Irritable Christians

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 14, 1871

Irritable Christians.

THERE is a Christian who used to become quite vexed at finding his little grandchildren in his study. One day, one of these little children was standing at his mother’s side, and she was speaking to him of Heaven. “Mother,” said he, “I don’t want to go to Heaven.” “Don’t want to go to Heaven, my son?” “No, mother, I am sure I don’t.” “Why not, my son?” “Why, grandpa will be there, won’t he?” “Why, yes; I hope he will.” “Well, just as soon he sees us, he will come scolding along, and say, ‘Whew! whew! whew! what are these boys here for?’ I don’t want to go to Heaven, if grandpa is going to be there.”

There is no doubt that many Christians bring a reproach upon religion, and disgust the young with serious things, by the moroseness of their tempers, their perpetual fretting and fuming when something goes not to suit them. The young are ready to say, If religion makes its possessors so unlovely, I never want it. Cheerfulness, kindness, pleasant looks and pleasant words, are the fruits of grace. The religion of Christ is love, and though it does not instantly root out all the evil propensities of the human heart, it must, gradually, transform the natural character, until the Christian reflects the image of Him from whose lips the language only of kindness fell.—Sel.