Article October 1, 1904 Issue

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with contributions from W. S. Rainsford

For the average man or woman, the easiest part of the Christian life is the assent to doctrinal statements and the observance of certain religious forms. The most difficult task is to reproduce, in ourselves, the spirit of our Master, and so show forth his spirit in home and community relations. The first is important, the second is absolutely essential to Christian influence. We meet people constantly who know little and care less about our theological views, but who are carefully nothing the presence or the absence of the "mind which was in Christ Jesus." If they find us genuine, honest, kind, unselfish, helpful, the religious profession which we make commends itself to their judgment and gets a grip upon their hearts. If these personal qualities are conspicuous only because of their absence, we should not think it strange that on-lookers doubt the value, if not the reality, of the religious experience to which we lay claim.

If our testimony is to have any value it must be unmistakably genuine. A wooden smile, representing nothing deeper than our facial muscles, is only a cartoon of kindly feeling, and insults those for whose benefit it is assumed. A sham meekness deceives no one and disgusts the thoughtful. The graces which we assume to possess must be rooted in the heart or they are worse than vain. The world is quick to distinguish between the genuine and the counterfeit, and will accept the one and reject the other as quickly in conduct and character as in currency.

It is doubtless true that a man may be honest and kind and patient and yet not be a Christian. The trouble is that we seem to assume that one may be a Christian and refuse to give these graces a place in his life. There is a constant tendency on the part of many Christians to undervalue those qualities qualities which are essential to every right character, and to live as if the possession of these virtues were a matter of indifference. Some people seem to say, "These are things that any man may have. I have something better. I have been born again, have been baptized, and am a member of the church. Therefore, I am under no obligation to give attention to the amenities of life, to control my temper or to show consideration for the feelings of others." Probably we do not consciously commit ourselves to any such proposition, but our attitude and actions often give people reason to suppose that such is our conviction. — The Standard.

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