p. 1 | Meek Christians by A. Lowrey

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Apr 6, 1882

Meek Christians.

By A. Lowrey

The late and widely-lamented Dr. Punshon was accustomed to say, in his celebrated lecture on Daniel in prison, "Religion is not a salad, that it should be dressed in vinegar." His object was to show that a true Christian is joyous and amiable at all times, and under all circumstances, and for the reason that it is the nature of saving grace, in defiance of every adversity, to inspire joy and sweetness. This feature in our salvation is not sufficiently incorporated into our daily experiences. How much sad, sour religion there is in the world! At best, in many cases, it is but sweetened vinegar. The native bitterness of the heart is not taken away, but simply counteracted. It is like the preserved crab-apple, whose nature is not changed, but overcome by sugar; take away the sugar, and the acid is still there.

Some Christians seem not to expect grace to do more for them than to hold their asperities in check. Some Christian people appear to have no compunction for getting mad, provided they do not make fools of themselves. They are willing to carry a volcano in their bosom, if only they can govern the eruptions. Indeed, there are many recognized Christians, not excepting some preachers, who evidently "make provision for the flesh" in respect to the indulgence of angry tempers. When provoked, or impugned, or even spoken to with impatience and exasperation, they expect to retaliate in kind. They are harsh and angular—the opposite of meekness. There is a gruffness and rigidity in their manner; an acrimony in their spirit; a pungent, biting sarcasm in their words. Like hunters in the woods, they trip and ogle around for something to shoot at. Their very souls are pugnacious.

Now, is this the spirit of Christ? Is this the doctrine of his sermon on the mount? Is not meekness as really a fruit of the Spirit as faith or love? Is it not an essential element in our spiritual and divine attainments? Can we dispense with it, and have a true Christian experience at all? Does not the want of meekness blur the whole character, blast our usefulness, and project doubts into the minds of sinners as to the power of grace and reality of religion? Many amiable sinners, by dint of resolution, and for the sake of good manners, keep their passions under. In the face of such examples, shall the subjects of grace spit, and fizz, and fume, and boil over, and explode with fits of anger? Let it not be said, by way of apology, that such persons have an impulsive nature, a sanguine temperament—a positive side to their character. No, no. It is sin. It is the fruit of remaining carnality. It is the proof of an unsanctified nature. It is a disgrace to the Christian name.—A. Lowrey, in Divine Life.