Not of Force, but of Love
By F. M. W.
THERE is a compelling power in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, but it is a power with love as the impelling motive, rather than force or fear. God has made man a free moral agent. He has bestowed upon him the right of choice. Man may freely of his own accord choose the path of life or the path of death. God will not force his will, or compel him to a course of action contrary to his desires. To do this would be to make of man a mere machine, and of God an arbitrary dictator. But while God does not force the will, he uses every means that love suggests to persuade the will. The language of the gospel is not of command or demand. The apostle Paul voices its spirit when he says: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” The apostle in his own experience had felt but one power moving him in Christian service. He says, “For the love of Christ constraineth us.” That love had been revealed to the apostle when he himself was upon a mission of persecution. The glory of God shone around about him, and he heard a voice from heaven saying unto him: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” To his inquiry, “Who art thou, Lord?” the answer was returned: “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” What a response to the efforts of the apostle! How much of love and pathos and appeal was in the question which Heaven propounded to this persecuting zealot! It did not answer like with like. Heaven’s love broke the apostle’s heart, and trembling and astonished, he inquired, “Lord, what wilt thou have in me to do?” This same revelation of divine love is the one power which will break the hearts of men to-day. This is the power which should clothe the professed church of Christ; then will she have no need of legal enactments, or force of arms, or rack, or fagot, or inquisition; but clothed in the panoply of heaven, she will go forth conquering and to conquer, a terror to unrighteousness, a strength and refuge for the sin-sick and sorrowing.