Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 21, 1909

Living Like Jesus

JESUS CHRIST is the Christian's example in all things, and it is incumbent upon all who unite themselves to his visible body on earth, taking upon themselves that name, that they should “walk even as he walked.” If our Saviour's example means anything to his professed followers, it means that. To profess Christ and walk in the ways of sin, makes us hypocrites, and puts him to shame. It is a serious matter to make public profession of Christ, take part in the ordinance of baptism, and have one's name enrolled upon a church book. It is quite evident that this matter is lightly considered by many at the present time. A few years ago the question, “What would Jesus do?” was heard upon the lips of many who professed his name, seeming to indicate that though professed Christians, they had hitherto been living with small regard to the example of their Lord. The originator of the question won fame and financial prosperity by publishing a story-book with such a title. Recently there has sprung up in Cincinnati a movement of much the same character. The pastor of a large congregation at a mass-meeting induced eighteen hundred of his hearers to pledge themselves to live for two weeks as Jesus would. This is the program:—

Christ was a man of joy as well as a man of sorrow. He would have us lead a joyous life. Learn to smile. Quit your kicking. Go to work with a word of cheer on your lips. Be like a burst of sunshine. Don't go down to work ten minutes late sour. Jesus would have us be honest in business. There was no shoddy work done in Christ's carpenter shop. Let there be no shoddy work in your business. When the temptation comes to be dishonest, say no, no matter what comes. Let us be honest in our speech and in our social position. If you are worth only fifty cents, don't try to pass off for a dollar. For the next two weeks let us pass for what we are. If you would live as Christ lived, you would have an open Bible, you will pray. Jesus would have us live as gentlemen and ladies. Christ was no loafer. If you have no job, try hard during the next two weeks to find one. Lend a hand in loving service to those who need you. Now, the real Christian will do all these things, and he will not do them as a two weeks' experiment either. The truly converted man understands, when he accepts Christ as his Saviour, that all that and much more is involved in his allegiance to Christ. To teach professed Christians to adopt that standard of life for two weeks, is to teach them that they can drop the undertaking at the end of that period if it is not to their liking—and still be Christians. This is merely playing fast and loose with religion. No man has a right to limit the term of service in the Christian warfare. It is not two weeks or two years—it is a life, a life of toil, of hardships often, of sacrifice always.