Half-Baked Christians by S. Oates

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Apr 20, 1876

Half-Baked Christians.

By S. Oates

“Ephraim is a cake not turned.” Hosea 7 : 8.

The cake here referred to is a cake baked on the coals. Compare 1 Kings 19 : 6. It is not turned, and therefore is baked on one side and raw on the other. This is a striking type of the religion of thousands of professing Christians of the present day, who need turning over and baking on both sides. This figure applies, first, to persons whose conscience is like a cake not turned. On some points they are very scrupulous, while on others they are very unscrupulous. The evil is generally aggravated when their conscientiousness runs on matters comparatively small, and leaves out of sight the weightier matters of the law; or when it relates mainly to the sins of other people, and very little to their own personal sins. We have known men too conscientious to commune with the church to which they belonged, because of the alleged misconduct of this or that member in it; but who, in such main matters as the government of their tongues, the sanctification of the Sabbath, kindness to the poor, forgiveness of enemies, communion with God in secret prayer, and earnest effort for the salvation of men, are quite insensible. Surely such inconsistent consciences need turning over to be baked on the other side.

Secondly, the figure applies to those persons whose zeal is a cake not turned. To-day they are burning with much smoke and noise, like thorns under a pot; to-morrow they are extinct—fire, smoke, and ashes all gone—like a blazing comet that comes dashing in from the depths of space, passing the unassuming stars, and displaying a prodigious length of tail, as though he would put all to shame by his superior brilliancy. So these Christians now and then blaze forth with a transcendent glow of zeal, and are ready at such times to rebuke their brethren of more even piety for their tardiness and languor. But very soon they are off again to the regions of coldness and death. The religion of such is a half-baked affair. They need turning over to have a good baking on the other side; this would make them always zealously affected in spiritual things and ever ready for every good word and work.

Thirdly, the figure applies to those who carry their religion only to certain places. They take it to the preaching service, to the prayer-meeting, to the class-meeting, and to the communion table, but they are not careful to maintain a godly example before the world, before their families, in the store, in the field, in their business transactions with men, or wherever God has appointed their daily station. Such persons are baked only on one side, and are very raw on the other. They need turning over until they are well baked on the other side—to stay on the hot coals of gospel truth till they are baked clear through and through, to make them honest, consistent Christians everywhere. Those who are well baked on both sides, are right in heart and in life, consistent in profession and in practice, bringing a glory to God and good will to men.—S. Oates in Golden Censer.