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IN GOOD STANDING

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 24, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 17.

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IN GOOD STANDING.

The meaningless nature of the term “in good standing” in church life is aptly described thus:—
The ice-cold Christian may be a member of the church “in good and regular standing.” Yes, and a contributing member, too. He attends church quite regularly, and sings in the choir. When he gets his “Sunday best” on, he looks quite like a Christian; but how does he live?
No daily Bible reading.
No blessing asked at the table.
No family prayer.
No Bible instruction for the children.
No religious conversation in his home.
No private prayer.
No attendance at the week-day services.
No attendance at the Sabbath-school.
No Christ in his choice of reading matter.
No Christ in his favorite amusement.
And only a little of Christ in his head.
Well, what has he, then, which the commonest sinner has not?
1. He has his name on the church roll.
2. He has his name on the list of contributing members.
3. He has a pew or an occasional sitting in church.
These three things, and nothing more to entitle him to the glorious name of Christian.
If he should suddenly die, he would be given a Christian burial, and these three things about him would be sure to be mentioned in the funeral sermon, and held out to the bereaved family as reasons for a blessed assurance that he had gone straight to glory, with an abundant entrance.—Christian Life.