Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1877 — Christian Duty [ARTICLE]

Christian Duty

Christ Jesus taught no more oeauttful and beneficent principle than that “we are not our own. No man liveth to himself or dieth to himself. We are debtors. Every man is to look not on his own things, but also on the things of others. We are to bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of love.” Our Master set us an example of ineffable beauty in this regard. He “pleased not Himself.” He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister to others. As the sun expends itself in giving light and warmth, so Jesus made His earthly existence one constant expenditure of blessings. That journey to the coasts of Canaan was probably just for the relief of one afflicted woman and her daughter. Never does my Savior appear more lovable to me than when He girds the towel about His loins and stoops to wash His disciples’ feet. “So ought ye,” He sweetly says, “to wash one another’s feet.” This is the meaning of the phrase “Ye are the salt of the earth;” for the prime use of salt is not to keep itself, but to preserve other objects from putrefaction.

Is it not about time for every Christian professor to feel that, if he is not a standing rebuke to rascality and falsehood, and if he has no antiseptic qualities, then he is a fraud himself? Is it not time, too, that the idea of absorbing Gospel every Sabbath and giving out none during the week should be regarded as a disgrace to his Christian profession ? This question cannot be pushed home too close to every member of Christ’s Church: “Whatare you here forf Who is the better for your influence, you gifts, your acts, and your example?” Our self-denying Redeemer gave the chief reason for His coming to earth to make men and women Christians when he said: “I have chosen you and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit.” That fruit is godly and benefleient living. No other religion in the universe ever had so sublime a purpose. If all who profess and call themselves Christians would simply live out their holy professions, the conversion of the world would soon be achieved. If even a single State or a single county were thoroughly Christianized in every house, eveiy school, every place of business, and if Jesus shone out in the domestic, social and civil life of that whole community, then the whole world would be attracted to look at so beautiful a spectacle. Then the whole world would see what men and women could be made Christians for. Infidelity would hang its foolish head before such a triumphant argument for the religion of Calvary and the Gospel. But until Christ’s representatives live out more thoroughly the teachings and snirit of their Lord there will be an abundance of that secret skepticism which steels the human heart against God’s glorious Gospel. It is for this very reason that so much of the headway gained by Sabbath eloquence is lost during the other six days of counteracting influence. One day of good preaching is no match for six days of inconsistent practice. God will never honor His church with complete success until it completely honors Him.— Bev. Theodore L. Guyler, in N. Y. Independent.