodunderstood and compliedwithMoses’request.Theintenseurgetohaveothersenjoythesamespiritualprivilegesashimself

once ledPaul tomake a statement so extreme, so reckless, that reason cannotapprove it; only love can understand: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not,myconscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have greatheavinessandcontinualsorrowinmyheart.ForIcouldwishthatmyselfwereaccursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh”(Romans9:1-3).In the light of this it is quite easy to understand why all great Christian

teachershaveinsistedthattruespiritualexperiencemustbeshared.Thecarelesspersonwho remarks thathedoesnotneed togo tochurch to serveGod is farfromunderstandingthemostelementaryspiritual truths.Bycuttinghimselfofffromthereligiouscommunityheprovesthathehasneverfelt thedeepurgetoshare—andfortheveryreasonthathehasnothingtoshare.HehasneverfelttheconstrainingloveofChrist,sohecangohiswayinsilence.Hiswithdrawalfromthebelievingfellowshiptellsusmoreabouthimthanheknowsabouthimself.“Beingletgo,theywenttotheirowncompany.”SoitwasintheEarlyChurch

andsoithasalwaysbeenwhenmenmeetGodinsavingencounter.Theywanttosharetheblessedbenefits.

Chapter15

DedicationtoWhat?

ITISONEoftheironiesofmodernlifethatafterawordhasbeendroppedfromthe Christian vocabulary because it no longer expresses any vital content incurrentchurchreligion,itisoftentakenupbytheworldandmadetomeannotthesamethingbutsomethingclosetowhatitoncemeantinitsoriginalChristianusage.Such a word is dedicate. This word in its various forms was once used to

express a sacred idea deriving straight from the Scriptures. Though the exactEnglishwordisnotfoundinourAuthorizedVersion,theidearunsfromGenesistoRevelationandallthroughJewishandChristianhistory.A noticeable change has come over the word in recent years, a semantic

degeneration that has secularized it almost completely, and oddly enough thedictionary definitions unwittingly follow the word down: “Dedicate. 1. Todevoteto theserviceorworshipofadivinebeing.2.Tosetapart toadefiniteuseorservice.3.Toinscribebywayofcomplimentasabook.”Thatisthewayalatedictionaryputsit,andinsodoingfurnishesitsownspiritualcommentary.NowIhavenoquarrelwithmerewords.Whatevercurrentusageandanup-

to-datedictionarydeclareawordtomean,thatiswhatitmeans,whateveritmayhavemeant before. But I am concerned whenmenmistake earth for heaven,confusethisworldwiththeworldtocomeandborrowsacredwordstodescribesecular things—without knowingwhat they have done. That is preciselywhathas happened to theworddedication.Through a radical change ofmeaning ithasbeenlosttothelanguageofworship.AnditishighlysignificantthatuptothismomentChristianshavenotfeltsufficient inwardpressuretocreateanewwordthatwouldmeanwhat theoldwordoncemeant.Apparentlynotonlythewordisgonefromusbuttheideaaswell.One reason for this is the current imperfect understanding of the Christian

message. Scarcely anyone catches the imperious note in Christ’s words. TheChristian message has ceased to be a pronouncement and has become aproposition.Itsinvitationalelementhasbeenpressedfaroutofproportioninthetotal scriptural scheme.ChristwithHis lantern,His apologetic stance andHisweakpleadingfacehastakentheplaceofthetrueSonofManwhomJohnsaw

clothedwithagarmentdowntothefoot,girtwithagoldengirdle,whoseheadandhairarewhite likewool,whoseeyesareasaflameoffire,whosefeetarelikeburnishedbrassandwhosevoiceisasthesoundofmanywaters.TheChristofthetentativesmileandairofpuzzlementisnottheChristofGod.TheartistshavebeenguiltyofinadvertentidolatryinpresentingtotheworldafalseimageofChrist.OnlytheHolySpiritcanrevealourLordasHereallyis,andHedoesnot paint in oils.Hemanifests Christ to the human spirit, not to our physicaleyes.Anypublicfigurewhoishonestandwhotakeshisjobseriouslyissuretobe

calleda“dedicatedman”bysomereporterornewscommentator.Theword iseven used to describe persons deeply concerned about wildlife refuges or theconservationofnaturalresources.Itisalsoappliedtoballplayersandstockcarracers,andnotlongagoayoungbullfighterenthusiastspoketomeindefenseofthatgoryandperiloussport.HeexplainedsimplythattheSpanishmatadorriskshislifeinthebullring“becauseheisadedicatedman.Thepeoplewantthethrillofseeingthebullkilledandheputshislifeinjeopardytofurnishthatthrillforthem.”The “dedicated” matador would likely win some sort of prize for sheer

absurdityandmaybeallowedtostandastheuncrownedchampionofallthosewhoseektowastetheirlivesinthemostfoolishway.Butdedicationtovanityisnot confined to bullfighters. The truth is, dedication of the life to anything oranyoneshortofGodHimself,isaprostitutionofnoblepowersandmustbringaharvestofgriefanddisappointmentat last.OnlyGodisworthyof thesoulHehasmadeinHisownimage.Todevoteourlivestoanycause,howeverworthy,is to sell ourselves short. Not money, position, fame, can justly claim ourdevotion.Art,literature,musicalsofallshort.And,ifGodisforgotten,eventheloftiest and most unselfish task is unworthy of the soul’s full surrender.Complete dedication unto death in the cause of freedom, for instance, is atouchingthingandhasgiventohistorymanyofhergreatestheroes,butonlytheGodoffreedomshouldhaveour“lastfullmeasureofdevotion.”Thesearestrenuoustimesandmenarebeingrecruitedeverywheretodevote

themselvestooneoranothermaster.Letusbecareful.NoonehasanytruerighttoclaimmylifeexcepttheOnewhogaveHisownlifeformyredemption.IfHegetsmyfulldedicationthenImayengageinanygoodandworthycauseunderHis Spirit’s guidance. But anything short of complete devotion to Christ isinadequateandmustendinfutilityandloss.

Chapter16

TheMakingofaMan

THOUGH HUMAN NATURE as we know it now is fallen and morallydegenerate, ityet standsat the top in theorderofGod’screation.Ofnootherbeingwasitsaid,“IntheimageofGodcreatedhehim.”Man’s nature indicates that he was created for three things: To think, to

worshipandtowork.Under think may be included everything that the intellect can do, from the

simplestact to thecreationofanoratorioor the foundingofanempire. Inhisabilitytoobserve,toinquire,tocollectdataandtoreasonfromittocauses,lawsand principles, man stands easily supreme above all other creatures. Thedomestication of the wild forces of nature, the conquest of disease, theameliorationofthepainsandwoesofourphysicalorganism—allhasbeendonebythethinkingmanridingonthewingsofhisimaginationoutintotheunknownanddaringtoentertainnotionsnoonehadentertainedbefore.Tomakeoutoftherawmaterialthatisamanathinkingman,animaginative,

dreamingman,isoneofthemosturgenttasksofsociety.Thistaskbeginsinthenursery and goes on through to the university. Whatever institution, large orsmall, famous or obscure, dedicates itself to the necessary and heavy job ofteachingmentothinkdeservesthegratitudeofthewholehumanrace.Butthinkingisnotenough.Menaremadetoworshipalso,tobowdownand

adore in thepresenceof theMystery inexpressible.Man’smind is not the toppeakofhisnature.Higherthanhismindishisspirit,thatsomethingwithinhimwhich can engage the supernatural, which under the breath of the Spirit cancome alive and enter into conscious communionwith heaven, can receive thedivinenatureandhearandfeelandseetheineffablewonderthatisGod.When, therefore, an institution dedicated to the growth and development of

thethinkingpersonseeksatthesametimetoturnthisthinkerintoaworshiper,our debt to that institutionbecomes all the greater. Somany schools on everylevelarecontent to train the intellect, forgetting that theyaredealingwithbutpart of theman—an important part certainly, but a part only.Thewise of theworld who have not learned to worship are but demi-men, unformed andrudimentary.Theirfurtherdevelopmentawaitsthelife-givingtouchofChristto

wakethemtospiritualbirthandlifeeternal.Butthethinking,worshipingmanisstillshortofperfectionuntilhebecomes

alsotheworkingman.Inaworldlikeoursthereisandalwayswillbeplentyofimportantworkforthethoughtful,reverentmantodo.Morallytheworldislikea bombed city. The streets are blocked, the buildings lie in ruins and thewoundedandhomelesswaitforthehealingservicesofmenandwomenwhocanhelpthemintheirdistress.Noman can be said to be truly educatedwho cannot relate his intellectual

gifts to creative work. And no work, however sacrificial, will be permanentunlessitisgearedtoeternity.Onlywhatisdoneinaspiritofworshipwilllastforever.Whenthemanbecomesa thinkingmanagreatdealhasbeenaccomplished.

Whenthethinkingmangoesontobecomeaworshipingmanalongerstephasbeen taken toward full and perfect manhood. When the thinking, worshipingmanhasfoundhishandsandhasputhiswholepersonalitytoworkforthehighhonorofGodand theblessingofmankind,somemodestapproachat leasthasbeen made toward Christlikeness and the restoration of the heavenly imageruinedintheFall.

Chapter17

WeNeedSanctifiedThinkers—1

THECHURCHTODAYislanguishingformenwhocanbringtotheproblemsofreligionreverent,courageousmindsintentuponasolution.UnfortunatelyFundamentalismhasneverproducedagreat thinker.Onemay

examine theoutputof the religiouspress since the turnof thecenturyandnotfindasinglebookwrittenbya fundamentalistChristian thatgivesevidenceofany real independent thought.And as for thoseChristian scholarswho,whilethoroughlyorthodox,yetdonotcaretobeclassedwiththefundamentalists,theyhavedonelittlebetter.Let it be understood by everyone that I am now and have always been an

evangelical. I accept the Bible as the very Word of God and believe withcompleteandrestfulconfidence that itcontainsall thingsnecessary to lifeandgodliness.IembracethetenetsofthehistoricChristianfaithwithoutreservationandamconsciousofnospiritualsympathywithLiberalismorModernisminanyoftheirmanifestations.Yet it ismypainfuldutytorecordnotonlythatIhavenot been challenged by the intellectual output of the evangelicals of thisgeneration,butthatIhavefoundevidenceofgenuinereligiousthinkingalmostexclusively on the side of those who for one or another reason are in revoltagainst Fundamentalism. We of the gospel churches have sat quietly by andallowedthoseontheothersidetodoallthethinking.Wehavebeencontenttoechothewordsofothermenandtorepeatreligiousclichesadnauseam.BythisIdonotmeantoassertthattherehavebeennogoodorusefulbooks

produced in gospel circles in the last 50 years.Undoubtedly there have been.Many good doctrinal books have appeared,mainly expositions of the PaulineEpistles. Some excellent devotionalworks have also beenwritten, some goodChristian biographies, a number of fine books on foreign missions, not tomentionawholeraftofbooksonrevival,writtenusuallybypersonswhoneversawarevivalofmorethanlocalproportions.Allthesebookshaveservedsomegood end, no doubt, andwemay in all sincerity be grateful for them; but thetroublewiththemisthattheyarenomorethanrehashesofotherworksthathaveappeared before them. They carry no evidence that they are in any senseoriginal.Theywereput togetheroutof thepiecesborrowedfromothers rather

than born out of the anguish and joy of personal experience. They cost theauthorsnothingbeyondthemechanicallaborofwritingthem.After committing myself to the foregoing sweeping statements I suppose I

should provide myself with an escape hatch in case someone drops a depthchargeinmyvicinity.IadmitthatIamforcedtospeakwithintheframeworkofmyownlimitedexperience,anditcouldbethatsomegreatevangelicalthinkerhasappearedunknowntomeandwrittenamasterpieceofwhichIhavenotyetheard. If this is so, then I am in error. Again, if some of my readers shouldconsider such aman asC.S. Lewis an original thinker, Imight explain that Iwould classify Mr. Lewis as an apologist rather than as a creative religiouswriter. He brings to the defense of historic Christianity a mind as clear assunlight and an amazing ability to make the faith of our fathers appearreasonable.Hisweakness,orrathertheweaknessofhisbooks,liesinanalmosttotal absence of moral urgency. One may read his arguments, admit theirsoundness and remain completely unmoved by the whole thing. In short, hisbooks persuade the intellect but never get the conscience in trouble. For thisreasonC.S.Lewismustremainanapologist;hecanneverbeareformer.While I am inmy spiritual sympathies wholly on the side of the orthodox

Christianfaith,IamneverthelessforcedtoacknowledgethatEvangelicalismasithasbeenheldandtaughtoverthelasthalfcenturyhastendedtoparalyzethecriticalfacultiesanddiscouragevigorousthinking.ModerngospelChristiansareparrots, not eagles, and rather than sail out and up to explore the illimitableranges of the kingdom of God they are content to sit safe on their familiarperchesandrepeatinabrightfalsettoreligiouswordsandphrasesthemeaningofwhichtheyscarcelyunderstandatall.AnothergenerationortwoofthisandwhatisnowEvangelicalismwillbeLiberalism.Nolivingthingcansubsistforlongonitsyesterdays.TheChristiansofthisgenerationmustseeandhearsomethingforthemselves

iftheyaretoescapereligiousstultification.Effetecatchwordscannotsavethem.Meanings are expressed inwords, but it is one of themisfortunes of life thatwordstendtopersistlongaftertheirmeaningshavedeparted,withtheresultthatthoughtlessmenandwomenbelievetheyhavetherealitybecausetheyhavethewordforit.That’swherewearenow,andmayourLorddeliverus.

Chapter18

WeNeedSanctifiedThinkers—2

THECREATIVERELIGIOUSthinkerisnotadaydreamer,notanivorytowerintellectualcarryingonhisloftycogitationsremotefromtheroughworld;heismore likely to be a troubled, burdened man weighed down by the woes ofexistence, occupied not withmatters academic or theoretical but the practicalandpersonal.Thegreatreligiousthinkersofthepastwererarelymenofleisure;mostlythey

weremenofaffairs,closetoandverymuchapartofthetroubledworld.Neitherwill thesanctified thinkerofour timesbeapoetgazingatasunset fromsomequietsecludedspot,butonewhofeelshimselfatravelerlostinawildernesswhomustfindhiswaytosafety.Thatotherswilllaterfollowthepathhemakeswillnot be primary in his thinking. Later hewill understand this, but for the timebeinghewillbeallengagedhuntingthewayoutforhimself.Tothinkwellandusefullyamanmustbeendowedwithcertainindispensable

qualifications.Hemust, for one thing, be completely honest and transparentlysincere.Thetriflerisautomaticallyeliminated.Heisweighedinthebalanceandfound too light to be entrustedwith the thoughts ofGod. Let but a breath oflevityenter themindand thepower todocreative thinking instantlygoesout.AndbylevityIdonotmeanwitorevenhumor;Idomeaninsincerity,sham,theabsence ofmoral seriousnness.Great thoughts require a grave attitude towardlifeandmankindandGod.Another qualification is courage. The timid man dare not think lest he

discoverhimself,anexperiencetohimasshockingasthediscoverythathehascancer.ThesincerethinkercomestohistaskwiththeabandonmentofaSaulofTarsus,crying,“Lord,whatwiltthouhavemetodo?”Thinkingcarriesamoralimperative. The searcher for truth must be ready to obey truth withoutreservationoritwilleludehim.Lethimrefusetofollowthelightandhedoomshimselftodarkness.Thecowardmaybeshrewdorcleverbuthecanneverbeawisethinker,forwisdomisatbottomamoralthingandwillhavenotruckwithevil.Again,theeffectivereligiousthinkermustpossesssomedegreeofknowledge.

AChinesesayinghasit,“Learningwithoutthoughtisasnare; thoughtwithout

learningisadanger.”IhavemetChristianswithsharpmindsbutlimitedoutlookwhosawonetruthand,beingunabletorelateittoothertruths,becamenarrowextremists,devoutlycultivatingtheirtinyplot,naivelybelievingthattheirlittlefenceenclosedthewholeearth.AnacquaintancewithoratleastaperceptionofthesignificanceofwhatKant

called“thestarryheavensaboveandthemorallawwithin”isnecessarytorightthinking.Add to this a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, a good historicsense and some intimate contact with the Christian religion as it is practicedcurrently and you have the rawmaterial for creative thought. Still this is notenoughtomakeathinker.Manisaworshiperandonlyinthespiritofworshipdoeshefindreleasefor

all thepowersofhisamazingintellect.Areligiouswriterhaswarnedusthatitmaybefatalto“trusttothesquirrel-workoftheindustriousbrainratherthantothepiercingvisionofthedesirousheart.”TheGreekchurchfather,Nicephorus,taughtthatweshouldlearntothinkwithourheart.“Forceyourmindtodescendinto theheart,”hesays,“and to remain there…Whenyou thusenter into theplaceof theheartgive thanks toGodand,praisingHismercy,keepalways tothis doing, and it will teach you things which in no other way will you everlearn.”ItisitselfaclichéthattheChristianfaithisfullofapparentself-contradictions

commonlycalledparadoxes.Onesuchparadoxisthenecessitytorepudiateselfand depend wholly upon God while at the same time having completeconfidence in our own ability to receive and know and understand with thefacultiesGodHimselfhasgivenus.Thatbrandofhumilitywhichcausesamanto distrust his own mentality to the point of moral diffidence and chronicirresolutionisbutaweakparodyontherealthing.ItisaseriousreflectionuponthewisdomandgoodnessofGodtoquestionHishandiwork.“Shalltheclaysaytohimthatfashionedit,Whatmakestthou?”(Isaiah45:9,10).Areligiousmentalitycharacterizedbytimidityandlackofmoralcouragehas

givenustodayaflabbyChristianity,intellectuallyimpoverished,dull,repetitiousandtoagreatmanypersonsjustplainboring.ThisispeddledastheveryfaithofourfathersindirectlinealdescentfromChristandtheapostles.Wespoon-feedthisinsipidpablumtoourinquiringyouthand,tomakeitpalatable,spiceitupwith carnal amusements filched from the unbelieving world. It is easier toentertain than to instruct, it is easier to follow degenerate public taste than tothinkforoneself,sotoomanyofourevangelicalleaderslettheirmindsatrophywhiletheykeeptheirfingersnimbleoperatingreligiousgimmickstobringinthe

curiouscrowds.Christianitymustembrace the totalpersonalityandcommandeveryatomof

theredeemedbeing.WecannotwithholdourintellectsfromtheblazingaltarandstillhopetopreservethetruefaithofChrist.

Chapter19

TruthIsaGreatTreasure

TOKNOWTHETRUTH is the greatest privilege anyman can enjoy in thislife,astruthitselfiswithoutdoubttherichesttreasureanyonecanpossess.Thisfollowsfromthenatureoftruth,andfromtheworld-outlastingdowryit

bringstothosewhoopentheirheartstoit.Apartfromtruthourhumanliveswouldlosealltheirvalue,andweourselves

becomenobetterthanthebeaststhatperish.Ourresponsetotruthshouldbeeagerandinstant.Wedarenotdallywithit;

wedarenottreatitassomethingwecanobeyornotobey,atourpleasure.Itisaglorious friend, but it is nevertheless a hard master, exacting unquestioningobedience.Whilealifelivedinconformitywiththetruthwillcomeatlasttoagoodand

peaceful end, candor requires us to admit that the lover of truth will have toenduremanyaheartache,manyasorrowashejourneysthroughthewilderness.Thisisthepricetheworldmakeshimpayforthepricelessprivilegeofobeyingthetruth.Theworldbeingwhatitis,truthmustcarryitsownforfeit.Theservantoftruthwillbepenalizedforhisdevotion.Sogoestheworldalway.Anymanwhowould escape the heavy taxwhich humankind lays upon the

righteousmustmakeasatisfactorycompromisewitherror.Thisissobecausesinhaspervertedthenatureofthings.“Hethatdepartethfromevilmakethhimselfaprey”isastruenowaswhenitwasfirstuttered.Littleasweliketoadmitit,twothousandyearsofChristianityhavenotmademuchdifference.ThehumanraceisstillcursedwithwhatBaconcalled“anatural thoughcorrupt loveof the lieitself.”Neverthelessthehazardsoftruthshouldnotcountinourfinaltally.Truthis

such a royal patron that we should embrace it without regard to cost. Thecautiouscalculator,whotinkerswithtruthforfearofconsequences,isnoworthyservantofsuchanoblemaster.WeChristiansaboveallpeopleshouldvaluetruth,forweprofesstobelongto

the One who is the Truth. The Stoics who had no access to the Scripturesneverthelesshadanobleconceptoftruthandofman’sresponsibilitytoit.Whenon trial for his life before a hostile and prejudiced court one of them told his

accusers:“Amanwhoisgoodforanythingoughtnottocalculatethechanceoflivingordying;heoughtonlytoconsiderwhetherindoinganythingheisdoingrightorwrong—actingthepartofagoodmanorabad.”ThetruefollowerofChristwillnotask,“IfIembracethistruth,whatwillit

costme?”Ratherhewillsay,“Thisistruth,Godhelpmetowalkinit,letcomewhatmay!”

Chapter20

TheBlessednessoftheFixedHeart

ITWILL PROBABLY be found at last that there is no sin except sin of themind.ItisthecarnalmindthatisenmityagainstGod,thatisnotsubjecttothelaw

ofGod,neithercanbe.Itshould,however,berememberedthatwhentheBiblespeaksoftheminditdoesnotrefertotheintellectalone.Thewholepersonalityis included in the concept; the bent of the will, the moral responses, thesympathiesandantipathiesaretherealso,aswellastheintellect.WhenGodsawthewickednessofman,thatitwasgreatintheearth,Hesaw

whatcouldnotbeseenfromtheoutside,that,asitisrenderedinoneplace,“thewhole imagination, with the purposes and desires of the heart” was only evilcontinually(Genesis6:5).Fromthispassagealonewemayproperlygatherthatsinhasitsseatdeepwithinthemindwhereitpollutestheemotions(desires),theintellect(imaginations)andthewill(purposes).ThesetakentogetherconstitutewhattheBibleandpopulartheologycalltheheart.ItissignificantthatwhenourLorddescribesthestreamofiniquityasitflows

outoftheheartHebeginswiththethoughts.“Foroutoftheheartproceedevilthoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies”(Matthew15:19). It isdoubtfulwhetheranysin isevercommitteduntil it firstincubatesinthethoughtslongenoughtostirthefeelingsandpredisposethewilltoward it favorably. Even the sudden flash of anger, which of all sins wouldappearonthesurfacetohavethelowestmentalcontent,isanythingbutasuddeneruption of the emotions. The “quicktempered” man is one who habituallybroodsoverwrongsandinsultsandthusconditionshimselfforthesuddenfitoftemperthatseemstohavenomentalorigin.Theheartthathashadthebenefitofbroad,sanethinkingonmoralquestions,especiallylongmeditationuponman’ssin,God’smercy and the goodness ofChrist in dying forHis enemies, is notconditionedtoblowupwhenoccasionarises.Theworstreactiontoanaffrontoraninjusticewillbeannoyanceormildirritation,neveraburstofsinfulanger.TheOldTestamenttellshowthewickedmanliesinhisbedthinkingoutways

todoevilandwhenthemorningcomescarriesouttheplanshehasmadeduringthenight“becauseitisinthepowerof(his)hand.”Andthepsalmistexhortsus,

“Standinawe,andsinnot:communewithyourownheartuponyourbed,andbestill” (Psalm 4:4). What can this mean but that moral conduct, good or bad,originatesdeepwithin themind?The thoughtsdwelluponanactor courseofactionwithinterestandconsent;thisstirstheaffectionswhichinturntriggeroffthewilltotheactundercontemplation.Thesinthatfollowsmaybesobase,sophysical, so obviously “of the flesh” that no onewould dream it began as anundisciplinedthoughtintheheart.Therichfool“thoughtwithinhimself”andasaresulttookacoursethatcosthimhissoul(Luke12:16-21).Allour acts arebornoutofourmindsandwillbewhat themind is at last.

ThisisclearlytaughtintheWord:“Keepthyheartwithalldiligence;foroutofitaretheissuesoflife.”Evenrepentancemustbeginwithdeepreverentthought.Davidsaid,“Ithoughtonmyways,andturnedmystepsuntothypaths”(Psalm119:59),andit isplainthattheprodigalsonthoughtthingsoververyseriouslybeforehe couldget the consent of hiswill to humblehimself and say, “Iwillariseandgotomyfather,andwillsayuntohim,Father, Ihavesinned”(Luke15:11-32).It issomethingofahappyparadox thatwhile the thoughtsdeeplyaffect the

willandgofartodetermineitschoices,thewillontheotherhandhasthepowerto control the thoughts. A will firmly engaged with God can swing theintellectualpowersaroundtothinkonholythings.Wereitnotso,Paul’swordsto the Philippians would be psychologically untenable: “Finally, brethren,whatsoeverthingsaretrue,whatsoeverthingsarehonest,whatsoeverthingsarejust,whatsoeverthingsarepure,whatsoeverthingsarelovely,whatsoeverthingsare of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think onthesethings”(Philippians4:8).Sinceweareherecommandedtothinkoncertainthings it follows that we can command our thoughts; and if we can pick theobjectsuponwhichtomeditatewecanintheendswayourwholeinnerlifeinthedirectionofrighteousness.ItismuchmoreimportantthatwethinkgodlythoughtsandwilltodoGod’s

willthanthatwefeel“spiritual.”Religiousfeelingsmayanddovarysogreatlyfrompersontoperson,oreveninthesamepersontheymayvarysowidelyfromonetimetothenext,thatitisneversafetotrustthem.Letusbyadeterminedactof faith set our affections on things above and God will see to the rest. Thesafest,andafterawhilethehappiest,manistheonewhocansay,“Myheartisfixed,trustingintheLord.”

Chapter21

HowtheLordLeads

ONE OF THE problems most frequently encountered by serious-mindedChristiansishowtodiscoverthewillofGodinagivensituation.This is not a smallmatter.To countless thousandsofChristians it is vitally

important. Their peace of heart depends upon knowing that God is actuallyguiding them, and their failure to be sure that He is destroys their inwardtranquillityandfillsthemwithuncertaintyandfear.Theymustgethelpiftheyaretoregaintheirconfidence.Hereisamodestefforttoprovidesomehelp.First,itisabsolutelyessentialthatwebecompletelydedicatedtoGod’shigh

honor and surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God will not lead usexcept for His own glory and He cannot lead us if we resist His will. Theshepherdcannotleadastubbornsheep.TheevilpracticeofusingGodmustbeabandoned.InsteadoftryingtoemployGodtoachieveourendswemustsubmitourselves joyously to God and let Him work through us to achieve His ownends.Now,grantedthatwearewhollycommittedtoGodwitheveryfull intent to

obeyHim,wemayexpectactuallytobeledbyHim.TheScripturesthatteachthisaresomanythatonescarcelyknowswheretobeginquoting.Itonlyremainsforustobelievetheymeanwhattheysay.ThemanychoicesthatweChristiansmustmakefromdaytodayinvolveonly

four kinds of things: Those concerning which God has said an emphatic no;thoseaboutwhichHehassaidanequallyemphaticyes;thoseconcerningwhichHewantsus toconsultourownsanctifiedpreferences;and those fewandraremattersaboutwhichwecannotacquireenoughinformationtopermitustomakeintelligent decisions and which for that reason require some special guidancefromtheLordtopreventusfrommakingseriousmistakes.Regardless of what our “positive thinkers” have said, the Scriptures have

muchtosayaboutthingsChristiansarenottodo.Everycalltorepentanceisacalltonegativeaswellastopositivemoralaction.“Ceasetodoevil;learntodowell”isafairepitomeofthemoralteachingoftheBible.Put this down as an unfailing rule: Never seek the leading of the Lord

concerninganact that isforbiddenintheWordofGod.Todosois toconvict

ourselvesofinsincerity.Again,prophet,psalmist,apostleandourblessedLordHimself join topoint

outthewayofpositiveobedience.Hisyokeiseasy,HisburdenislightandHegivethmoregrace,soletthisbethesecondrule:NeverseektheleadingoftheLordconcerninganactthathasbeencommandedintheScriptures.Now,ahappytruthtoooftenoverlookedinouranxioussearchforthewillof

GodisthatinthemajorityofdecisionstouchingourearthlylivesGodexpressesnochoice,but leaveseverything toourownpreference.SomeChristianswalkunderacloudofuncertainty,worryingaboutwhichprofessiontheyshouldenter,whichcartheyshoulddrive,whichschooltheyshouldattend,wheretheyshouldliveandadozenor scoreofother suchmatters,when theirLordhas set themfreetofollowtheirownpersonalbent,guidedonlybytheirloveforHimandfortheirfellowmen.OnthesurfaceitappearsmorespiritualtoseekGod’sleadingthanjusttogo

aheadanddo theobvious thing.But it isnot. IfGodgaveyouawatchwouldyou honorHimmore by askingHim for the time of day or by consulting thewatch? IfGod gave a sailor a compasswould the sailor pleaseGodmore bykneelinginafrenzyofprayertopersuadeGodtoshowhimwhichwaytogoorbysteeringaccordingtothecompass?Except for those things that are specifically commanded or forbidden, it is

God’swillthatwebefreetoexerciseourownintelligentchoice.Theshepherdwillleadthesheepbuthedoesnotwishtodecidewhichtuftofgrassthesheepshallnibbleeachmomentoftheday.InalmosteverythingtouchingourcommonlifeonearthGodispleasedwhenwearepleased.Hewillsthatwebeasfreeasbirds tosoarandsingourMaker’spraisewithoutanxiety.God’schoiceforusmaynotbeonebutanyoneofascoreofpossiblechoices.ThemanorwomanwhoiswhollyandjoyouslysurrenderedtoChristcannotmakeawrongchoice.Anychoicewillbetherightone.Butwhataboutthoseraretimeswhenagreatdealisatstake,wecandiscover

noclearscripturalinstructionandyetareforcedtochoosebetweentwopossiblecourses?InsuchasituationwehaveGod’sfaithfulpromisetoguideusaright.Here,forinstance,aretwopassagesfromtheWordoftheLord:“Ifanyofyoulackwisdom,lethimaskofGod,thatgivethtoallmenliberally,andupbraidethnot;anditshallbegivenhim.Butlethimaskinfaith,nothingwavering”(James1:5,6). “Thus saith the Lord, thyRedeemer, theHolyOne of Israel; I am theLordthyGodwhichteacheththeetoprofit,whichleadeththeebythewaythatthoushouldestgo”(Isaiah48:17).

TakeyourproblemtotheLord.RemindHimofthesepromises.Thengetupanddowhatlooksbesttoyou.Eitherchoicewillberight.Godwillnotpermityoutomakeamistake.

Chapter22

OurBusinessIsGod

IF WE COULD bring together in one huge directory a list of all theorganizations,greatandsmall,thatexistthroughouttheearthforthepromotionofspecialinterestswewouldbeastoundedatthenumberofthem.Almost everything that human beings do or can do has its organization,

association, society or guild to focus attention upon it and promote its ends.Someof thesearegood,somearebad,mostof themare justneutral;buteachone,howeverboringorcomical itmayappear to thosewhoarenot interested,has its starry-eyeddevoteeswho live for italoneandwhoderive theirkeenestpleasurefromtheirpreoccupationwithit.Inthemidstofallthisthereisonegroupofpersonswhoseabsorbinginterest

is,orshouldbe,God.ThatgroupistheChurch.TheChurchisbornoutofthegospelandthatgospelhastodowithGodand

man’s relation to God. Christianity engages to bring God into human life, tomakemenrightwithGod,togivethemaheartknowledgeofGod,toteachthemtoloveandobeyGodandultimatelytorestoreinthemthelostimageofGodinfullandeverlastingperfection.Our Lord, in defining eternal life, summed up the supreme goal of human

existence: “That they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,whomthouhast sent.”AndPaul revealed theoneoverpowering interestofhislifewhenhewrote“ThatImayknowhim.”The business of theChurch isGod. She is purestwhenmost engagedwith

Godandshe is astray just so far as she followsother interests,nomatterhow“religious”orhumanitariantheymaybe.There are a thousand useful, even noble, pursuits inwhich theChurchmay

engage and which may bring her the plaudits of the world but which areneverthelessunworthyofherutterdevotion.Sucharesocialactivities for theirown sake, philosophical pursuits divorced fromHim inwhomallwisdomandknowledgeishiddenaway,art,music,education,travel,tonameamerefew.AsthesethingscometotheChristianinhispursuitofGodtheymayhaveaproperandusefulplaceinhislife;butwhentheyarechosenasendstobefollowedtheyareandcanonlybecheapsubstitutesfortheglorythatexcelleth.

For choosing God as our one all-absorbing interest we Christians aresometimes scorned or written off as hopelessly narrow-minded. But must weapologize?Mustweapologize thatwehavechosenChrist asour career?Thatwe deliberately will to walk with those who walk with God? That we havechosen eternity over time and heaven over earth?Mustwe apologize that wehavechosen toseekgoodandnotevilall thedaysofour lives?Thatwehavechosensotolivethatwedaretodie?Insochoosingwhomhavewe injured?Whosesonordaughter is theworse

forknowingus?Whosehousehavewerobbedorwhosemoneyhavewestolen?Whomhaveweledintocrime?WhoisaworsehusbandorfatherorcitizenforfollowingourSavior?IfwehavewrongedanyoneitisinspiteofourChristianfaith,notbecauseofit.Noman,nohome,nonationistheworseforthepresenceofarealChristian.GerhardTersteegen,thesaintlysilkweaver,saiditforusinadelightfullittle

bitofverse:

ChildoftheEternalFather,BrideoftheEternalSon,DwellingplaceofGodtheSpirit,ThuswithChristmadeeverone;Doweredwithjoybeyondtheangels,NearesttoHisthrone,TheytheministersattendingHisbelovedone:Grantedallmyheart’sdesire,Allthingsmademyown;Fearedbyallthepowersofevil,FearingGodalone;WalkingwiththeLordingloryThroughthecourtsdivine,Queenwithintheroyalpalace,Christforevermine:Say,poorworldling,canitbeThatmyheartshouldenvythee?

Chapter23

WeMustDependupontheHolySpirit

BECAUSEWEAREthekindofpersonsweareandbecauseweliveinaworldsuch as we do, the shepherd of souls is often forced to work at what wouldappeartobecrosspurposeswithhimself.For instance, hemust encourage the timid andwarn the self-confident; and

these may at any given time be present in his congregation in almost equalnumbers.Hiseffort toencourage thosewhoneedencouragementmayactuallyconfirmpresumptuoussoulsintheircarelessness.Conversely,hismuchneededwarnings and reproofs may drive timorous and doubting Christians to thebordersofdespair.AnotherproblemhefacesisthepresenceinthenormalChristianassemblyof

believersineverystageofdevelopment,fromthenewlyconvertedwhoknowsalmost nothing about the Christian life to the wise and experienced Christianwhoseemstoknowalmosteverything.Again, theChristianministermusthaveawordfromGodfor the teen-aged,

themiddle-agedandtheveryaged.Hemustspeaktothescholaraswellastotheignorant;hemustbringthelivingWordtotheculturedmanandwomanandtothevulgarianwhoreadsnothingbutthesportspageandthecomicstrip.Hemustspeaktothesadandtothehappy,tothetender-mindedandtothetough-minded,tothoseeagertoliveandtosomewhosecretlywishtheycoulddie.Andhemustdo this all in one sermon and in a period of time not exceeding 45 minutes.Surely this requires a Daniel, and Daniels are as scarce in the United StatestodayasinBabylonin600B.C.Toaddtothepastor’sburdenistheknowledgethatineachservicetherewill

likelybeafewlostsonswhoshouldcomehome,somewhoneverlovedGodatalland“somewholostthelovetheyhad.”Sohemustcallsinnerstorepentance,warntheunruly,comfortthefeebleminded,instruct,reprove,rebuke,encourage,consoleandexhortallatthesametime,oratleastonthesameday.Thisisthesituationstatedbaldly,butitisnotactuallyasdifficultasitlooks.I

saidthat thepreacherappears tobeatcrosspurposeswithhimself;but it is inappearance only, forwhat seems to be confusion is but the seamy side of thetapestry.Theartisticpatternisontheotherside.

Theman ofGodmay labor on in complete trust and in full expectation ofsuccess,providedheisawareofafewbasictruths.Oneisthathoweverdifferentpeoplemaybeinexternals,theyareallalikefundamentally.ThatinustowhichtheChristianmessageisdirectedisthesameineveryhumanbeing.Before the cross of Jesus we are not old or young, educated or ignorant,

culturedoruncouth,dullorbrilliant;wearejustpeople—humanbeingslostandruineddeepinsidewhereincidentaldifferencesdonotmatter,whereindeedtheyarenot evenknown.Asgold is goldwhether it ismixedwith the sandof thestreamorwroughtintoanexquisiteworkofartbythehandofaCellini,sotheessentialstuffofhumannatureisthesameunderwhateverconditionsitmaybefound.Thataboutuswhichyields itself tosocialdifferentiation, isnot thatforwhichChrist died.He did not, for example, die for doctors, farmers, authors,laborers, artists, engineers, professors, vagrants, presidents, musicians,lumbermen;Hediedfor losthumanity,andanyonecanreceivethebenefitsofHisatonement,butonlyaslostbeings.Color,race,socialstandings,occupation,culturallevelsdonotcount,fortheydonotalterthebasichumanthingforwhichHisbloodwasshed.BecausetheinnerlostnessisthesameinallhumanbeingstheworkofGodto

reclaim them must be the same in all. And the Spirit broods over all,illuminating, revealing, convicting, enabling them to hear and see andunderstand.Itisoneofthewondersanddelightsofpreachingthatthesamemessagewill

oftenaffectpeopledifferently,producinginonerepentance,inanotherhope,instillotherscourage,humilityorfaith,accordingastheparticularsoulhasneed.Withoutthismighty,skillfulworkingoftheSpirit,preachingwouldbefutile;

with it the ministry of the Word can be easy and delightful as well asmarvelouslyeffective.

Chapter24

BewaretheProphetsofTranquillity

OVERTHEYEARS Ihave reador thumbed through agreatmanybooksonhowtoconquerfear.Thecultofrelaxationhas,infact,quitetakenovercertainareasofthereligiousthinkingoftheday.Ofcoursethefear-notcultistsareabletoassemblealotofScripturetosupport

their teaching, but the catch is that practically all of it is misunderstood ormisapplied.Itjustdoesn’tmeanwhattheysayitdoes,andwhatisstillworse,itisn’taddressedtothepeopletheytrytoapplyitto.Thefear-notphilosophersallbeginwiththesameerror;namely,thatthereis

nothingtofear,andallweneedtodotogetdeliveranceistobelieveit.Toteachpeople living in aworld likeours that there isnothing tobeafraidof is tobeguiltyofgrossirresponsibility,andanyteacherwhodoessodisqualifieshimselfinstantlyandproveshimselfunworthyoftheconfidenceofserious-mindedmen.BoththeBibleandhumanexperienceteachthattheworldisfullofenemiesto

mankind, not the least of those dangers beingman himself.OurLord said, “Iwillforewarnyouwhomyoushallfear:Fearhim,whichafterhehathkilledhathpowertocastintoHell;yea,Isayuntoyou,Fearhim.”Asinfulmanshouldbeafraid;hehasplentytobeafraidof.Theconsequences

ofhissins,death,judgmentandhellareallawaitinghimandhecannotescapethem by looking the other way.While he lives on earth there are dangers ofeverykindfacinghimandeveryoneheloves.Anyreligiousteacherthatexhortshimtoignoretheseclangersisunrealistic,falsetothefactsandadeadlyenemytohissoul.Theprophetoftranquillityisindeedanothersourceofdangertohimandshouldbeconsideredonemoreobjectoffear.Where there are mortal perils and no place to hide, fear is the only sane

reaction.Todismiss fearwhile thedanger still exists is little shortof insanity.Until the danger has been removed, fear should remain. Only thatman has aright tobeunafraidwhohas fled for refuge to themightySavior.Suchamanknowsthedangeristhere,buthealsoknowsthathisAlmightyLordwillbringhimsafelythroughandpresenthimatlastfaultlessbeforethepresenceofGod.There are in the Scriptures innumerable exhortations to put away fear; but

theyarealladdressedtoGod’sownchildren,nevertothechildrenofthisworld.

Someonemustcare,andifamanhasnotcasthisfearsonChrist,hemustbearthemhimself.ThesafetyoftheRockisforthosewhohaveputtheirtrustintheRock.Allothersmustfacetheirenemiesalone.

Chapter25

ChristIsAllWeNeed

ONETHINGTHEYOUNGChristianshouldbe taughtasquicklyaspossibleafter his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs. When he believeseffectively on Christ as his Lord and Savior he can humbly declare hisindependenceofeveryoneandeverythingoutsideofChrist.This the New Testament teaches with great emphasis and clarity and with

fullnessofdetail.Weneednotquoteanyprooftextinsupportofthisstatement,but suggest simply that the inquirer read the Scriptures to see for himself,especiallyJohn,Ephesians,ColossiansandHebrews.Onemarkedcharacteristicofmodernevangelicalismis its lackofassurance,

resultinginapatheticsearchforexternalevidencetocorroborateitsfaith.ItsetsoutbravelytodeclareitstrustinChrist,butisshortlyoverawedbythecounterdeclarationsof science andphilosophyandbefore long it is lookinghesitantlyaboutforsomecollateralevidencetorestoreitsconfidence.OurfranticandfutileefforttoharmonizethetruthofChristwithpsychology,

philosophy and science is proof enough of a deep incertitude among usconcerningthesufficiencyofChrist. It isa tragicomicsight toseeourmodernapostles licking the palm of anyman of learningwhowill condescend to saysomething complimentary about Jesus Christ. How eagerlywe rush into printwith any quotation from the lips of the Great Man of the world that can betorturedintoanadmissionthathebelievesthatJesusistheSonofGod.TheNewTestament points toChrist and saysGodnow commands allmen

everywheretorepent:becauseHehasappointedaday, inwhichHewill judgetheworldinrighteousnessbythatManwhomHehasordained;whereofHehasgiven assurance unto allmen, in that He has raisedHim from the dead. GodvalidatedforevertheclaimsofChrist.HeiswhoHesaidHewasandwhatHesaidHewas.Christ stands before noman to be judged, but everyman standsbeforeHim.AnyuncertaintyaboutHimwassweptawayforeverwhenHearosefromthedead,ascendedintoheavenandsentdowntheHolySpiritasHisfinalwitnessamongmen.NowitmaybesaidthatChristastheSecondPersonoftheGodheadisself-validating.Heneedsnosupplementarywitnessfromtheworldofnatureorfromtheraceofmen.HeisHisownwitness.

ThefaithoftheChristianrestsuponChristHimself.OnHimwereposeandinHimwe live.Christ gains nothing fromany humanphilosophy, however pureandnobleitmaybe.HeowesnothingtoPlatoortoAristotle.Ifthesemenhadnever lived theChrist inwhom dwells all the fullness of theGodhead bodilywouldhavebeenallHeeverwasandisworldwithoutend.Hisredemptiveworkwascompletedcenturiesbeforethedawnofmodernscience,andofcourseseeksnoaidfromscience.Christisuniqueintheonlysensethatwordwillbear.Heisthemystery ofGodliness, amiracle, an emergence of theDeity into time andspaceforareasonandapurpose.HeiscompleteinHimself.BecauseweChristiansliveontwolife-levelssimultaneously,thespiritualand

the natural,we do, as sons ofAdam, owe to philosophy and science a lastingdebtofgratitude.Music,literature,art,statecraft,economics,learningcontributeto ourwelfare andmake theworld amore comfortable place inwhich to livewhilewewaitforthemanifestationofthesonsofGodandtheredemptionofourbodies.Soitisgoodthatwegainalltheknowledgewecanintheshorttimethatisours.Whateverwe learn that is truewill remainour treasuredpossession intheworld tocome.For thesereasonsIbelieve ineducation,asfullaspossibleforasmanyaspossibleasquicklyaspossible.That isone thing. It isquiteanother to try toequate thefaithofChristwith

philosophy or science or any other or all of the products of superior humanminds. And to make that faith dependent upon these things is in the light ofChrist’sdeitynotonlypreposterousbutnear to sacrilegious.Christ is enough.TohaveHimandnothingelseistoberichbeyondconceiving.TohaveallelseandhavenotChrist is tobeacosmicpauper,cutoff foreverfromall thatwillmatteratlast.The apostle said itwell: “But of himareye inChrist Jesus,whoofGod is

made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:that, according as it iswritten,He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord” (1Corinthians1:30-31).

Chapter26

WeNeedtoElevateOurSights

THEREAREFEWthingsasfrustratingas toworkwithoutknowingwhatwearetryingtoaccomplish;thatis,tobelostinthemeansandignorantoftheend.Examplesofthisarefoundin“parts”factorieswheremenspendyearsmaking

small articles that have no significance in themselves and can have satisfyingmeaningonlywhenrelatedtohundredsofotheranddissimilararticlesandtothecompletedobjectofwhicheachoneisasmallpart.Sincethehumanmindisdesignedtodealwithendsandwholes,thisenforced

preoccupationwith parts andmeans is particularly disconcerting. The urge toplanand tocreateaccording toplan is strong inus,andwefeel fenced inanddefeatedwhenwearecompelledtospendourdaysintoilthatattainsnovisibleobjective.Itisthisratherthantheworkitselfthatmakessomanyjobsdullandboresome.I havewonderedwhether the flat tedium found inmost churches cannot be

explained at least in part as the psychological consequence of numbers ofpersonsmeeting togetheratstated timeswithoutquiteknowingwhy theyhavemet.Mostpeoplesimplydonotliketogotochurchandwillnotgoiftheycanescapetheordealdecently;andmillionscananddo.It would be too easy to dismiss this dislike for church as only another

symptom of original sin and love of moral darkness, but I believe thatexplanation is too pat to be wholly true. It doesn’t explain enough. Somepersons, for instance, find church intolerable because there is no objectivetowardwhichpastorandpeoplearemoving,asidepossiblyfromthelimitedoneof tryingtoenlisteightmorewomenand10morementochaperontheannualyouthcookoutor reaching thebuilding fundquota for themonth.Andbelieveme,thatcangetmightywearisomeafterawhile,sowearisomeindeedthatalert,forward-looking persons often forsake the churches in droves and leave thespiritless,thedullandthoseafflictedwithpermanentinsouciancetocarryon,ifaphrasesoactivedarebeusedtodescribewhattheydo.ToPaultherewasnothingdullortiresomeinthereligionofChrist.Godhada

plan which was being carried forward to completion, and Paul and “all thefaithful in Christ Jesus” were part of that plan. It included predestination,

redemption,adoptionandtheobtainingofaneternalinheritanceintheheavenlyplaces.God’spurposehasnowbeenopenlyrevealed(Ephesians3:10,11).It was the knowledge that they were part of an eternal plan that imparted

unquenchableenthusiasmtotheearlyChristians.TheyburnedwithholyzealforChrist and felt that theywere part of an armywhich theLordwas leading toultimateconquestoverallthepowersofdarkness.Thatwasenoughtofillthemwithperpetualenthusiasm.It is one of the anomalies of religion in our day that the orthodox churches

appeartohavelosttheircrusadingspirit(obviouslyforwantofacrusade),andtheenthusiasmtheyoncehadandlosthasgoneover toafalsereligionandanevilpoliticalsystem.IreferofcoursetoRussellismandCommunism.Communismisanevil,butitdrivesontowardworlddominationforthevery

reason that itsdevoteesareconvinced that it isdestined todominate. It is thisconvictionthatmakesCommunistsallbutinvincible.Anyactoneofthemmayperformforthecausecarriesanemotionalwarhead:itisthefixedbeliefthathisactispartofahighplanthatmorethanjustifiesit.Russellism (now traveling under the alias of Jehovah’s Witnesses) is also

motivatedbyaclearpurpose.Itsfollowerstalkwithstarry-eyedfervoraboutthe“Kingdom” and, however far they may have strayed from the truth, they areneverthelessconvincedthattheyaresonsofanewworldordersoontoemerge.Tothemthisneworderiscompletelyrealandintheirenthusiasmtheycarelittlehowmanypersonstheyoffendorhowmanyenemiestheymake.Inthelightoftheir glorious future nothing else matters. So they believe and their belief,thoughfalse,furnishesallthedrivetheyneed.TheevangelicalChristianneedmakenoapologyforhisbeliefs.Theyare in

direct linealdescent from thoseof theapostles.Hecancheck the tenetsofhistotal creed against the life-giving, transforming beliefs of church fathers bothEastandWest,reformers,mystics,missionaries,saintsandevangelists,andtheywillcheckoutonebyone.ThenlethimcheckthemallwiththeHolyScripturesandagaintheywillprovetobesound.Whatthenisthetrouble?Whytheinertia,thetorporthatliesoverthechurch?Theanswer is thatweare toocomfortable, toorich, toocontented.Wehold

the faithofour fathers,but itdoesnotholdus.Wearesuffering fromjudicialblindness visited upon us because of our sins. To us has been committed themost preciousof all treasures, butwe arenot committed to it.We insist uponmakingourreligionaformofamusementandwillhavefunwhetherornot.Weareafflictedwithreligiousmyopiaandseeonlythingsnearathand.

God has set eternity in our hearts and we have chosen time instead. He istryingtointerestusinaglorioustomorrowandwearesettlingforaninglorioustoday. We are bogged down in local interests and have lost sight of eternalpurposes. We improvise and muddle along, hoping for heaven at last butshowingnoeagerness toget there,correct indoctrinebutwearyofprayerandboredwithGod.

Chapter27

TheSovereigntyofTruth—1

ALMOST EVERYWHERE it is assumed that people are seeking truth, thatsocietyisliterallyswarmingwithdedicatedtruthseekers.Colleges and universities are forever releasing promotional material with

picturesof strongyoungmenandbeautifulgirlswalking sideby side into thesunrise with rays of ethereal light illuminating their upturned faces; the ideabeing, onewould gather, that thosewho enter our halls of higher learning areoneandallburningwithdesiretowalkinthewayofphilosophersandsages,ifnot indeed in theway of prophets and apostles, or even ofmartyrs ifGod sowills.Thisfallacyisobviouslymaintainedbyoureducatorsforthetimethestudent

remains within the ivied walls, for the baccalaureate orator chosen to do thehonorsatgraduationisalmostalwaysonewhowillgoalongwith thepleasantdeceptionandassuretheinnocentgraduatethatafteryearsofsearchingfor thefountainofallwisdomhehasatlastfounditandisnowpreparedtogooutalongwithhisfellowgraduatesto“buildabetterandafinerworld.”Why this kind of pablum is swallowed so eagerly by the outgoing students

and by their smiling andmisty-eyed parents can be understood onlywhenwerememberthatpeopleliketohearwhattheywanttohearandatatimelikethatthey arenotwilling to spoil thepleasureof it by checkingon the accuracyofanythingtheyaretold.Thefactisthatmenhaveneverinanynumberssoughtaftertruth.Ifwemay

judgepeople’sinterestsbytheirdeeds,thenoftheyoungmenandwomenwhostreamforthfromourhallsoflearningeachyearthevastmajorityhavenomorethanapassingandacademicinterestintruth.Theygotocollegenottosatisfyayearningtodiscovertruth,buttoimprovetheirsocialstandingandincreasetheirearningpower.Thesemotivesarenotnecessarilytobedespised;buttheyshouldbeknown forwhat they are, andnot hiddenbeneath a pink cloudof speciousidealism.What are people actually seeking? Of course they seek satisfaction for the

basic urges such as hunger, sex and social companionship; but beyond thesewhat?Certainlyfornothingashighandnobleastruth.

AsktheaverageAmericanwhathewantsfromlifeandifheiscandidhewilltellyouhewantssuccessinhischosenfield;andhewantssuccessbothfortheprestigeitbringshimandforthefinancialsecurityitaffords.Andwhydoeshewantfinancialsecurity?Toguaranteehimagainstthelossofcomforts,luxuriesand pleasures, which he believes are rightfully his as a part of his Americanheritage. The ominous thing about all this is that everything he wants can beboughtwithmoney.Itwouldbehardtothinkofanindictmentmoreterriblethanthat.The notion that the world is full of truth seekers becomes stronger as we

approach the church and mingle with religious persons. The liberal andhumanistic churches bear down especially hard on this point, their ministersconstantlyflatteringtheirlistenersthattheyareengagedinaheroicquestforthetruth.Thatafewhundredpersonswillgatherinanair-conditionedbuildingonceaweektositoncushionedpewsandlistentogoodmusicappearstobeenoughtosatisfy the tooeasilysatisfiedminister thathiscongregation iscomposedofcrusadersofthefirstwater.Eithertoavoidembarrassmentorbecauseheisnotsureofhisownbeliefsthe

said liberal minister is usually careful to avoid definitions, so no one knowsexactlywhatitisheissupposedtobelookingfor.Butitgivesatremendouslifttoaman’sself-respecttothinkofhimself,ifonlybrieflyandonceaweek,asalofty idealist searching for truth, a kindof cosmicprospector digging for goldamongthehillsofGod.Ifhiswifefailstorecognizehimbythatdescriptionitreallydoesn’tmatter, fornoone takes thewhole thingvery seriouslyanyway.Butitisarelieffromthegrindofbusiness,trafficandtaxes.Theworld is full of seekers, true enough, and they gravitate quite naturally

towardthechurch.Seekersafterpeaceofmindareplentifulenoughtokeeptheprinting presses busy; seekers after physical health are always with us insufficient numbers tomakeour leading faith healers comfortably rich; seekersafter success and safety are legion, as our popular religious leaders know toowell.But realseekersafter trutharealmostas rareasalbinodeer.Andhere iswhy:Truth is agloriousbuthardmaster. Itmakesmoraldemandsuponus. Itclaimsthesovereignrighttocontrolus,tostripus,eventoslayusasitchooses.Truthwillneverstooptobeaservantbutrequiresthatallmenserveit.Itneverflattersmen andnever compromiseswith them. It demands all or nothing andrefuses to be used or patronized. It will be all in all or it will withdraw intosilence.ItwasChristwhocapitalizedtruthandrevealedthat itwasnotan“it”atall

butaBeingwithalltheattributesofpersonality.“IamtheTruth,”Hesaid,andfollowedtruthstraighttothecross.ThetruthseekermustfollowHimthere;andthatisthereasonfewmenseek

truth.

Chapter28

TheSovereigntyofTruth—2

ITISBORNineverymantowanttodramatizehislifeandtocasthimselfasthestaroftheperformance.Onceletamanbecomepersuadedthatheisaheroinquestoftheholygrailof

truthandhebecomesavictimofaprettyandpleasantdelusionthatinflateshisegoandblindshimtotheverytruthheclaimstoseek.Andifheislaterforcedtoadmitthathehasnotfounditheabsolveshimselffromallguilt,forhashenotsearched?Hashenothuntedthroughtheyearsfortheprecioustreasure?Whereisthestonehehasleftunturned?Wherehashenotdrilledordiggedamongthephilosophiesandreligionsoftheworld?Whythenhashenotfound?Tohimtherecanbeonlyoneanswer:TheSpiritandWisdomoftheuniverse

has lethimdown.ThegreatOversoulhaswithheld thesecretfromhim.Sohetellshimselfandinwoundeddignitywalksstifflyintothesunsetconvincedthathehasbeendeeplywrongedinhisefforttodiscoverlife’ssummumbonum.Hisisa tragedyworthyofAeschylusandhehimselfgrand in failureandnoble indefeat.Disillusioning people is a thankless task and quite plainly does not come

under the category of making friends and thinking positively. Nevertheless itmust be done if we are to rescue lost men from the consequences of theirdelusions.So letmesayboldly that it isnot thedifficultyofdiscovering truthbuttheunwillingnesstoobeyitthatmakesitsorareamongmen.OurLordsaid,“IamtheTruth,”andagainHesaid,“TheSonofmaniscome

toseekandtosavethatwhichwaslost.”Truththereforeisnothardtofindforthe very reason that it is seeking us. Truth is not a thing for which wemustsearch,butaPersontowhomwemusthearken.Thisis taughtor takenforgrantedintherecordofGod’sdealingswithmen

throughout theSacredScriptures.After the sin inEden itwas notAdamwhocried “OGod,where artThou?” butGodwho cried “Where art thou?” asHesoughtforAdamamongthetreesoftheGarden.AbrahamheardGodspeakandresponded, but it was God who was the aggressor. God appeared unto JacobbeforeJacobcametoappearbeforeGod.AndintheburningbushGodrevealedHimselftoMoses.

AgainandagaindidGodtaketheinitiative.HesoughtforGideonandfoundhimonthethreshingfloorofOphrah.HeshowedHimselftoIsaiahwhenthereisno evidence that Isaiahwas seekingHim.Before JeremiahwasbornGod laidHishanduponhim,andHeopenedheaventoletthediscouragedpriestEzekielseeavisionandhearavoice.Amossaidhewasnotaprophetneitheraprophet’sson, but the Lord “took” him as he followed the flock. Again God was theaggressor.In the New Testament things are not otherwise. True, multitudes came to

Christforphysicalhelp,butonlyrarelydidoneseekHimouttolearnthetruth;and even that rare one usually turned awaywhen the truthwas told him.ThewholepictureintheGospelsisoneofaseekingSavior,notoneofseekingmen.The truthwas hunting for thosewhowould receive it, and relatively few did.“Manyarecalled,butfewarechosen.”The truth in thePersonof theLogos, theWord, is seeking to illuminate the

mindsofmen.“ThatwasthetrueLight,whichlightetheverymanthatcomethinto the world.” For this reason, when we conceive ourselves to be honestseekerswhocannotfindthelightweareinastateofdangerousself-deception.Itis a grave situation.Unless help comes quickly the darknessmay close downuponuspermanently.“Ifthereforethelightthatisintheebedarkness,howgreatisthatdarkness.”Behind all our failure to find light is an unconfessed and possibly an

unconsciousloveofdarkness.“Thisisthecondemnation,thatlightiscomeintotheworld, andmen loveddarkness rather than light, because their deedswereevil.Foreveryone thatdoethevilhateth the light,neithercometh to the light,lest his deeds shouldbe reproved.But he that doeth truth cometh to the light,thathisdeedsmaybemademanifest,thattheyarewroughtinGod”(John3:19-21).Weshouldalwaysrememberthatweareaccountablenotonlyforthelightwe

havebutalsoforthelightwemighthaveifwewerewillingtoobeyit.Truthissovereignandwillnotallowitselftobetrifledwith.Anditiseasytofindforitistryingtofindus.Obedienceisthebigproblem:andunwillingnesstoobeyisthecauseofcontinueddarkness.

Chapter29

WhatAbouttheEthicsofJesus?

AGENERATIONorsoagowhenModernismwasrisinginreligiouscircles,agreatdealwasheardabouttheethicsofJesusandthetragicfailureoftheChurchtogetthoseethicsacceptedbysociety.The assumptionwas that ourLordhad introduced into theworld a superior

systemofethics,baseduponloveandleadingtobrotherhood,andthatHisplanwastospreadthisnewdoctrinethroughtheagencyoftheChurchtillthroughoutthewholewideworldmen“shouldbrothersbe,fora’thatanda’that.”Itmayseemabitoddthatthereligiousteacherswhoexaltedtheteachingsof

Jesus to theseventhempyreanshould in thesamebreathdemote thepersonofJesustothelevelofacommonman;yettheydidjustthat.TheylamentedwithmanyacrocodileteartheerroroftheChurchinworshipingJesusandfailingtospreadHisethics throughout theearth.Theimplicationwasthat themanJesuswas importantonlybecauseof thesterlingqualityofHisethics; though itwashard for some then and it is hard for others now to understand how aman’steaching can be greater than the man. The same persons who exalted Hisdoctrine of love completely ignoredHis claim to deity and brushed asideHisteachingsonsin,judgmentandhell,aswellasHiswholesystemofeschatology.This arrogant picking and choosing among the words of Christ gave somepersonstheimpressionthattheseteacherswerefarlesssincerethantheyclaimedtobe,foramanneednotbeageniustoreachtheconclusionthat ifJesuswaswrongaboutalmostallofHisteachingstherecouldbenocertaintythatHewasrightabouttherest.Well,itisnotmyintentiontofightagainthebattleofBunkerHill.Ifallthis

belongedonlytothepastwemightbecontenttoletthedeadburytheirdeadandpassontosomethingelse;but theghostsof theoldModernistsappear tohavebeenreincarnatedandmanyoftheargumentsraisedbytheliberalsagenerationagoarenowbeingrepeatedbytheorthodox.The ethics of Jesus must be imposed upon society, we are told, then all

inequalitieswillvanish; thedivisionofhumanity into richandpoor,greatandsmall, privileged and underprivileged will be no more. Under the benigninfluenceofChrist’sethicsoflove,greedandwarwilldisappearfromtheearth

andthedreamofuniversalbrotherhoodberealizedatlast.Backofsuch teachings lieseveralgraveerrors,possibly theworstbeing the

failure to distinguish the Church of Christ from the fallen world ofmankind.According to the Bible the human race is morally fallen, spiritually alienatedfrom God, lost and under the severe sentence of divine judgment. In sharpcontrast to this, the Church is a body of regenerated persons who havewithdrawnfromtheworldinspiritandinheartandhavethrownintheirlotwithChristtoownHimasSaviorandtofollowHimasLord.Betweenthesetwogroups,theworldandtheChurch,thereisagulfaswide

as space. The truly regeneratedman is a new creature; he belongs to anotherorderofbeing;hehasanotherkindoflife,anotherorigin,anotherdestiny.HeislikethosewhosailedinthearkofNoahtouchingthewateryworldoflostmen,tobesure,butseparatedfromitbyathinhullthatmightaswellhavebeenmilesthick,foritkepttheminandkeptthejudgmentwaterout.TheteachingsofJesusbelongtotheChurch,nottosociety.Insocietyissin

and sin is hostility to God. Christ did not teach that He would impose Histeachingsuponthefallenworld.HecalledHisdisciplestoHimandtaughtthem,andeverywherethroughoutHisteachingsthereistheovertorimpliedideathatHisfollowerswillconstituteanunpopularminoritygroupinanactivelyhostileworld.Thedivineprocedureistogointotheworldoffallenmen,preachtothemthe

necessitytorepentandbecomedisciplesofChristand,aftermakingdisciples,toteach them the “ethics of Jesus,”whichChrist called “all thingswhatsoever Ihavecommandedyou.”TheethicsofJesuscannotbeobeyedorevenunderstooduntilthelifeofGod

hascometotheheartofamaninthemiracleofthenewbirth.Therighteousnessof the lawis fulfilled in themwhowalk in theSpirit.Christ livesagain inHisredeemed follower the lifeHe lived in Judaea; for righteousness can never bedivorcedfromitssource,whichisJesusChristHimself.Thedreamofauniversalbrotherhoodbasedupon theethicsof Jesus is just

that—a dream. It is compounded of a few words of Christ mixed with vastnumbers of uninspired words spoken by men whose yearnings are to becommended but whose wisdom is suspect. To arrive at the doctrine ofbrotherhood it is necessary that we reject the major portion of the NewTestamentandmisunderstandtherest.Therewereoncetwobrothers.Theylivedinasocietythathadnothadtimeto

developthemanysocialevilsweknowtoday.Yetonekilledtheotherbecause

sin was there. If two brothers in the morning of the world could not get ontogether, how can we hope that the gentle teachings of Jesus can ever bringbrotherhoodtoaracefilledwithcomplexiniquities,wheremeninherithatesandwherethesoulsofallarelaceratedbyjealousy,envy,egotism,greedandlust?Thehopeoftheindividualisthenewbirthandtheacceptanceoftheteachings

ofChristasawayoflife.ThehopeoftheraceisthatChristshallcomeagaintoearth.Evenso,Lord,comequickly.

Chapter30

WeHaveLostOurWay

AMONGTHEMANYwondersoftheHolyScripturesistheirabilityfrequentlytocompressintoasentencetruthsovast,socomplex,astorequireawholeshelfofbookstoexpound.Evenasinglephrasemayglowwitha light like thatof theancientpillarof

fireanditsshiningmayilluminatetheintellectuallandscapeformilesaround.An example is found in Jeremiah 10:23. After the Lord had spoken of the

vanityofidolsandhadsetincontrasttothegodsoftheheathenthegloryoftheliving God, the King of Eternity, the prophet responded in an inspiredexclamationthatverywellstates thewholeproblemofhumankind:“OLord,Iknowthatthewayofmanisnotinhimself:itisnotinmanthatwalkethtodirecthissteps.”The prophet here turns to a figure of speech, one which appears in the

Scriptures so frequently that it is not easy to remember that it is but a figure.Man is seen as a traveler making his difficult way from a past he can butimperfectlyrecollectintoafutureaboutwhichheknowsnothing.Andhecannotstay,butmusteachmorningstrikehismovingtentandjourneyontoward—andthereistheheavyproblem—towardwhat?It is a simple axiom of the traveler that if he would arrive at the desired

destinationhemusttaketherightroad.Howfaramanmayhavetraveledisnotimportant;whatmattersiswhetherornotheisgoingtherightway,whetherthepathheisfollowingwillbringhimoutattherightplaceatlast.Sometimestherewillbeanend to theroad,andmaybesooner thanheknows;butwhenhehasgone the last step of thewaywill he find himself in a tomorrow of light andpeace, or will the day toward which he journeys be “a day of trouble anddistress,adayofwastenessanddesolation,adayofdarknessandgloominess,adayofcloudsandthickdarkness”?TheinspiredprophetJeremiahsays(andforthatmatteralltheholyprophets

whohavespokensincetheworldbegansay)andourLordandHisapostlessaythatmandoesnotknowtheway;indeedhehardlyknowswhereheshouldgo,tosaynothingofthewayheshouldtaketogetthere.TheworriedThomasspokeforeverymanwhenheasked,“Lord,weknownotwhitherthougoest;andhow

canweknowtheway?”Thatisthetruthandwehadbetterfaceitsquarely:thewayofmanisnotin

himself.However severe theblow toourpride,wewoulddowell tobowourheadsandadmitour ignorance.For thosewhoknownotandknow theyknownot,theremayinthemercyofGodbehope;forthosewhothinktheyknowtherecanbeonlyincreasingdarkness.Philosophicallymanhaslosthisway.Couldhethinkhimselfoutofhisage-

old predicament hewould long ago have done it, for theworld has hadmorethan enough serious-minded men of superior intellectual endowments toexamineeveryrabbitpathinallthemeadowsofhumanthoughtandtoexploreeveryforestandwildernessinsearchoftheway.Sincethefirstfallenmangotstilllongenoughtothink,fallenmenhavebeen

asking these questions, “Whence came I? What am I? Why am I here? andWhere am I going?”The noblestminds of the race have struggledwith thesequestionstonoavail.Didtheanswerliesomewherehiddenlikeajewelitwouldsurely have been uncovered, for themost penetratingminds of the race havesearched for it.Not a foot of ground but has been spaded up, neither is therecreviceorcaveanywhereintheregionofhumanexperiencebuthasbeenspiedinto thoroughly and often as the centuries passed. Yet the answers remain assecurelyhiddenasiftheydidnotexist.Why isman lostphilosophically?Becausehe is lostmorallyandspiritually.

HecannotanswerthequestionslifepresentstohisintellectbecausethelightofGod has gone out in his soul. The fearful indictment the Holy Ghost bringsagainst mankind is summed up count by count in the opening chapters ofRomans and the conduct of every man from earliest recorded history to thepresentmomentisevidenceenoughtosustaintheindictment.“When they knew God, they glorified him not as God,” read the terrible

words,“neitherwerethankful;butbecamevainintheirimaginations,andtheirfoolishheartwasdarkened.Professingthemselvestobewise,theybecamefools,and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like tocorruptibleman,andtobirds,andfourfootedbeasts,andcreepingthings…whochanged the truth of God into a lie.” On and on the devastating words flow,mounting in intensity tillnoonewithanyconscience leftorany fearofmoralconsequences can stand to look the Judge in the face, butmust cast downhisguilty eyes and cry, “Havemercy uponme, OGod, according to thy loving-kindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out mytransgressions.”

ApartfromtheScriptureswehavenosurephilosophy;apartfromJesusChristwehaveno trueknowledgeofGod; apart from the inlivingSpiritwehavenoabilitytolivelivesmorallypleasingtoGod.HowwonderfulthatChristcouldsay,“Iamtheway,thetruth,andthelife.”

Forthiswecanneverbethankfulenough.

Chapter31

FiveKindsofSeekers

THE GREEK PHILOSOPHER Pythagoras is said to have divided men intothreeclasses:1.Seekersafterknowledge.2.Seekersafterhonor.3.Seekersaftergain.Thisisobviouslyanarbitrarydivisionmadeforconvenience,andlikeallsuch

divisionsitistoogeneraltobeentirelyaccurate.Stillitisthereportofawidelytraveled and brilliant observer, and for that reason if for no other it deservesfromallofusrespectfulattention.Pythagoras appeared in Greece near the beginning of that short but

wonderfully fertile periodwhich, before it spent itself, hadgiven to theworldsuchgeniusesasSocrates,Plato,AristotleandZeno.WhilePythagorashimselfwas amathematician and astronomer hewas also amanwith strong religiousbent,hisreligiontakingthedirectionofhighmoralityandleadinghimtofounda religio-philosophic brotherhood dedicated to the reformation of the moralstandardsofsociety.ItwouldbeinterestingifnottooedifyingtolookforPythagoras’threeclasses

inmodernsociety.1.Seekersafterknowledge.Theseareno longercalledphilosophers,“lovers

ofwisdom,”butscholars,professors,scientists,who loveknowledgefor itself.Theseareintellectualmagpieswithacompulsiveticthatdrivesthemtocollectall theshinybitsofknowledgepossible; fortunatelyfor themthereareenoughotherswiththesametictoprovidethemwithameansofmakingsomekindofalivingherebelow.2.Seekersafterhonor.Thesearethepoliticians.Theyhaveanincurableitch

tobeknowninthegates,andasameanstowardthisendtheymanagetoworkupaconvincingifphonypatrioticfevereveryfourorsixyearsthatbringsthemvotesandenablesthemtorideinthefrontcarintheMemorialDayparade.Theirrewardisinbeingapplaudedbythemassestheysecretlydespise,andverilytheyhavetheirreward.3.Seekersaftergain.Theseare at the tophonestbusinessmenwhobecome

wealthy within the law, and at the bottom racketeers who gain their wealthoutsidethelaw.Morallytheselatterdiffernotatallfromtheordinarybandit,but

theydiffersociallybecausetheyaresmarter,havereadabookandknowabetterlawyer.ThusfarPythagoras.ButIwonderwhyhefailedtonoticetwootherclasses:

thosewhoarenot seekersafteranythingand thosewhoare seekersafterGod.ThesenodoubtexistedinPythagoras’dayastheydoinoursanditisoddthathedidnotrecognizethem.Letusaddthemtothelist.4.Seekers after nothing. These are the human vegetableswho live by their

glandsandtheirinstincts.Irefernottothoseunfortunatepersonswhobybirthorbyaccidenthavebeendeprivedoftheirnormalfaculties.TherebutbythegraceofGodgoI.Idorefertothemillionsofnormalpersonswhohaveallowedtheirmagnificentintellectualequipmenttowitherawayfromlackofexercise.Theseseekersafternothinghavecertainlargeearmarks.Theymaybeknown

bythecompanytheykeep.Theirreadingmatteristhesportspageandthecomicsection; theirart is limited tomagazinecoversand the illustrated trivialitiesoftheweeklypicturemagazines;theirmusiciswhateverispopularandhandyandloud.Afterworktheysitandwatchtelevisionorjustdrivearoundwaitingfor—what?Itisanomenandaportentthatthisdescribesthebulkofourpopulationinthe

UnitedStates,andthattheyconstitutewhatweproudlycallthe“electorate”;thatis, they decide the direction our country shall go, morally, politically andreligiously.Otempora!Omores!5.SeekersafterGod.ThanksbetoGodonhighthatthesetooareamongus.

Theyarethesaltoftheearthandthelightoftheworld.Theirnumberisnotlargewhen counted against themillionswho have forgotten theirMaker, but takentogethertheyareagoodlycompanyanddeartotheheartofGod.Ah,thoseGod-hungrysouls!Bynaturetheyarenobetterthantherestofmen,

andbypracticetheyhavesometimesbeenworse.Theone.signof theirdivineelectionistheirinsatiablethirstaftertheSourceoftheirbeing.Deepcallsuntodeepandtheyhearandrespond.Thesearealmostalwaysadisappointmenttothemselves,andsometimesthey

haveforawhilebeenastumblingblocktotheworld,aswereJacobandDavidandPeter.Butmanywaterscannotquenchlove,neithercanthefloodsdrownit,and their questing hearts findwhat they seek at last. The grace ofGodmeetsthemastheyreturnandchangesthemfromwhattheyaresorrytheyhavebeen,intowhattheyhavesoferventlylongedtobecome.TodayweknowwhatthewiseGreekcouldnotknow,thatGodwasinChrist

reconcilingtheworlduntoHimself,notimputingtheirtrespasses.Seekersafter

GodtheresurelywereeveninthoseoldGreciantimesandtheirdestinyliesinthehandof theOnewhogaveHisonly-begottenSon todie for the lifeof theworld.Onewordneedstobeadded.Itwillgobetterinthedayofreckoningforthe

seekerofpre-ChristiandayswhostretchedoutpaganhandstowardGodinhopethathemightfindHim,thanfor thecarelesssinnerof todaywhoissatedwithhearingandwhorefusestorepentandbelieve.

Chapter32

ControversyMayHaveItsHolyUses

THE DEVIL IS a master strategist. He varies his attacks as skillfully as anexperiencedgeneralandalwayshasonemore trick touseagainst theonewhoimaginesheiswellexperiencedintheholywar.By two radically opposite things the devil seeks to destroy us—by our sins

andbyourvirtues.First, he tempts us to sin. This might be called his conventional device. It

workedagainstAdamandEveandstillworksafterthepassingofthecenturies.Bymeansofitmillionseachyearare,asPaulsaid,drownedindestructionandperdition. One would think the human race would learn to resist theblandishmentsofitsswornenemy,anditprobablywouldexceptthatthereisanenemywithinthegate—thefallenheartissecretlyonthesideofthedevil.Itis,however,Satan’swilieststratagemtouseourvirtuesagainstus,andthis

heoftendoeswithastonishingsuccess.Bymeansoftemptationtosinhestrikesat our personal lives; by working through our virtues he gets at the wholecommunityofbelieversandunfitsitforitsowndefense.A parallel to Satan’s technique may be seen in the activities of certain

subversive political groupswhouse theConstitution of theUnitedStates as ashieldwhiletheyworktodestroythatConstitution.Byunctuouspleadingfortheright of free speech they seek to destroy all freedom of speech. By talkingpiouslyaboutgovernmentbylawtheypushourcountrytowardtheplacewheretherewillbegovernmentbydictatorshipandall lawswillmeanwhat a rulingcliqueofbase,cynicalmenwantthemtomean.Sodiabolicalisthismethodthatonecanonlyconcludethatthosewhouseitlearneditfromtheirfatherthedevil,whosetheyareandwhomtheyserve.Tocaptureacityanenemymustfirstweakenordestroyitsresistance,andso

it iswith theevangelicalforcesatanygiventimeorplace.It is impossibleforSatantostormthecitadelofGodaslongasfaithfulwatchmenstandonthewallstorousehersoldierstoaction.Thechurchwillneverfallaslongassheresists.This the devil knows; consequently he uses any stratagem to neutralize herresistance.ManytimesinhistorytheChristiansinvarioustowns,citiesandevenwhole

countrieshavegivenuptheirdefenseforreasonswhollyevil.Worldliness,sinfulpleasures and personal ungodliness have often been the cause of the church’sdisgracefulsurrendertotheenemy.Today, however, Satan’s strategy is different. Though he still uses the old

methods where he can do so with success, his more effective method is toparalyze our resistance by appealing to our virtues, especially the virtue ofcharity.He first creates amaudlin andwholly inaccurate concept of Christ as soft,

smilingand tolerant.He remindsus thatChristwas “brought as a lamb to theslaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not hismouth,”andsuggeststhatwegoanddolikewise.ThenifwenoticehisfootinthedoorandrisetoopposehimheappealstoourdesiretobeChristlike.“Youmust not practice negative thinking,” he tells us. “Jesus said, ‘He that is notagainstMe is forMe.’AlsoHe said ‘Judgenot,’ andhowcanyoube agoodChristian and pass adverse judgment on any religious talk or activity?ControversydividestheBodyofChrist.LoveisofGod,littlechildren,soloveeverybodyandallwillbewell.”Thusspeaksthedevil,usingHolyScripturefalselyforhisevilpurpose;andit

isnothingshortof tragichowmanyofGod’speopleare taken inbyhissweettalk.Theshepherdbecomesafraid tousehiscluband thewolfgets thesheep.Thewatchman is charmed into believing that there is no danger, and the cityfalls to the enemy without a shot. So Satan destroys us by appealing to ourvirtues.The clever proponents of evil political ideologies are spending millions to

make us Americans ashamed to love our country. By the use of all availablemediaofcommunication theyarepersuadingourpeople that there is little leftworthdefendingandcertainlynothingworthdyingfor.TheyarebuildingupinthepublicmindapictureofanAmericanasagenerous, tolerant,smilingchapwho loves baseball and babies but is not too much concerned about “fringe”political theories. This synthetic American subscribes to the doctrine of thefatherhoodofGodandthebrotherhoodofmanandlet’sgofishing—everythingwillbeallright.Andsoinreligion,especiallyamongtheProtestants.Letamanrisetodeclare

theuniqueLordshipofJesusChristand theabsolutenecessityofobedience toHimandheisatoncebrandedasahate-mongerandadividerofmen.Thedevilhasbrainwashedlargenumbersofreligiousleaderssosuccessfullythattheyarenow too timid to resisthim.Andhe,being thekindofdevilhe is, takes swift

advantageoftheircowardicetoerectaltarstoBaaleverywhere.TheBibleisabookofcontroversy.TheOldTestamentprophetsweremenof

contention.OurLordJesuswhileonearthwasindeadlyconflictwiththedevil.TheApostles, theChurchFathersandtheReformersweremenofcontroversy.They fought the devil to the death and kept the torch of truth burning for allsucceedinggenerations.Isourcontributiontohistorytobetheignobleoneoflettingthetorchgoout?

Chapter33

TheTrueMotiveforChristianConduct

SELFISH PERSONAL INTEREST, says the Greek moral philosopherEpictetus,isthemotivebehindallhumanconduct.Bywayofillustrationhepointstotwodogsrompingonthelawnwithevery

appearance of friendship when suddenly someone tosses a piece of rawmeatbetweenthem.Instantlytheirplayturnsintosavagefightaseachstrugglestogetthe meat for himself. Their friendship lasts only as long as their interestscoincide.Whenthoseinterestsconflicttheybecomesnarlingenemies.Letusnotcondemntheoldthinkerforcomparingtheconductofmentothat

of animals. The Bible frequently does and, humbling as it may be to us, wehumansoftenlookbadbythecomparison.“Gototheant,thousluggard,”saysthe voice of God in the Proverbs, “consider her ways, and be wise,” and theprophet Jeremiah says, “Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointedtimes; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of theircoming;butmypeopleknownotthejudgmentoftheLord.”Thechildrenofthisworld,Christtellsus,areoftenwiserthanthechildrenof

light. In his discovery of the springs of human conduct Epictetus reveals anunderstandingofmankindfarbeyond thatof theaverageChristian;and this inspiteof the fact that theChristianclaims topossess theSpiritof truthand theGreekdidnot.Ifwewouldbewise in thewisdomofGodwemust faceup to the truthno

matterhowuncomplimentaryitmaybetous.Itwouldbemorecomfortabletoshrug off what our eyes behold and loyally declare our belief in the intrinsicgoodness of all men; but our eternal welfare forbids that we deal dishonestlywithreality.Thetruthis,menarenotbasicallygood;theyarebasicallyevil,andtheessenceoftheirsinliesintheirselfishness.TheputtingofourowninterestsbeforethegloryofGodissininitsGodward

aspect,andtheputtingofourowninterestsbeforethoseofourfellowmenissinas it relates to society. We know men are sinners because when they mustchoose between others and themselves they choose themselves every time.Personalinterestseestothat.Whether we are considering twomen or two nations we see how personal

interestcontrolstheirrelationtoeachother.Twomencanlivetogetherinperfectharmonyaslongastheirinterestscoincide.Indeeditmightcorrectlybesaidthathumansocietycanexistonlybyorganizing itself insuchamanneras toservetheinterestsofthemajorityofpersonscomposingit,oratleastofthosepersonswhoareinapositiontofightfortheirrights.Aslongastheirinterestsdonotconflictnationsmayforcenturieslivesideby

sideinpeace;whenashiftinpopulationorachangeintheeconomicstructuretakesplacenationsthathavebeenfriendsforgenerationsmaysuddenlybecomeenemies.Hostilitybetweennationsorblocksofnationscanalwaysbetracedtoaclashofpersonalinterest.Allwarsariseoutofacollisionofinterestsandmustfor that reason be recognized as a manifestation of sin. “From whence comewarsandfightingsamongyou?”asksJames,“cometheynothence,evenofyourluststhatwarinyourmembers?”Humansocietyisbuiltuponabalanceofpersonalinterests.Peoplearesoused

to seeing everyone serving his own ends that no other kind of conduct isexpected.Onlytheeccentricdreamerwouldexpectthatunregeneratemencouldbepersuadedtosurrendertheirpersonalrightsanddevotethemselveswhollytotheinterestsofothers.Occasionallysmallgroupsofpersonshavecometogethertotrytoformaselflesssociety,butineveryinstancetheyhavelivedtoseetheirlittle Utopia tear itself apart by the centrifugal force generated by the veryselfishness theyweretryingsonoblytoescape.Thehumanheart isessentiallyselfishanditcannotbecuredbyexternalorganization.With the advent of Jesus Christ a new and radically different motive for

humanconductwasintroducedintotheworldanditssymbolisthecross.ByHiswordsChristexposedtheevilofself-interestandbyHiscrossHedemonstratedpureselflessloveinitsfullestperfection.Hecamenottobeministeredunto,buttominister,andtogiveHislifearansomformany.ChristpleasednotHimself,butlivedintotaldevotiontothehonorofGodandthewelfareofmankind,andwhenHe diedHe set a crown of beauty upon aGod-centered and an others-centeredlife.Thecrossisasymboloftheselfless,others-centeredlifeofChrist,butitdoes

notendthere.OurLordmadeitalsoasymbolof thenormalChristianlife.“Ifanymanwillcomeafterme,”Hesaid,“lethimdenyhimself, and takeuphiscross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: andwhosoeverwilllosehislifeformysakeshallfindit.”Theteachinghereistooplaintomiss.Theself-interestmotiveinourconduct,

though it is inherent in fallen human nature, is nevertheless an evil and

destructive thing that can lead at last only to tragic and everlasting loss.LovealonecanmakeourconductacceptabletoGod.It is timewe checkedour brandofChristianity against theNewTestament.

There is real danger thatwemayoverlook this radical newmotive for humanconductandgoonservingourowninterestsunderadisguiseofgodliness.Andthatisamistakenoneofuscanaffordtomake.

Chapter34

WhyFaithIsIndispensable

“WITHOUTFAITHit is impossible topleaseGod”hasbecomeanaxiomoftheChristianway;yet I supposenotmany stop to askwhy faith shouldbe sovitallyimportantinourrelationwithGod.Butthereisareason.This is a moral universe. At bottom it is not material, though it contains

matter;itisnotmathematical,thoughitinvolvesnumbers.TheGodwhomadetheworldisamoralbeingandHehasfilledHisworldwithmoralcreatures.Wehear ofmysterious beingswhohave access to the presenceofGod and

whorange throughout thewholecreationasservantsof theMostHigh.“Blessthe Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments,hearkening unto the voice of hisword.”TheScriptures tell us of at least fourorders of such beings and refer to what they call “watchers and holy ones,”whichmayindicateotherordersormaysimplyrefertothepreviouslymentionedfour.Inaddition,thereisanotherandofcourseamorefamiliarorderofbeing,the

lastand(beforehisfall)thehighestofallthecreaturesGodcreatedandmade.IrefertomanwhowasmadeinGod’simageandlikenessandwhoforthatreasonbearstowardGodauniquemoralandspiritualrelation.Becausethisisamoraluniverse,character,whichistheexcellenceofmoral

beings, is naturally paramount. As the excellence of steel is strength and theexcellenceofartisbeauty,sotheexcellenceofmankindismoralcharacter.“AnhonestmanisthenoblestworkofGod,”anapothegmusuallyattributedtoJohnWesley,maysoundatfirstratherextreme,butifweallowtheword“honest”tostandforall themoralvirtueswemaybeabletounderstandtheapothegmandpossibly toagreewith it.Asaintshouldbenotonlyamanof intensespiritualdevotionbutamanofsymmetricalvirtuesandperfectlybalancedcharacter.Relationship between moral beings is by confidence, and confidence rests

uponcharacter,whichisaguaranteeofconduct.Itistruethatsinhasintroducedconfusion into the world so that we do not always find consistency of moralconduct amongmen; yet to live in amoral world it is necessary that we putconfidence in our fellow man. A complete breakdown of confidence woulddestroy theadhesivequalityof society, tearapart the fabricofcivilizationand

turn the world into a cage of savage beasts. However badmenmay at timesbecometheymuststilltrusteachother.Itiseitherconfidenceorchaos.WhathasallthistodowithfaithinGod?Justthis:Godisabeingofsupreme

moralexcellence,possessingininfiniteperfectionallthequalitiesthatconstituteholy character. He deserves and invites the unreserved confidence of everymoral creature, including man. Any proper relation to Him must be byconfidence, that is, by faith.Where there is no faith it is impossible to pleaseGod.HumansinbeganwithlossoffaithinGod.WhenourmotherEvelistenedto

Satan’s sly innuendoes against the character of God she began to entertain adoubtofHisintegrityandrighttherethedoorswereopenedtotheincomingofeverypossibleevil,anddarknesssettledupontheworld.The Bible talks about man’s being alienated from and an enemy to God.

Should this sound harsh or extreme you have only to imagine your closestpersonalfriendcomingtoyouandstatingincoldseriousnessthathenolongerhas any confidence inyou. “I donot trust you. I have lost confidence inyourcharacter. I am forced to suspect every move you make.” Such a declarationwouldinstantlyalienatefriendsbydestroyingthefoundationuponwhicheveryfriendshipisbuilt.Untilyourformerfriend’sopinionofyouhadbeenreversedtherecouldbenofurthercommunion.Onlyarestoredfaithcouldbringaboutarestoredfriendship.Now, it iswellknown thatpeopledonotgoboldly toGodandprofess that

they have no confidence in Him, and no one except the rare professionalunbeliever iswilling towitnesspublicly tohis lowviewofGod.The frightfulthing, however, is that people everywhere act out their unbelief with aconsistencythatismoreconvincingthanwords.Idolatryisthesupremesinandunbeliefisthechildofidolatry.Botharelibels

onthecharacteroftheMostHighandtheMostHoly.“HethatbelievethnotGodhathmadehimaliar,”wrotetheapostleJohn.AGodwholiesisaGodwithoutcharacter,andwherethereisnocharactertherecanbenoconfidence.Thisisthemoral logic of unbelief. The unbeliever refuses to trust God because hisconceptionofGodisbaseandignoble.Thathedoesnotburnincensetoagravenimagedoesnotmakehimlessanidolater,unlesswewanttomakeadistinctionandsaythattheidolaterworshipshisfalsegodwhiletheunbelieverrefusestodoeventhat.ThejoyousmessageofChristianityisthatthereisawaybackfromthisplace

ofunbeliefandalienation.“HethatcomethtoGodmustbelievethatheis,and

that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” The gospel messagedeclares that thewrongedGod took thewronguponHimself in order that theonewhocommittedthewrongmightbesaved.Repentance is among other things a sincere apology to God for distrusting

Himsolong,andfaithisthrowingoneselfuponChristincompleteconfidence.ThusbyfaithreconciliationisachievedbetweenGodandman.

Chapter35

TheBedofProcrustes

LEGENDTELLSOFProcrustes,theGreekbandit,whoforcedhisvictimstolieon a certain bed. If theywere shorter than the bed theywere stretched to bedlength; if too long they were lopped off to fit. Old Procrustes would haveuniformity,regardless.Our modern passion for uniformity has strapped us all to the bed of

Procrustes. Our houses, our cars, our clothes are all trimmed to a patternarbitrarilyfixedbypersonswhohavenomorerighttodecidesuchathingthanProcrusteshadtodecidehowtallamanshouldbe.Itisinthefieldsofeducationandreligionthattheyenforuniformityhasdone

thegreatest harm.The effort to standardizepeople ignoresone important fact,viz., thatpeoplearenotallalike.Theideaofequalityamongallmenistotallyunrealistic,andanyefforttomakethemallalikecontradictsplainevidence,fliesinthefaceofnatureandinterfereswithhumanfreedom.Equalityofopportunityshouldbegrantedtoall;afterthateveryoneisonhis

own.Noinstitutioncanaddtoortakefromtheoriginalhumanstuffthestudentbringstoclasswithhim.AfteryearsofobservationIamforcedtoconcludethatsomepersonssimplycannotprofitfromtheireducationalopportunities.Beyondproviding them with a few items of information they might not otherwiseacquire, a college course does them little good. Their years of enforced studyleave themwithout improved tastes,without perspective andwithoutwisdom.Some persons can gain a good education from life; others cannot manage tobecome educated by life plus long years in the best institutions of higherlearning.YetoureducatorscontinuetoapplytheirProcrusteanrulestoeachnewgeneration, stretchingandcutting till theyachieveauniformityMotherNatureobviouslyneverintended.In the fieldof religion thingsarenobetter.Within theholyprecinctsof the

churchProcrustesworkson,cuttingandtuggingtilleveryonelooks,thinksandactslikeeveryoneelse.Toachievethishemustdestroyouroriginality,makeusafraid to be different and persuade us that conformity is synonymous withgodlinessandnonconformityasin.Andthishedoeswithastonishingsuccess.Experienceprovesthatuniformityalmostalwaysdegeneratesintomediocrity.

Itiseasiertogodowntothecontentedmanythantoriseabovethem;itiseasiertomemorizethantothinkthrough;itiseasiertoimitatethantoinitiate.ForthisreasonfundamentalismhasoverthelasthalfcenturylostitsglowanditswonderandbecomeadryandtastelessthingfromwhichcountlessGod-hungrypersonsareturningreluctantlyaway.It is unfortunate that current Christianity appears to offer but two choices:

dull, colorless orthodoxy or a liberalism which, in its effort to escapesuffocation, has jumped overboard and drowned in themaelstromof unbelief.Actuallywearenotshutuptoanysuchchoices.God has given us a broad world of truth for our spiritual and intellectual

habitation.Thisuniverseoftruthistothehumansoulaslimitlessastheairtoabirdortheseatoafish.TheretheChristianmindcanluxuriateatperfectliberty.While the ages unfold the believer will need no more than has been alreadygiven,foritrepresentsthebroadandmanifoldwillofGod,thehappyhomeofsaintsandangels.This vast sea of truth is expressed in nature, in theHoly Scriptures and in

Christ,theWisdomofGodincarnate.Itsrationalphasecanbereducedtoacreedwhichmaybe learnedasonewould learnanyother truth, andwhichwhen solearnedconstitutesChristianorthodoxy,bestandmostperfectlyembodiedinthebeliefsofmodernevangelicalChristianity.But we must also remember that orthodoxy is not synonymous with

Procrustean uniformity.We may bring every thought into accord with divinerevelation without sacrificing our intellectual freedom. We can be orthodoxwithout becoming mentally stultified. We can believe every tenet of theChristiancreedandstill leaveour imaginationfree toroamatwill through thebroadworldsofnatureandgrace.Wearefreebutnot“freethinkers.”Thedifferencebetweenthe“freethinker”andtheChristianthinkeristhatthe

Christian has faith, and faith is an extra organ of knowledgewhich the otherrefuses to acknowledge.TheChristianbeginswhere theunbeliever ends,or atleastwherehehopestoend.TheChristianhasafixedrampfromwhichtotakeoffwhile themanof no faithmust rise from amovable base.TheChristian’sflights of thought arewithin the properworldwhereGodhas placed him; theunbelieversoonfluttersoutoftheworldofassuredtruthintoamistyregionofshadowwherehecanbesureofnothing.Christ is the light of the world, and His presence illuminates not only the

spirits but theminds of His people. As star differs from star in glory, so thechildrenofGodaredifferentonefromanother.Theyarealikeinbeingmembers

ofChrist’sBody,but asdifferent asbodilymembersmustofnecessitybe.Toimposeuponthemanartificialuniformityistodothemgreatharm.

Chapter36

ImportanceoftheDevotionalMood

MAINTENANCEOFTHEdevotionalmoodisindispensabletosuccessintheChristianlife.Holinessandpowerarenotqualitiesthatcanbeoncereceivedandthereafter

forgotten as onemight wind a clock or take a vitamin pill. The world is toomuchwithus,nottomentionthefleshandthedevil,andeveryadvanceinthespiritual lifemust bemade against the determined resistance of this trinity ofevil.Gainsmademustbeconsolidatedandheldwitharesolutionequaltothatofanarmyinthefield.ToestablishourheartsinthedevotionalmoodwemustabideinChrist,walk

in the Spirit, praywithout ceasing andmeditate on theWord ofGod day andnight.Ofcoursethisimpliesseparationfromtheworld,renunciationofthefleshandobediencetothewillofGodasweareabletounderstandit.Andwhatisthedevotionalmood?Itisnothingelsethanconstantawareness

ofGod’s enfolding presence, the holding of inward conversationswith ChristandprivateworshipofGod inspiritand in truth.Publicworshipembraces thecommunityofbelieversandisgenuineonlyastheindividualswhocomposethecompanyassemble in themoodof reverentdevotion.Anythingshortof this issheerformalityandmustsurelybeunacceptabletoGod.Amongtheenemiestodevotionnoneissoharmfulasdistractions.Whatever

excites the curiosity, scatters the thoughts, disquiets the heart, absorbs theinterestsorshiftsourlifefocusfromthekingdomofGodwithinustotheworldaroundus—thatisadistraction;andtheworldisfullofthem.Ourscience-basedcivilizationhasgivenusmanybenefitsbutithasmultipliedourdistractionsandsotakenawayfarmorethanithasgiven.Onethingiscertain,however:wecannotturntheclockbacktoquietertimes,

neither canwe hide from the persistent clamor of the 20th century.Wemustlearntoliveinsuchaworldasthisandbevictoriousoverit.In thenormalcourseof thingsacertainnumberofdistractionsarebound to

cometoeachoneofus;butifwelearntobeinwardlystillthesecanberenderedrelatively harmless. It would not be hard to compile a long list of names ofChristians who carried upon their shoulders the burden of state or the

responsibilitiesofbusinessandyetmanagedtoliveingreat inwardpeacewiththefaceoftheLordinfullview.Theyhaveleftusapreciouslegacyintheformof letters, journals, hymns and devotional books that witness to the ability ofChristtocalmthetroubledwatersofthesoulasHeoncecalmedthewavesontheSeaofGalilee.AndtodayasalwaysthosewholistencanhearHisstill,smallvoiceabovetheearthquakeandthewhirlwind.WhilethegraceofGodwillenableustoovercomeinevitabledistractions,we

darenotpresumeuponGod’saidandthrowourselvesopentounnecessaryones.The roving imagination, an inquisitive interest in other people’s business,preoccupationwith external affairs beyondwhat is absolutely necessary: theseare certain to lead us into serious trouble sooner or later. The heart is like agardenandmustbekeptfreefromweedsandinsects.Toexpect thefruitsandflowersofParadisetogrowinanuntendedheartistomisunderstandcompletelythe processes of grace and the ways of God with men. Only grief anddisappointmentcanresultfromcontinuedviolationofthedivineprinciplesthatunderliethespirituallife.Themultiplyingofartificialobjectsofattentionhasnotmadepeoplehappy;it

has made them quite the opposite. Think of the contented grandmother ofAmerican tradition, a lookof sweet serenity onher face, quietly knitting on ahollyhock-fringedporch,andcompareherwiththenervousexhaustedhousewifeoftoday,movingtenselyamongherlaborsavingdevicestryingtogetherworkfinished in time to keep an appointment with her psychiatrist. These picturesmay be slightly overdrawn; the grandmother being, possibly, not quite socontentedandthemodernhousewifenotasfrustratedaswesuppose,butthereisalotoftruthherenevertheless.Thingscannotbringhappiness;theycanonlyaddmoreweighttothealreadyoverburdenedheart.Theremedyfordistractions is thesamenowas itwas inearlierandsimpler

times,viz.,prayer,meditationandthecultivationoftheinnerlife.Thepsalmistsaid “Be still, and know,” andChrist told us to enter into our closet, shut thedoorandprayuntotheFather.Itstillworks.“Letusreturntoourselves,brothers,”saidtheGreeksaintNicephorus,“…for

it is impossible forus tobecomereconciledandunitedwithGod ifwedonotfirstreturntoourselves,asfarasitliesinourpower,orifwedonotenterwithinourselves,tearingourselves—whatawonderitis!—fromthewhirloftheworldwithitsmultitudinousvaincaresandstrivingconstantlytokeepattentiononthekingdomofheavenwhichiswithinus.”Distractionsmust be conquered or theywill conquer us. So let us cultivate

simplicity;letuswantfewerthings;letuswalkintheSpirit;letusfillourmindswith theWord ofGod and our heartswith praise. In thatwaywe can live inpeaceeveninsuchadistraughtworldasthis.“PeaceIleavewithyou,mypeaceIgiveuntoyou.”

Chapter37

Christian!LoveNottheWorld

THENEWTESTAMENTteachesthattobeafollowerofChristitisnecessarythatamanturnhisbackupontheworldandhavenofellowshipwithit.OurLorddrewasharplinebetweenthekingdomofGodandtheworldand

said that no one could be at the same time a lover of both.Thiswas also theteaching of Paul, James and John (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; James 4:4; 1 John2:15-17).ItisthereforeofcriticalimportancethatwewhoclaimtobedisciplesofChristshouldcheckourrelationtotheworld.Thequestionof theChristianand theworld isnot,however, as simpleas it

might seem.There ismuchdifferenceofopinionamongChristiansas towhatconstitutes theworld. Beforewe can be sure of our relation to somethingwemustfirstknowwhatitis.Thefactisthattwoworldscoexistaroundus.OneGodmadeoutofnothing;

theothermanmadebytakingthematerialsthatoriginallycamefromGodandfashioningthemintoamoralcaricatureoftheoriginal.Both these worlds have been affected by the Fall but only one has been

interdicted by the command of God. The nonmoral, nonintelligent creationusually called “nature” has been injured by the spiritual collapse of man, thebeing forwhomitwascreated,yetbecause it isnonpersonal itcannotbeevil.WearenotforbiddentolovetheworldofnatureprovidedweunderstandittobethegiftofGodanddonotconfuseitwithGodHimself,assomehavedone.When the Lord brought the children of Israel out of Egyptwhere they had

been for 400 years subjected to at least the sight of idolatryHewarned themagainsttheworshipofnature.“Takeyethereforegoodheeduntoyourselves…lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, andwhen thou seest the sun, and themoon,andthestars,evenallthehostofheaven,shouldestbedriventoworshipthem, and serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nationsunderthewholeheaven”(Deuteronomy4:15-19).To persons brought up in the Judaeo-Christian tradition the thought that

anyoneshouldactuallyworshipnatureseemsabsurd,butwehaveonly tostepacross intoalmostanyof thecultureswecallpaganto learnthatsuchworshiphasbeenandstill iscommonenough. Indeed there is scarcelyanaturalobject

anywherethathasnotbeenworshipedbysomeone.Thecreatedworld is tobeprizedfor itsusefulness, lovedfor itsbeautyand

esteemedas thegiftofGod toHischildren.Loveofnaturalbeautywhichhasbeen thesourceofsomuchpuremusic,poetryandart isagoodanddesirablething.Thoughtheunregeneratesoulislikelytoenjoynatureforitsownsakeandignore the God whose gift it is, there is nothing to prevent an enlightenedChristianwholovesGodsupremelyfromlovingallthingsforGod’sdearsake.Thiswouldappeartobealtogetherinaccordwiththespiritofthepsalmsandtheprophets,and thoughthere is lessemphasisuponnature in theNewTestamentmuchappreciationofnaturalthingsmaybefoundtherealso.What,then,isthatworldagainstwhichwearewarnedbytheapostles?That

worldwhosefriendshipconstitutesspiritualadultery,theloveofwhichstandsinoppositiontotheloveofGod?It is the familiar world of sinful human society which swells about and

beneathusasthewatersofthefloodoncesurgedandchurnedaroundthearkofNoah.NoChristianneedfailtorecognizeit,providedhewantstoknowwhatitisandwhereitislocated.Hereareafewinfalliblemarksofidentification:1.Unbelief.Wherevermenrefusetocomeundertheauthorityoftheinspired

Scriptures, there is the world. Religion without the Son of God is worldlyreligion.Tohavefellowshipwiththosewholiveinunbeliefistolovetheworld.TheChristian’scommunionshouldbewithChristians.2. Impenitence. The people of the world will readily admit that they are

sinners,buttheirlackofsorrowforsindistinguishesthemfromthechildrenofGod.TheChristianmournsoverhissinandiscomforted.Theworldlingshrugsoffhissinandcontinuesinit.3.Godlessphilosophies.Whethertheyknowitornot,theywhobelongtothe

worldlivebyacreed,andbytheirfruitswemayknowwhattheircreedis.The man of the world, despite his protestations to the contrary, actually

accepts thesufficiencyof thisworldandmakesnoprovision foranyother;heesteems earth above heaven, time above eternity, body above soul and menaboveGod.Heholdssintoberelativelyharmless,believespleasuretobeanendinitself,acceptsthelightnessofthecustomaryandtruststothebasicgoodnessof human nature. And even though he be an elder in a church he is part andparceloftheworld.4.Externalism.Themanofheavenlivesforthekingdomwithinhim;theman

ofearthlivesfortheworldaroundhim.ThefirstisbornoftheSpirit;theotherisbornofthefleshandwillperishwithit.

To sum up: whatever promotes self, cheapens life, starves the soul, hopeswithout biblical grounds for hope, adopts currentmoral standards, follows thewayofthemajoritywhetheritberightorwrong,indulgesinthepleasuresoftheflesh tomake bearable the secret thoughts of death and judgment—that is theworld.“Lovenottheworld,neitherthethingsthatareintheworld.Ifanymanlove

theworld,theloveoftheFatherisnotinhim”(1John2:15).

Chapter38

SubstitutesforDiscipleship

INTHENEWTESTAMENTsalvationanddiscipleshiparesocloselyrelatedasto be indivisible. They are not identical, but as with Siamese twins they arejoinedbyatiewhichcanbeseveredonlyatthepriceofdeath.Yettheyarebeingseveredinevangelicalcirclestoday.Intheworkingcreed

oftheaverageChristiansalvationisheldtobeimmediateandautomatic,whilediscipleshipisthoughttobesomethingoptionalwhichtheChristianmaydelayindefinitelyorneveracceptatall.InisnotuncommontohearChristianworkersurgingseekerstoacceptChrist

nowandleavemoralandsocialquestionstobedecidedlater.Thenotionisthatobedience and discipleship are unrelated to salvation. We may be saved bybelieving ahistoric fact about JesusChrist (thatHedied forour sins and roseagain)andapplyingthistoourpersonalsituation.ThewholebiblicalconceptofLordship andobedience is completely absent from themindof the seeker.Heneedshelp,andChrististheveryone,eventheonlyone,whocanfurnishit,sohe“takes”HimashispersonalSavior.TheideaofHisLordshipiscompletelyignored.The absence of the concept of discipleship from present-day Christianity

leavesavacuumwhichweinstinctivelytrytofillwithoneoranothersubstitute.Inameafew.

1Pietism.BythisImeananenjoyablefeelingofaffectionforthepersonofour

Lordwhich isvalued for itself and iswhollyunrelated to cross-bearingor thekeepingofthecommandmentsofChrist.ItisentirelypossibletofeelforJesusanardentlovewhichisnotoftheHoly

Spirit.WitnessthelovefortheVirginfeltbycertaindevoutsouls,alovewhichin the very nature of things must be purely subjective. The heart is adept atemotionaltricksandisentirelycapableoffallinginlovewithimaginaryobjectsorromanticreligiousideas.Intheconfusedworldofromanceyoungpersonsareconstantlyinquiringhow

theycan tellwhen theyare“in love.”Theyareafraid theymaymistake someothersensationfortrueloveandareseekingsometrustworthycriterionbywhich

they can judge the quality of their latest emotional fever. Their confusion ofcoursearisesfromtheerroneousnotionthatloveisanenjoyableinwardpassion,without intellectual or volitional qualities and carrying with it no moralobligations.OurLordgaveusarulebywhichwecantestourloveforHim:“Hethathath

mycommandments,andkeepeththem,heitisthatlovethme:andhethatlovethmeshallbelovedofmyFather,andIwilllovehimandwillmanifestmyselftohim…. If a man love me, he will keep my words…. He that loveth me notkeepethnotmysayings”(John14:21-24).Thesewordsaretooplaintoneedmuchinterpreting.ProofofloveforChrist

is simply removed altogether from the realmof the feelings andplaced in therealm of practical obedience. I think the rest of theNewTestament is in fullaccordwiththis.

2Another substitute for discipleship is literalism. Our Lord referred to this

whenHereproached thePhariseesfor theirhabitof tithingmintandaniseandcuminwhileatthesametimeomittingtheweightiermattersoftheLawsuchasjustice,mercyandfaith.Literalismmanifestsitselfamongusinmanyways,butitcanalwaysbeidentifiedinthatitlivesbytheletteroftheWordwhileignoringitsspirit.IthabituallyfailstoapprehendtheinwardmeaningofChrist’swords,andcontents itselfwithexternalcompliancewith the text. IfChristcommandsbaptism, for instance, it finds fulfillment in the act of water baptism, but theradicalmeaningoftheactasexplainedinRomans6iscompletelyoverlooked.ItreadstheScripturesregularly,contributesconsistentlytoreligiouswork,attendschurcheverySundayandotherwisecarriesonthecommondutiesofaChristian;and for this it is to be commended. Its tragic breakdown is its failure tocomprehendtheLordshipofChrist,thebeliever’sdiscipleship,separationfromtheworldandthecrucifixionofthenaturalman.Literalismattempts tobuildaholy templeupon thesandy foundationof the

religiousself.Itwillsuffer,sacrificeandlabor,butitwillnotdie.ItisAdamathispiousbest,butithasneverdeniedselftotakeupthecrossandfollowChrist.

3Another substitute for discipleship I would mention (though these do not

exhaustthelist)iszealousreligiousactivity.WorkingforChristhastodaybeenacceptedastheultimatetestofgodliness

among all but a fewevangelicalChristians.Christ has become a project to bepromotedoracausetobeservedinsteadofaLordtobeobeyed.Thousandsof

mistakenpersonsseektodoforChristwhatevertheirfancysuggestsshouldbedone,andinwhateverwaytheythinkbest.ThewhatandthehowofChristianservicecanonlyoriginateinthesovereignwillofourLord,butthebusybeaversamongusignorethisfactandthinkuptheirownschemes.Theresultisanarmyofmenwhorunwithoutbeingsentandspeakwithoutbeingcommanded.To avoid the snare of unauthorized substitution I recommend a careful and

prayerfulstudyoftheLordshipofChristandthediscipleshipofthebeliever.

Chapter39

TheMarksofGod’sChosen

THE CHRISTIAN Scriptures, particularly the Gospel of John, contain twotruthswhichappeartostandopposedtoeachother.One is that whosoever will may come to Christ. The other is that before

anyonecancometheremusthavebeenapreviousworkdoneinhisheartbythesovereignoperationofGod.Thenotion that justanybody,atany time, regardlessofconditions,canstart

fromreligiousscratch,withouttheSpirit’shelp,andbelievesavinglyonChristbyasuddendecisionofthewill,iswhollycontrarytotheteachingsoftheBible.God’sinvitationtomenisbroadbutnotunqualified.Theword“whosoever”

throwsthedooropenwide,indeed,butthechurchinrecentyearshascarriedthegospelinvitationfarbeyonditsproperboundsandturneditintosomethingmorehumanandlessdivinethanthatfoundinthesacredScriptures.Whatwetendtooverlookisthattheword“whosoever”neverstandsbyitself.

Always its meaning is modified by the word “believe” or “will” or “come.”AccordingtotheteachingsofChristnomanwillorcancomeandbelieveunlesstherehasbeendonewithinhimaprevenientworkofGodenablinghimsotodo.In the sixth chapter of John ourLordmakes some statementswhich gospel

Christiansseemafraidtotalkabout.Theaverageoneofusmanagestolivewiththembythesimpletrickofignoringthem.Theyaresuchasthese:1.OnlytheycometoChristwhohavebeengiventoHimbytheFather(John6:37).2.Noonecancomeofhimself;hemust firstbedrawnby theFather (John6:44).3.TheabilitytocometoChristisagiftoftheFather(John6:65).4.EveryonegiventotheSonbytheFatherwillcometoHim(John6:37).ItisnotsurprisingthatuponhearingthesewordsmanyofourLord’sdisciples

wentbackandwalkednomorewithHim.Such teachingcannotbutbedeeplydisturbing to thenaturalmind. It takes fromsinfulmenmuchof thepowerofself-determination upon which they had prided themselves so inordinately. Itcuts thegroundout fromunder their self-helpand throws thembackupon thesovereigngoodpleasureofGod,andthatispreciselywheretheydonotwanttobe.Theyarewillingtobesavedbygrace,buttopreservetheirself-esteemtheymust hold that thedesire to be savedoriginatedwith them; this desire is their

contribution to thewhole thing, theirofferingof the fruitof theground,and itkeepssalvationintheirhandswhereintruthitisnotandcanneverbe.Admitting thedifficulties this creates forus, andacknowledging that it runs

contrarytotheassumptionsofpopularChristianity,itisyetimpossibletodenythat there are certain persons who, though still unconverted, are neverthelessdifferent from the crowd,markedout ofGod, strickenwith an interiorwoundandsusceptibletothecallofChristtoadegreeothersarenot.About the teaching as amere doctrine I am notmuch concerned, but I am

keenly interested in learninghowto identifysuchpersons.Noman isever thesame afterGod has laidHis hand upon him.Hewill have certainmarks, andthoughtheyarenoteasytodetectperhapswemaycautiouslynameafew.Onemarkisadeepreverencefordivinethings.Asenseofthesacredmustbe

presentortherecanbenoreceptivitytoGodandtruth.Thismysteriousfeelingofaweprecedesrepentanceandfaithandisnothingelsebutagiftfromheaven.MillionsgothroughlifeunaffectedbythepresenceofGodinHisworld.Goodtheymaybeandhonest,but theyareneverthelessmenof earth, “finishedandfiniteclods,”andproofagainsteverycalloftheSpirit.Another mark is a great moral sensitivity. Most persons are apathetic,

insensitivetomattersoftheheartandtheconscience,andsoarenotsalvable,atleastnot in theirpresentcondition.ButwhenGodbegins towork inaman tobringhimtosalvationHemakeshimacutelysensitivetoevil.InwardrepulsiontowardtheswinepenthatrousestheprodigalandstartshimbackhomeisagiftofGodtoHischosen.AnothermarkoftheSpirit’sworkingisamightymoraldiscontent.Inspiteof

ourefforttomakesinnersthinktheyareunhappythefactisthatwhereversocialand health conditions permit the masses of mankind enjoy themselves verymuch. Sin has its pleasures (Hebrews 11:25) and the vast majority of humanbeingshaveawhaleofatimeliving.Theconscienceisabitofapestbutmostpersonsmanage tostrikea trucewith itquiteearly in lifeandarenot troubledmuchbyitthereafter.It takes awork ofGod in aman to sour himon theworld and to turn him

againsthimself;yetuntilthishashappenedtohimheispsychologicallyunableto repent and believe. Any degree of contentment with the world’s moralstandardsor his own lackof holiness successfullyblocksoff the flowof faithinto the man’s heart. Esau’s fatal flaw wasmoral complacency; Jacob’s onlyvirtuewashisbitterdiscontent.Againbeforeamancanbesavedhemustfeelaconsumingspiritualhunger.

Anyonewholivesclose to theheartsofmenknowsthat there is littlespiritualhunger among them. Religion, pious talk, yes; but not real hunger. Where ahungry heart is foundwemay be sure thatGodwas there first. “Ye have notchosenme,butIhavechosenyou…”(John15:16).

Chapter40

ThePassingoftheAssemblyConceptfromChristianity

THE CHURCH AS announced by Christ, seen in the book of Acts andexplainedbyPaulisathingofgreatsimplicityandrarebeauty.Thechurchasweseeittodayisunsymmetrical,highlycomplexandanything

butbeautiful.IndeedIthinkthatifsomeangelofGodweremadefamiliarwiththechurchasitappearsintheNewTestamentandthensenttotheearthtotrytolocateit,itwouldbeextremelydoubtfulwhethertheheavenlymessengerwouldrecognize anything now existing in the field of religion as the church hewaslookingfor.Sofarhavewedepartedfromthepatternshownusinthemount.The church as theNewTestament pictures it is any company of regenerate

believersmetinthenameofJesusChrist.SuchacompanyiscalledoutfromtheworldandgatheredtoChristasaflockofsheepisgatheredtotheshepherd.Themembersofthiscompanyconstituteadespisedminoritygroupstandinginboldmoral contradiction to the world. Their witness is Christ: His person, work,officeandpresentpositionattherighthandoftheMajestyintheheavens.TheycarryHisgospel to theworld andplead “Beye reconciled toGod,” then theyreturntotheirowncompanytoworship,pray,teachandlistentotheWordoftheLordas it isexpoundedbymenofGod.Theyalsoexhort, testifyandexerciseforthegoodofallsuchspiritualgiftsaseachonemaypossessfromtheSpirit.Everylocalchurchisamicrocosm,havingallthequalitiesofthemacrocosm,

the church universal. Each local company is ideally and should be actuallyequipped to do anything that the Head of the church wills to accomplish.Wherever such a company is found, there is the true church, the completechurch,socompletethatifallthebelieversintheworldweretobegatheredinoneplaceitwouldnotaddanythingtotheperfectionofthesmallerassembly.Each local church is a fellowship in the deepest spiritual meaning of that

word. Itcomes intobeingbyanafflatusofpowerandabestowmentof life. Itcannot be produced by organization, though after it is there it may bestrengthenedandimprovedbyawiseandSpirit-ledorganization.Atruechurchexisted inCrete beforeTituswas left there to “set in order the things that arewanting,andordaineldersineverycity.”Organizationdidnotcreatethechurch;

itwasimposeduponachurchalreadypresent,achurchwhichhadbeenbornoutof the preaching of the gospel. For it is always the gospel that produces thechurch;therecanbenochurchapartfromthegospel.Leavingoutofconsiderationotherproblemsandothertimeswe’lllookbriefly

at two forces that have worked to destroy the assembly concept in thisgeneration:The first isdenominationalism, the dividing of believingmen intomutually

exclusivecamps.Thisisnotpeculiartothesetimes,butwetodayarereapingthefruit of a tree planted long ago. Though I have for many years worked in adenominationandpreachedfreelyamongotherdenominationsIamnotblindtothemischiefthataccompaniesthisextrascripturalphenomenon.Idonothereofferaremedyfordenominationalism.Imerelyreportthefacts,

andtheyarenotencouraging.ToenteranyplaceofworshipwherethesaintsofGod meet conscious of denominational loyalties or hostilities is to losecompletely thesenseofcommunionwithChristandeachothersovital to trueworship. I believe a few individual saintsmay be godly enough to escape thetrap,butIamsurethelargernumbersarenot.AnotherforcethathashelpedtoblockouttheNewTestamentconceptofthe

church is tabernacleism. This phenomenon flourished during the second andthird decade of this century, and though it has passed it has unfortunately leftbehinditthereligiousphilosophythatbroughtitintobeing,aswellasthespiritandmooditcreated.Tabernacleism, oddly enough, came as a revolt from denominationalism.

Certaingiftedmengot their fillofecclesiasticalmachineryandbrokeaway tostartindependentreligiousgroupsmadeupofotherslikethemselves.Oftenwithbut amodicum of theological knowledge and with no time nor inclination tolearn,theyturnedtothetheaterfortheirtechnique.Anditworked,surprisingly,astonishinglywell.The concept of the church held by the founders and promoters of

tabernacleismmaybe learnedeasilyenoughbynoticing thenomenclature thataccompanied it: “work” instead of assembly or church; “program” instead ofworship; “artist” (used for any fifth-rate performer on the handsaw orconsecratedcowbells);“talent”(torefertoaperformer);“onenightappearance,”“in person” (borrowed from the theater), and many other such terms,unconsciousconfessionsthatthesaintshadleftthewaysofGodandgoneintheways of fallen men. And this while making the strongest protestations oforthodoxy.

Idonotmean to scold, and I amgrateful forany shredsofNewTestamentworship that may be left among us; but I cannot but hope and pray that theevangelical churchmay soon return to the land of promise.We have been inBabylonlongenough.Andoneofthefirstthingsshemustrediscoverbeforeshecomeshomeisherownidentity.

Chapter41

WhattheAdventEstablished

THEANNOUNCEMENTofthebirthofChristcameasasunburstofjoytoaworldwhere grief and pain are known to all and joy comes rarely and nevertarrieslong.The joy the angel brought to the awe-struck shepherds was not to be a

disembodiedwispofreligiousemotion,swellingandebbinglikethesoundofanaeolianharpintherisingandfallingofthewind.RatheritwasandisastateoflastinggladnessresultingfromtidingsthattherewasborninthecityofDavidaSaviorwhichisChristtheLord.Itwasanoverflowingsenseofwell-beingthathadeveryrighttobethere.ThebirthofChristtoldtheworldsomething.ThatHeshouldcometobeborn

ofawoman,tomakeHimselfofnoreputationand,beingfoundinfashionasaman,tohumbleHimselfeventodeathonacross—thisisafactsomeaningful,soeloquentastoeludeeventhepowerofaDavidoranIsaiahfullytocelebrate.His coming, I repeat, told the world something; it declared something,establishedsomething.Whatwasit?Thatsomethingwasseveralthings,andasChristbroketheloavesintopieces

forgreaterconvenienceineating,letmedividethemessageintopartstheeasiertounderstandit.TheAdventestablished:First,thatGodisreal.Theheavenswereopenedandanotherworldthanthis

came into view. A message came from beyond the familiar world of nature.“Glory toGod in thehighest,”chanted thecelestialhost, “andonearthpeace,goodwill.” Earth the shepherds know toowell; now they hear fromGod andheavenabove.Ourearthlyworldandtheworldaboveblendintoonesceneandintheirjoyousexcitementtheshepherdscanbutimperfectlydistinguishtheonefromtheother.It is little wonder that they went in haste to see Himwho had come from

above.To themGodwasno longerahope,adesire thatHemightbe.Hewasreal.Second, human life is essentially spiritual.With the emergence into human

flesh of the Eternal Word of the Father the fact of man’s divine origin isconfirmed. God could not incarnate Himself in a being wholly flesh or even

essentially flesh. ForGod andman to unite theymust be to some degree likeeachother.Ithadtobeso.TheIncarnationmayindeedraisesomequestions,butitanswersmanymore.

Theonesitraisesarespeculative;theonesitsettlesaredeeplymoralandvastlyimportanttothesoulsofmen.Man’screationintheimageandlikenessofGodisonequestionitsettlesbyaffirmingitpositively.TheAdventprovesittobealiteralfact.Third,God indeed spokeby theprophets.Thepriests and scribeswhowere

versedintheScripturescouldinformthetroubledHerodthattheChristwastobeborninBethlehemofJudaea.AndthereaftertheOldTestamentcamealiveinChrist.ItwasasifMosesandDavidandIsaiahandJeremiahandalltheminorprophets hovered around Him, guiding His footsteps into the way of thepropheticScriptures.Sodifficultwas theOldTestament gamut theMessiahmust run to validate

His claims that the possibility of anyone’s being able to do it seemed utterlyremote;yetJesusdidit,asacomparisonoftheOldTestamentwiththeNewwilldemonstrate. His coming confirmed the veracity of the Old TestamentScriptures,evenasthoseScripturesconfirmedthesoundnessofHisownclaims.Fourth,manislostbutnotabandoned.ThecomingofChristtotheworldtells

usbothofthesethings.Hadmennotbeen lostnoSaviorwouldhavebeen required.Had theybeen

abandonednoSaviorwouldhavecome.ButHecame,anditisnowestablishedthatGodhasaconcern formen.Thoughwehave sinnedawayevery shredofmerit,stillHehasnotforsakenus.“FortheSonofmaniscometoseekandtosavethatwhichwaslost.”Fifth, thehumanracewillnotbeexterminated.ThatwhichwasGodseized

uponthatwhichwasman.“GodofthesubstanceofHisFather,begottenbeforeallages;ManofthesubstanceofHismother,bornintheworld.PerfectGodandperfectMan…who,althoughHebeGodandman,yetHe isnot twobutoneChrist.”Goddidnotvisittheracetorescueit;inChristHetookhumannatureuntoHimself,andnowHeisoneofus.For this reasonwemaybe certain thatmankindwill not bewipedout by a

nuclearexplosionor turnedintosubhumanmonstersbytheeffectsofradiationonthehumangeneticprocesses.ChristdidnottakeuponHimselfthenatureofaracesoontobeextinct.Sixth, this world is not the end. Christ spokewith cheerful certainty of the

worldtocome.HereportedonthingsHehadseenandheardinheavenandtold

ofthemanymansionsawaitingus.Wearemadefortwoworldsandassurelyaswenowinhabittheoneweshallalsoinhabittheother.Seventh,deathwillsomedaybeabolishedandlifeandimmortalityholdsway.

“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy theworks of the devil,” andwhatmore terrible work has the devil accomplishedthantobringsintotheworldanddeathbysin?Butlifeisnowmademanifestbythe appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death and hathbroughtlifeandimmortalitytolightthroughthegospel.

Chapter42

QualityVersusQuantityinReligion

THEEMPHASISTODAYinChristiancirclesappearstobeonquantity,withacorrespondinglackofemphasisonquality.Numbers,sizeandamountseemtobeverynearlyallthatmattersevenamongevangelicals.Thesizeofthecrowd,the number of converts, the size of the budget, the amount of the weeklycollections:iftheselookgoodthechurchisprosperingandthepastoristhoughttobeasuccess.Thechurchthatcanshowanimpressivequantitativegrowthisfranklyenviedandimitatedbyotherambitiouschurches.This is theageof theLaodiceans.ThegreatgoddessNumbers isworshiped

with fervent devotion and all things religious are brought before her forexamination.HerOldTestamentisthefinancialreportandherNewTestamentisthemembershiproll.Tothesesheappealsasarbitersofallquestions,thetestof spiritual growth and the proof of success or failure in every Christianendeavor.AlittleacquaintancewiththeBibleshouldshowthisupfortheheresyitis.To

judge anything spiritual by statistics is to judge by another than scripturaljudgment. It is to admit the validity of externalism and to deny the value ourLord places upon the soul as over against the body. It is to mistake the oldcreationforthenewandtoconfusethingseternalwiththingstemporal.Yetitisbeingdoneeverydaybyministers, churchboardsanddenominational leaders.Andhardlyanyonenoticesthedeepanddangerouserror.Ourmostpressingobligationtodayistodoallinourpowertoobtainarevival

that will result in a reformed, revitalized, purified church. It is of far greaterimportancethatwehavebetterChristiansthanthatwehavemoreofthem.EachgenerationofChristians is the seedof thenext, anddegenerate seed is sure toproduce adegenerateharvest not a little better thanbut a littleworse than theseed from which it sprang. Thus the direction will be down until vigorous,effectivemeansaretakentoimprovetheseed.And how can we improve the church? Simply and only by improving

ourselves: and there iswhere the difficulty lies. The church in any locality iswhatitsindividualmembersare,nobetterandnoworse.Weasmembersmustbegin by seeking moral amendment that will result in a positive spiritual

renaissance.Andthatiswhyimprovementishardtoachieve.Aslongaswecankeep the whole thing at arm’s length and deal with it academically we maypreach andwrite about it at little or no real cost to ourselves and, itmust beadmitted,withnorealadvanceingodliness.Ifwewould be followers ofChrist indeedwemust become personally and

vitally involved in His death and resurrection. And this requires repentance,prayer, watchfulness, self-denial, detachment from the world, humility,obedienceandcrosscarrying.Thatiswhyitiseasiertotalkaboutrevivalthantoexperienceit.To avoid personal involvement with the cross we have become adept at

findingorcreatingreligiousprojects tosootheourconscienceandmakethingslookgood.Amongthesemaybenamedevangelismandforeignmissions.Thesearegood,scripturalactivities,incumbentuponallChristians,butallpresupposethattheywhoengageinthemshouldbeholy,Spirit-filledandtotallycommittedtoGod.Tocarryontheseactivitiesscripturallythechurchshouldbewalkinginfullness of power, separated, purified and ready at any moment to give upeverything,evenlifeitself,forthegreatergloryofChrist.Foraworldly,weak,decadentchurch tomakeconverts isbut tobring forthafterherownkindandextendherweaknessanddecadenceabitfurtherout.A farmersowswheatand,granted that the soil is fertile,hisharvestwillbe

onlywhattheseedwas,allowingfortheslightnaturalretrogressionthatusuallyfollowseachcarelessplanting.Isitnotplainthatthequalityoftheseediswhatmattersmost?Woulditnotbefollyforthefarmertogrowmoreandmoreandpoorer and poorer wheat? Let him look to his seed if he would improve hisharvest.Should someone object that the seed is theWord and that since theWord

remains always the same it will produce the same effect wherever and bywhomsoeveritispreached,Iwouldreplythatthefirstistruebutnotthesecond.VerilyGod’sWordiseverthesame,butwhatitwilldoatanytimeinanyplacedependslargelyuponthemoralpurity,wisdomandspiritualpowerofthosewhopreach it. There is nothing automatic about the truth.To do itsmost effectiveworkitmustbeincarnatedinthechurch.LookatActs18and19.Apollos,amanmightyintheScriptures,forallhis

faithfulness to the truth as he understood it, could produce only imperfectconverts.SupposePaulhadnotarrivedwhenhedid.Itisnothardtoimagineanimmature,weakandineffectivechurchpropagatingitselfinEphesus.Sovitally important is spiritualquality that it ishardly toomuch to suggest

that attempts to grow larger might well be suspended until we have becomebetter.

Chapter43

TheHonestUseofReligiousWords

A DISTURBING PHENOMENON of the day is the new and tricky use offamiliarwords.A“people’srepublic,”forinstance,isnotarepublicnordoesitbelongtothe

people. The word “freedom” now in most countries refers to something sorestrictedthatagenerationortwoagoanotherwordaltogetherwouldhavebeenchosentodescribeit.Otherwordsthathavechangedtheirmeaningswithoutadmittingitare“war,”

“peace,”“grant”(todescribethesmallsopthegovernmenttossesbackoutofthemoney it has previously taken from us), “right,” “left,” “equality,” “security,”“liberal” and many more. These have been emptied of their meaning and adifferentmeaninghasbeenpoured into them.Wemaynowread themorhearthemspokenand,unlessweareverysharp,gainfromthemawhollyfalseidea.Thisphenomenonhas invaded the fieldof religion also. In a predominantly

Christian society such as prevails in theWest the words of Scripture and ofChristian theology have quite naturally acquired a fixed meaning and untilrecentlyalwaysmeantthesamethingwhenevertheywereusedbyeducatedandresponsible persons. With the coming of the various revolutions—scientific,industrial,philosophical,social,artistic,political—fixedmeaningshavedesertedreligious words and now float about like disembodied spirits, looking for butapparentlyneverfindingthebodiesfromwhichtheyhavebeenexorcisedbytherevolutionists.Among religious words which have lost their Christian meaning are

“inspiration,” “revelation,” “spiritual,” “fellowship,” brotherhood,” “unity,”“worship,” “prayer,” “heaven,” “immortality,” “hell,” “Lord,” “new birth,”“converted”—but the list is longand includes almost everymajorwordof theChristianfaith.OfcourseIdonotreferheretothetranslationofawordfromonelanguageto

another,nortotheslowevolutionthattakesplaceintheformsofwordsovertheyears.Irefertothedeliberateuseofoldandfamiliarwordswithfixedmeaningsinawaythatviolatesthosemeaningsandmakesthewordsconveyideasotherthan those the hearer has every right to expect. The speaker may employ an

orthodoxword but he does notmeanwhat the hearer thinks hemeans, so thehearerisdeceived.Thisisadishonestuseofwords.Thistrickisreprehensibleanywhere,butwhenuseddeliberatelyinthesphere

ofreligionitisnolessthananactofsheermoralturpitude.The constant use of biblical terms to express nonbiblical concepts is now

common. Yet not everyone who misuses religious words is guilty of wrongintent.Fortwofullgenerationsthehabitofemptyingwordsofonemeaningandrefilling themwith anotherhasbeen takingplace among the churches; so it isquite natural thatmany sincereministers should engage in theological doubletalkwithoutknowingit.CertainbiblicalwordsalongwithcertaintheologicaltermsembodywhatGod

hasgiven tobe intellectuallygraspedbyman.It iscritically important that thesamewordshouldmeanthesamethingtoeveryoneinagivenlanguagegroup.To permit a change in meaning is to invite disaster. To preserve life thephysicianand thedruggistusewordsof fixedmeaningcommon toboth.Howmuchmoreshouldthepulpitandthepewhaveaclearunderstandingaboutthewordsofeternallife.The modern effort to popularize the Christian faith has been extremely

damagingtothatfaith.Thepurposehasbeentosimplifytruthforthemassesbyusingthelanguageofthemassesinsteadofthelanguageofthechurch.Ithasnotsucceeded,buthasaddedtoratherthandiminishedreligiousconfusion.Positivebeliefs are not popular thesedays.Amistakendesire tomaintain a

spirit of tolerance among all races and religions has produced a breed ofJanuslike Christians with built-in swivels, remarkable only for their ability toturninanydirectiongracefully.Thephilosophybehindthiswholethingisthatreligious beliefs are matters of personal choice, and that the Lord adapts Hissaving truth to the individual, varying it according to the cultural background,educational level and social situation of each one.Whatever this is, it is notChristianity.A number of popular religious books have appeared of late quite literally

filledwithswivel-wordsofuncertainmeaning;andbecause thesewerewrittenbypersonsostensiblyevangelicaltheyhavebeenacceptedandpromotedbytheevangelicals.AndtheyarehavingarealinfluenceonChristianthinking;ormoretothepoint,theyaremakingsoundChristianthinkingimpossibleforthosewhoreadandadmirethem.Wehadbettertakeagoodhardlookatthesebooks.Iftheauthorswillnotstandstilltolettheirmeaningsbeexamined,thereisprobablyagood reason. Great ideas have a habit of inhabiting the same great words

generationaftergeneration.Toignoreorrejectthewordistorejecttheidea.Thehopeofthechurchyetliesinthepurityofhertheology,thatis,herbeliefs

about God andman and their relation to each other. These beliefs have beenrevealed to her by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the sacred Scriptures.Everythingthereisclear-cutandaccurate.Wedarenotbelessthanaccurateinourtreatmentofanythingsoprecious.

Chapter44

TheRightAttitudetowardOurSpiritualLeaders

WEHAVEANDWILLalwayshavespiritualleaders.Eventhemostdemocratic-mindedChristianisbeinginfluenced,andsoledto

somedegree,bysomeotherChristianlivingordead.Hecannotescapeit;thatisthewayheismadeandhemightaswellacceptit.At the extreme ends of the religious spectrum are those churches that are

controlled from the top by an all-powerful hierarchy and those churches thatboldly reject any such supreme authority and insist upon complete autonomywithin the local assembly. Yet both kinds of churches are controlled by theirleaders.Theonegroupadmits it, theotherdenies it; but the control exists forbothnevertheless.Admittedlythedegreeofcontrolislessinthesecondinstancethaninthefirst,butitisthere.Thatourreligiousoutlookislargelydeterminedforusbyourleaderscannot

bedenied,butwhetherthatisagoodoranevilwilldependaltogetheruponthekindofleaderswehaveandthewisdomweexerciseinourattitudetowardthem.IthinkwemaketwomistakesinourattitudetowardourChristianleaders,one

in not being sufficiently grateful to them and the other in following them tooslavishly.Thefirstisasinofomission,andbecauseitissomethingthatisnotthereitis

notsolikelytobenoticedasasinthatisplainlypresent.Forinstance,itisasinto be ungrateful to a man who has befriended us, but it is not as bad or asobviousasinasstealinghispocketbook.To be grateful to God’s servants is to be grateful to God. The benefits we

receivefromthemresult fromGod’sworking throughthem,butasfreeagentstheycouldhaverefusedtocooperate.Thattheycheerfullyyieldedtheirmembersto theSpirit forourgoodputsusunder continual obligation to them.Becausetheyaresomany,andbecausethevastmajorityofthemhavelongfallenasleepwecannotmakealikereturntotheminperson;theonlywaywecandischargeourobligationistobethankful.GratitudeisanofferingpreciousinthesightofGod,anditisonethatthepoorestofuscanmakeandbenotpoorerbutricherforhavingmadeit.InaveryrealsensewethankGodwhenwethankHispeople.Gratitudefelt

and expressed becomes a healing, life-building force in the soul. Somethingwonderfulhappenswithinuswhengratitudeenters.Wecannotbetoograteful,foritwouldbelikelovingtoomuchorbeingtookind.Andifwearetomakeamistake it had better be on the side of humble gratitude for benefits received.Shouldwe in errorgive credit to someonewhodoesnotdeserve itweare farbetteroffthanifwefailtogivecredittoonewhodoes.TothoseholymenwhogaveusthesacredScripturesweoweadebtwecan

neverhopetopay.Weshouldbegladtheywereinsuchaspiritualstatethattheycould hear the Voice at the critical moment when God would use them totransmitHismightywordstomankind.AndtoallwhoinoldentimeslovinglytranscribedtheWord,weshouldbethankful,andtotheoldsaintswhoatvariousdangerous times in the past risked their lives to preserve the Holy Scripturesinviolate.ThereisacommondebtthateveryChristianowestohisfellowChristians;but

thereisaheavierdebtthatheowestoparticularChristians:toBiblescholars,totranslators, to reformers, missionaries, evangelists, revivalists, hymn writers,composers, pastors, teachers and praying saints. For thesewe should keep theincenseofourgratefulprayersrisingdayandnighttotheFatheroflightwhoisthesourceandfountainofallourblessings.IfitisasinofomissiontobeungratefultowardourGod-ordainedleadersand

benefactorsitisassurelyasintobetoodependentuponthem.ThosemenwhowerehonoredofGodtowritedownthewordsoftheinspiredScripturesholdaunique position in the providence of God and we except them from whatfollows.WearecompletelydependentupontheScripturesfordivinetruthandinthatsensewemustfollowthewordsoftheinspiredwriterswithoutquestion.Butnoothermanholdssuchapoweroverus.Wemakeaseriousmistakewhenwebecomesoattachedtothepreachingor

writingofagreatChristianleaderthatweaccepthisteachingwithoutdaringtoexamineit.NomanisthatimportantinthekingdomofGod.Weshouldfollowmen only as they follow the Lord andwe should keep an openmind lestwebecomeblindfollowersofamanwhosebreathisinhisnostrils.No Christian leader but has his blind spot, his unconscious prejudices, and

these will influence his teachings. We will have plenty of our own withoutweaklyacceptingthoseofourteachers.Whatthenshallwedo?Learnfromeveryholymanwhoexercisesaministry

towardus,begratefultoeveryoneofthemandthankfulforall,andthenfollowChrist.Nofreebelievershouldeversellhisfreedomtoanother.NoChristianis

worthytobethemasterofotherChristians.ChristaloneisworthytobecalledMaster;thereisnoother.“Buttheanointingwhichyehavereceivedofhimabidethinyou,andyeneed

notthatanymanteachyou:butasthesameanointingteachethyouofallthings,andistruth,andisnolie,andevenasithathtaughtyou,yeshallabideinhim”(1John2:27).

Chapter45

TheProperUseoftheBible

THEBOASTTHATtheBible is theworld’sbestsellersoundsa littlehollowwhenthecharacterandpurposeoftheBibleareunderstood.It is not howmanyBibles are sold that counts, nor even howmany people

read them; what matters is how many actually believe what they read andsurrenderthemselvesinfaithtolivebythetruth.ShortofthistheBiblecanhavenorealvalueforanyofus.A great deal is said, and rightly said, about the superiority of the Bible as

literature.Sobeautifularethewordsofprophetandpsalmist,aswellasthoseofourLord andHis apostles, that they can scarcely bemade less thanbeautiful,evenbytheclumsiesttranslator.Speakinganywordhereinpraiseofthebeautyof theAuthorizedVersion (the one usually selected to be “read as literature”)wouldbetogildthelilyorsetacandletothesun,soIrefrain.ButtostudytheScripturesfortheirliterarybeautyaloneistomissthewholepurposeforwhichtheywerewritten.TheBiblewascalledforthbythemoralemergencyoccasionedbythefallof

man.ItisthevoiceofGodcallingmenhomefromthewildsofsin;itisaroadmapforreturningprodigals;itisinstructioninrighteousness,lightindarkness,information aboutGod andman and life and death and heaven and hell. In itGodwarns,commands,rebukes,promises,encourages.InitHeofferssalvationandlifethroughHisEternalSon.AndthedestinyofeachonedependsupontheresponseheorshemakestothevoiceoftheWord.Because the Bible is the kind of book it is there can be no place for the

detached,appraisingattitudeinourapproachtoit.“Oearth,earth,earth,heartheword of the Lord.” God’s Word is not to be enjoyed as one might enjoy aBeethovensymphonyorapoembyWordsworth.Itdemandsimmediateaction,faith, surrender, committal. Until it has secured these it has done nothingpositivefor thereader,but ithas increasedhis responsibilityanddeepened thejudgmentthatmustfollow.OfthemillionsofBiblesboughtduringthelastfewyearsthereisnocertain

way to discover howmany are being read. But there is a pretty sure way todiscover how many readers obey them. Total committal of a few hundred

thousandpersonstothemessageoftheBibleanywhereintheworldwouldworkamoralrevolutionthatwouldaffectforgoodeveryfacetofmodernlife.SincenosuchrevolutionhasoccurredwecanonlyconcludethattheBestSellerisnotbeingread,oratleastnotbeingobeyed.Inatimeofdisastersuchasearthquakeorfloodfirst-aidinformationandthe

instructions of themedical authorities are oftenmatters of life or death.Whatwouldwe thinkofaman ifwefoundhimatsucha timecomfortablyreclinedreading thismaterial for its literarybeauty?Hemight feelanaesthetic thrillattheterse,conciselanguageandstilldieoftyphoid,forhislifedependsnotuponhisadmirationof thewordsof theofficialdirectivesbutuponhisobediencetothem.Aspreposterousassuchconductwouldbe,yetsomethinglikeitispracticed

constantlyinaspherewheretheconsequencesarefarmoreweighty.Menwhohavebutalittlewhiletopreparethemselvesfortheeternalworldreadtheonlybookthatcantellthemhow—nottolearnhow,buttoenjoytheliterarybeautyofthebook.Onlytheblindnessofheartoccasionedbysinwouldpermitmensotodo.InrecentyearstheBiblehasbeenrecommendedformanyotherpurposesthan

theoneforwhichitwaswritten.Thepeaceofmindcults,forinstance,managetofindinitoilforthetroubledwatersofthesoul;buttomakeitworktheymustpick,choose,misunderstandandmisapplyquiteliterallytotheirheart’scontent.Now, theBiblewhenreadhonestlyandresponsiblydoesbringpeaceofmind,butonlyafterithasfirstbroughtthehearttoarepentancethatisoftenanythingbut peaceful.When the entire life has beenmorally transformed and the heartpurified from sin, then the seeker can know real and legitimate peace. Anymanipulationof theScriptures tomakethemspeakpeaceto thenaturalmanisevilandcanonlyleadtoruin.InthehillcountryoftheAmericanSouthIoncemetpersonswhousedcertain

obscure passages fromEzekiel as an incantation to stop blood after an injury.TheBiblehasalsobeenmadetoserveasatextbookforsalesmen,andsomeofus remember that during the depression of the 1930’s some distraught leaderssuggestedthatitmightbewelltoadopttheeconomicsofJosephinEgypttohelppullusoutofthehole.Afewyearsago itwasfairlypopularpracticeforBible teachers toclaimto

find in the Scriptures confirmation of almost every new discovery made byscience. Apparently no one noticed that the scientist had to find it before theBibleteachercould,anditneverseemedtooccurtoanyonetowonderwhy,ifit

wasthereintheBibleinsuchplainsight,ittookseveralthousandyearsandthehelpofsciencebeforeanyonesawit.Now,IbelievethateverythingintheBibleistrue,buttoattempttomakeita

textbook for science is to misunderstand it completely and tragically. Thepurposeof theBible is tobringmentoChrist, tomake themholyandpreparethem for heaven. In this it is unique among books, and it always fulfills itspurposewhenitisreadinfaithandobedience.

Chapter46

Adjusted:ButtoWhat?

AWORDthatisbeinggreatlyoverusedinmodernsocietyisadjust.Iamcertainlynot the firstone tocomplainabout it,butmyobjection to its

overuseis,Ibelieve,onalittlehigherlevel,formostpersonswhoregistertheirobjectionsarethinkingonlyaboutitssocialeffectswhileIamconcernedwithitseffectinthespiritualrealm.Thinkingpersonswhodeplorethepresentmaniaforadjustmentpointoutthat

almostalladjustmentismadedownwardtobringpeopleintoharmonywiththecommonandthemediocre,sothatsocietyiseducatedtowardadeadlevelwithordinarinessasitsultimateend.Thispassiontobemediocreandtomakeeveryoneelsethesamebeginswith

theparentinthehome,spreadstotheschoolsandispropagatedwithmissionaryzealbytheadvertisers.Andadvertising,atleastintheUnitedStates,isthemostpowerful educational agent extant. Those who write the advertising copyprobably do more to determine the way the average person thinks than theschoolandchurchcombined.Thereasonsforthisaretwo.Oneisthatmenmayfleefromtheadmonitions

ofparentsandthegoodcounselofthechurch,butwherecananyonehidefromthe advertiser? He is as near to being ubiquitous as anything on earth exceptgravity.Thesecondreasontheadvertiserexercisessuchincrediblypowerfulinfluence

isthathehaslearnedtoperfectiontheartofcommunication.Hemaybelying,andoftenis,buthedoesgethisideasacross;andthatismorethancanbesaidfortheschoolandthechurch.ThebigproblemwithChristiansisthattheycometoChristwiththeirminds

alreadymadeupononepoint, viz., to stay sane theymust remain adjusted tosociety.Thisnotionhasbeendrilledintothemfromtheirplaypen,anditneveroccurstothemtoquestionit.Thereisanormouttheresomewheretowhichtheymust conform, and that norm is above criticism. Their success and happinessdepend upon howwell they adjust to it. And Christianity, though itmay addsomethingtoit,mustneverdisagreewiththemainidea.Tobehappy,adjusttothesocialnorm.Thatisthepopularnotionbutitwill

notholdupunderexamination.Thisnormtowhichwemustadjust—wheredidit come from?WhatMoses brought it down fromwhatmount?Where are itscredentials?Fromwhenceitsauthority?Since theworld insists that Iadjust to itsbeliefs, itsmoralstandardsand its

practicalworking philosophies, it should be able to demonstrate that it knowswhereitisgoing,whatitwantsandwhy,anditshouldbeabletocomeupwithafewmillionhappymenandwomenwhobyadjustingtoitsstandardshavefoundlife’s summumbonum. Furthermore, nations that have had the benefit of suchadjustmentshouldbeprosperous,peaceful,contentedandhappy.These stipulations do not appear tome at all unreasonable considering how

muchdependsupontheoutcomeandhowmuchevangelisticzealtheworldputsintotheefforttogeteveryoneproperlyadjusted.Butthesesimpletestsshowhowphonythewholethingis.Thetruthisthatthe

worlddoesnotknowwhereitisgoing;ithasnotfoundlife’ssummumbonum;itisnot qualified as amodel for themembers of society to follow. It is insteadpuzzled, frightened and frustrated. Generation follows generation into anuncertainfuture,completelybeaten,disappointedandsickatheart.ItwastothiskindofworldthatJesuscame,tosaveitfromitself.Hediedfor

its sins and now lives for the salvation of all whowill repudiate it, deny thevalidityofitsphilosophiesandputtheirtrustwhollyintheLordJesusChrist.Those who do this no longer seek to be adjusted to society. They have

renouncedthisworldandhavechosenanewmodelafterwhichtopatterntheirlives.ThisistheaspectoftheChristianlifethatmostpeopledonotlike.Theywantcomfort,blessingandpeace,buttheyrecoilfromthisradical,revolutionarybreakwiththeworld.TofollowChristinthisroughandthorough-goingwayistoomuchforthem.The true Christian, though he is in revolt against the world’s efforts to

brainwashhim,isnomererebelforrebellion’ssake.Hedissentsfromtheworldbecauseheknows that it cannotmakegoodon itspromises.Hehas tasted thepleasuresofsocietyandheknowsthattheyleaveabittertaste;andhehasfoundthatblessingoftheLordofwhichthewisemanspeaks,whichmakethrichandaddethnosorrowwithit.And theChristian isnot leftwithouta“norm” towhichheseeks tobecome

adjusted.TheLordJesusChristisHimselfthenorm,theideallyperfectmodel,and theworshipingsoulyearns tobe likeHim. Indeed thewholedrivebehindtheChristian life is this longing to be conformed to the image ofChrist. Theenergywithwhichthebelievingmanrevoltsagainstconformitytotheimageof

unregeneratesocietywillbeinexactproportiontotheintensityofhisyearningtobelikeChrist.The classic expression of this burning desire to be Christlike is, of course,

Paul’spersonaltestimonyinhislettertothePhilippianChristianswhichbegins,“Butwhatthingsweregaintome,thoseIcountedlossforChrist,”andendswiththeferventdeclaration,“IpresstowardthemarkfortheprizeofthehighcallingofGodinChristJesus”(Philippians3:7-14).